Today Caramel is reviewing Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, written by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, and first published in 2006. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.
Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about a sweet story about the coming fall season.
Caramel: Yes we are. It’s about a fox named Fletcher who hates change.
S: Well, he is a very young fox and he is not used to change. It is sometimes hard to deal with change, no?
C: Yeah, I don’t quite like change either, but it is sadly necessary.
S: Yes, you had to finish one school and start another. We had to move. You changed teachers, And so on. We have to deal with change all the time. And even when it is natural it can be hard.
C: Yeah. And the change Fletcher is upset about in this book is also very natural.
S: Okay, so tell us a bit more.
C: So Fletcher is this little fox who loves a tree, but one day he notices that the tree’s leaves are losing their nice bright green color.
S: Hmm…
C: Then the tree starts losing its leaves. So Fletcher at first thinks the tree is sick, so he goes to his parent, and asks about it, and the parent says not to worry, because it’s only autumn.
S: Of course! But Fletcher is young, so he probably has not seen autumn before!
C: Yeah, so he eventually comes back to the tree, and sees there is only one leaf left on its branches, so he does anything to keep it on the tree.
S: Oh, I can see where this is going. He won’t be able to help much, will he?
C: Yeah, no. He tries to tape it to the branch, but eventually it falls, and he eventually learns that change is inevitable, and not always bad.
S: Yes! Dare I mention impermanence? Maybe not. But I remember the very last page! Autumn is normal and after it comes winter! And it can be lovely!
C: Yeah, the last page is really pretty. But the whole book is really nice to look at! The colors are all very nice and warm.
S: Yeah, and things look feathery and really almost dreamlike. I thought of the books we read that were illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, like Captain Rosalie, Colette’s Lost Pet, and Albert’s Quiet Quest. It is really quiet and makes you feel peaceful when you are looking at the pages.
C: Well, you also feel the anxiety and sadness Fletcher is feeling. So those are not very peaceful feelings, but the pictures are still very nice, so maybe you can guess that Fletcher will soon feel better too.
S: Yes, I can see that. You are right Caramel! That’s a lovely observation! So do you like autumn?
C: Meh, it’s nice, but it is nicer in winter, when it’s colder. I like cold, I’m a cold weather bunny.
S: That’s interesting! I like cold more than hot weather, too. But I also love autumn. I like the changing colors, and it is also when school starts which is always exciting!
C: Which reminds me. Tonight is again a school night. Hint hint.
S: Hmm, I think I know what you are getting at. Maybe we have said enough about this book.
C: Yes. I do think this is a really neat book. Young bunnies will enjoy it and this is really a good time to read it because autumn is coming. But maybe we can wrap this review up, so I can go to sleep…
S: Sure, that totally makes sense. Okay, let us wrap it up. What do you want to tell our readers then?
C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!
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