A Field Guide to Leaflings

This collaboration between design tutor Owen Churcher and former Children's Laureate of Ireland Niamh Sharkey is a wonderful non-fiction find that packs in a lot of nature information as well as introducing us to the magical leaflings. Each leafling has a distinct character and role - Hiroki prepares the branches for blossom while Flann minds the web of roots that connect the copse or forest. This is an absorbing and brilliantly designed book to spark imagination and curiosity about the wonderful (and global) world of trees.

* Absolutely Education *
This interactive picturebook by the well-known Niamh Sharkey and newcomer Owen Churcher contains a wealth of tree knowledge. Our guides, the leaflings, invite us into their world where we learn about the familiar oak and holly, and the perhaps lesser-known and fascinating kapok or Huangshan pine. The illustrations, flaps to lift and text will keep busy readers entertained over many rereadings. This is a celebration of the majesty and beauty of trees and all who love and protect them. (Age 4-8) * Irish Times *

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* Waterstones *
In A Field Guide to Leaflings authors Owen Churcher and Niamh Sharkey accompany little readers as they travel the world and meet the Leaflings - the secret guardians of trees. They hear all about the trees they protect - from an ancient holy tree in Ireland to a cherry blossom in Japan and a giant redwood in California. * Big Issue *

"No one is too small to make a difference," as the leaflings tell us.
In this guide's delightful conceit, every tree has its tiny leafling, and every leafling has a specific role: protecting, connecting, constructing, etc. Leaflings resemble smiling seed pods with big, round eyes and small bodies, some in minute skirts. Whatever their tree roles, their job in this book is to explain how trees work, and they do it winningly. Akina and Hiroki tell us about sakura, while Iarla and Etain cover holly. Hugo takes on the kapok; several real-life critters that make their home in this giant South American tree can be found here along with information on photosynthesis. On to oak, baobab, kauri, red river gum, redwood, peepal, Huangshan pine, and sweet chestnut, each with companion leaflings and assorted animals. Among the few humans are a child who uses a wheelchair, one in hijab, and several who are brown-skinned; among leaflings, faces might be green, tan, pale, etc., while some bodies are wide, others tall. There's information about city trees and advice on observing nature. The use of intricate serif fonts dictates lap- or independent-reading only; indeed, the delicate, detailed, page-filling watercolor and ink illustrations (like a naturalist's notebook) are for poring over.
A whimsical way to teach budding environmentalists about trees around the world.

-- Kirkus * Kirk