#305 of 1001 · June 1, 2021

In honor of the wonderful Lois Ehlert, here’s a peek at her marvelous book Leaf Man. The title character is simply the narrator’s perception of a face arising from a collection of leaves. But this transient being blows away on the wind, passing over land and water as it goes. The art is a triumph, integrated perfectly into the book’s construction. The turning of the pages recapitulates the movement of Leaf Man over the landscape; the die-cut top edges suggest fields, meadows, hills, forests, and mountains. Animals, crops, and other items along the way are collaged from color copies of leaves, which Ehlert complements with saturated earth tones, lending a natural beauty to the story. The text may appear simple at first blush but reveals itself upon close reading to be quite complex, particularly in the thought-provoking refrain, “A Leaf Man’s got to go where the wind blows.” The personification of Leaf Man allows for a poetic examination of the passing of time and the delicate impermanence of our surroundings. Perhaps we might all do well to slow down and watch for a Leaf Man blowing by, dancing on the breeze on his way to nowhere in particular. When our time comes, may we all be borne away on such a serene and gentle wind. Rest in peace, Ms. Ehlert. #loisehlert #leaf #leaves #wind #nature #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #classicchildrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks