trees

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf that Wouldn’t Fall

| Tasha

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf that Wouldn’t Fall by Nadine Brun-Cosme, illustrated by Olivier Tallec

Released December 2009.

This sequel to the lovely Big Wolf & Little Wolf continues the story of their friendship.  Little Wolf spots a special leaf in the spring and wants Big Wolf to climb up their tree and bring it down.  Big Wolf tells him to wait, that it will fall.  Little Wolf asks again in the summer and autumn, as the leaf turns into a deep green and then a soft brown.  When winter arrives, the leaf is still up in the tree, now a black color.  Then one day, Big Wolf decides to climb the tree and bring down the leaf for Little Wolf.  After a harrowing climb, Big Wolf reaches the leaf and it crumbles to pieces.  Beautiful pieces.

Brun-Cosme’s prose is lovely, spare and yet manages to be dynamic too.  She evokes the seasons, colors and wonder of each time of year without becoming maudlin at all.  There is the drama of Big Wolf’s climb and the unexpected resolution of the story that is surprising but fitting.  The first book was about the awkwardness of new friendship.  This second book is about a deepening connection and the beauty of togetherness. 

Tallec’s illustrations are less colorful this time, sticking to a more natural palette of colors.  But they still have an expansive feel, a clear sense of space, and they play with perspective.  They are simple but dynamic, just like the text.  A lovely combination.

Highly recommended, this series has its own unique feel and style.  These are quiet books, filled with natural beauty and deep connections.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Full disclosure:  My review of the first book is blurbed on the jacket of this second.  A great surprise to discover!

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

A Tree for Emmy

| Tasha

A Tree for Emmy by Mary Ann Rodman, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss.

Emmy loves all kinds of trees, but her favorite is the mimosa tree at her Gramma’s pasture.  In spring, it had strong branches perfect for swinging on.  In summer, it had fuzzy pink blossoms.  In fall, it dropped seedpods that rattled.  And best of all, according to Gramma, Emmy and the mimosa tree were very similar: “stubborn and strong and a little bit wild.”  When Emmy’s birthday comes, she asks for a mimosa tree of her own.  But mimosa trees are not sold in nurseries, they are wild trees.  Just when Emmy is about to give up hope, she finds a tiny start of a tree growing near the mimosa tree at her grandmother’s house.  Now if it will just grow faster!

This could be seen as a fluffy little book about loving trees, but it is much more.  First, it is a great book on native species and how you can’t buy them in stores.  Second, it is a joy to have a book with a girl who is not shocked or worried by being called stubborn, strong and wild.  Hurrah!  This is a little girl with a big imagination, her own opinions, and a great sense of style.  She’s a treat to spend time with. 

Rodman’s text sets just the right tone here.  Nothing big is made of this unique little girl.  She is just herself.  The illustrations combine painting and collage into an interesting mix.  The collage is used most often for plants and for Emmy’s outfits and it works very well.

Recommended for gardening or tree story times or reading to slightly older children and discussing native species and what isn’t available in stores.  The time is right for a picture book that can lead us effortlessly into these discussions.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.