If You Find a Leaf

by Aimée Sicuro

Overview

A celebration of the fall season that encourages little ones to see the colorful leaves around them in an entirely new way. The artist uses real leaves of vibrant hues to make her oh-so-charming illustrations—now available as a board book with sturdy pages for little hands!

Every year, gusts of wind blow colorful autumn leaves to the ground. Some leaves make a crunch under foot, and others are so beautiful they deserve to be saved.

In this story a young artist draws inspiration from the leaves she collects and every leaf sparks a new idea. She imagines turning a Japanese Zelkova leaf into a boat to sail far away, a Honey Locust leaf into a swing to sway in the gentle breeze, and an American Basswood leaf into a hot air balloon to float high above the trees.

Little readers who turn the sturdy pages of this board book will be inspired to use their own imagination as they hunt for leaves this fall.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593901588
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	08/19/2025
Series:	If You Find a Treasure Series
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Aimée Sicuro knew at an early age she wanted to make things, and spent many years trying to figure out how. She is the creator of the picture books If You Find a Leaf and If You Spot a Shell, as well as the illustrator of Dancing Through Fields of Color by Elizabeth Brown. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Parent Magazine and other publications. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two children.

Editorial Reviews

“A sweet, poetic ode to autumn.” –Kirkus Reviews

“An impressively imagined exploration of nature and the endless thrill of creativity.” –Booklist 

"Dynamic and inviting.” –The Bulletin

From the Publisher

2022-04-13
A rhyming celebration of imagination.

A child with brown skin offers gentle, artful ideas about what to do with autumn leaves. The picture book's idyllic setting seems Northeastern in nature, with deciduous trees shedding leaves, which the child scoops up. Could a leaf from a tree become a hat, a Halloween mask, a hammock, or something else entirely? "It could be a horn that blows, announcing that we're here. // A leafy parade to celebrate our favorite time of year." Rhyme rules the text but isn't forced in the least. Collaged leaves against painted illustrations encourage play and imagination. A nod to winter and spring make this a year-round read. Endpapers with realistic labeled images of leaves provide an injection of information in this otherwise dreamy musing. The backmatter includes instructions on collaging—a meaningful and fun activity that builds upon the text. While there's nothing groundbreaking here, there is opportunity for both learning and whimsy. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet, poetic ode to autumn. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews