The Leaf Thief

What’s it about?

The story.

One by one, the leaves are disappearing from Squirrel's tree. Squirrel is convinced there's a thief at work and is determined to catch them. Bird, who understands the concept of autumn, tries repeatedly to explain what's actually happening. Squirrel is not convinced. The comedy runs on the gap between what Squirrel believes and what is true, a gap children will close satisfyingly before Squirrel does, and Hemming's repetitive, onomatopoeic text makes the book a natural read-aloud performance piece. The punchlines land every time. Nicola Slater's illustrations give Squirrel and Bird vivid, expressive personalities that make the back-and-forth funnier than the words alone could manage. Underneath the comedy is a gentle and completely non-preachy introduction to seasonal change and the natural world: children come away understanding why leaves fall without ever feeling like they've been taught anything. The entry point for a seasonal series that covers all four seasons, and one of the best-structured picture books of its type.