The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming (author) and Nicola Slater (illustrator)

Our September 2020 Ages 3-4 Book of the Month

I am lucky enough to get to see a lot of books and I usually reserve judgement until I’ve digested them whole. But, one quick peep at the adorable squirrel on this cover and I was HOOKED.

Meet Squirrel. He is so cross. Yesterday there were loads of beautiful leaves on his tree, but now some are missing and he is convinced they’ve been stolen and there’s a leaf thief on the loose! As Squirrel’s anxiety increasingly rises, he repeatedly accuses the other animals in the wood of stealing them. All the while his friend Bird sits quietly in the background, offering a reassuring and calming voice of reason and reminding him that this happens every year…

Nicola Slater’s illustrations are just sublime. They are just bursting with autumnal colours, so rich and absorbing you can almost hear the leaves crunch. Nicola has a real talent for making her characters highly expressive and accessible. This is the perfect book to use in school as part of the Early Years curriculum, when looking at the change in seasons during the autumn. It offers lots of discussion points around patterns and changes, friendship, stability and anxiety (with extra information at the back about what happens during this time, including migration and dark nights). Ask the children to predict what they think is happening? Why is Squirrel accusing people? How does Bird help Squirrel?

A book that is funny, hard to resist and has tremendous heart. I am now shamelessly in love with the relationship between Squirrel and Bird and I think you will be, too. Perfect to share in class for the starting or return to school moment, or on the sofa at home.

Yvonne – Book Club Editor, Ages 0–6