I am actually writing a review of this picture book because I saw that it was published in Great Britain as "Ferdie and the Falling Leaves," and as an American I am horribly offended that we couldn't be trusted with a fox named Ferdie.

Definitely want to read more from this series at some point because its a comforting kind of story and Fletcher is the perfect kind of character to explore the concept of seasons: a curious fox! I enjoyed reading this book aloud to my older kids, and I am so thankful to have another little one to read this to this year! The narrative itself captures a young child's uncertainty and fear, when confronted with change, while the beautiful pastel illustrations evoke all the magic of the season.Fletcher's sensitivity is commendable, his curiosity and misunderstanding easy to relate to as it is all to easy to want something (or someone! The final page, in which Fletcher finally sees his tree in a new light, was particularly beautiful, offering a satisfying reassurance that, while change has come, it hasn't destroyed the tree's beauty. A tiny breeze shivered the branches, making a sound like laughter, and in the light of the rising sun, the sparkling branches nodded. The illustrations perfectly capture the sweetness and gentleness of the story and the final illustration held a beautiful surprise for me just as the tree holds a surprise for Fletcher!

Since then I have written lots of stories about rabbits, bears, mules, dragons, hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, a kind-hearted but easily confused fox. This is a sweet story and while our girls aren't as naive as Fletcher, this is their first Fall and it will be their first Winter season (in a location that gets cold and snowy, that is!

Deeply attached to his favorite tree, Fletcher was terribly worried, as autumn proceeded, to notice it losing leaves. When I had my children I started writing stories for picture books, and my first book, Fred and the Little Egg, was published in 2005. I have loved this picture book ever since I first read it, and I asked for a copy for Christmas when I was sixteen. My Thursday storytime had a lot of younger kids, and some of them lost interest partway through, although the adults seemed to enjoy it. September 2019 update: I listened to a school librarian read this book aloud with first-grade students and they really got into the story.