Dance Like a Leaf
As her grandmother’s health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.
Written by AJ Irving
Illustrated by Claudia Navarro
Format : Paperback
Product Dimensions: 8.50 x 10.75 inches
Page Count: 32 pages
Age Range: Ages 4-9 years
DEATH AND DYING: Gently addresses the topic of loss in an age-appropriate way, and demonstrates how traditions can be used to carry on the memory of a loved one.
GRANDPARENT RELATIONSHIP: The love between grandmother and granddaughter is palpable throughout.
POETIC LANGUAGE: Lyrical text draws parallels between the turning of the seasons and the stages of life.
EVOCATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS: Claudia Navarro, illustrator of La Frontera, sensitively renders characters whose faces and body language convey a range of emotions.
“This beautifully balanced picturebook’s rich colours dance alongside its intricately clear-eyed narrative, sensitive but never sentimental…. Certain to become a classic” – Inis magazine, Children’s Books Ireland
“A paean to autumn, love, and loss.... This evocative pairing of story and art creates a tone poem and lesson, a lovely reflection on the seasons of life, and a gentle lead-in to discussion of death and renewal” – School Library Journal