“The Leaf Thief ” by Alice Fleming and Nicola Slater

Be sure to make leaf rubbings after reading The Leaf Thief: (The Perfect Fall Book for Children and Toddlers) by Alice Fleming and Nicola Slater with the children in your care.

The Leaf Thief is a funny picture book that teaches kids about autumn, adapting to change, and the seasons.

The main character is Squirrel and he loves counting the leaves on his tree. There are red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.

With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of autumn is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along Squirrel’s forest adventure. Is there truly a leaf thief afoot, or is something else going on in Squirrel’s forest?

The Leaf Thief is a perfect exploration of change — both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes. Bonus material explaining about the changing of the seasons is also included.

You can purchase your own copy of The Leaf Thief by clicking the links in this review or by visiting my storefront at https://www.amazon.com/shop/bethebestnannynewsletter

Leaf Rubbings

You Will Need:

Paper Bag
Leaves
Light Color Paper
Crayons or Colored Pencils

What to Do:

1. Give the child a paper bag and go on a nature hike to collect different types of sturdy leaves.

2. It’s easier for you kids to use crayons but you can use colored pencils as well. If using crayons, remove the paper wrapper from several crayons.

3. Place a small piece of tape on stem of leaves and tape to the table.

4. Place a piece of paper over the leaves and use a little tape to hold the paper firmly on the leaves.

5. Have the child rub the side of the crayon over the paper.

6. The leaves shape and features will appear.