Leaf-light

by Trace Balla

This beautiful graphic novel is a stand-alone companion to Landing with Wings by CBCA award-winning author Trace Balla. Join Miri on her quest to help a rescued baby emu find its feet in the world, and as she connects to her community in joyful and unexpected ways. From the multi-award-winning creator of Rivertime and Rockhopping comes a beautiful ode to working together to make the world a better place.

Join Miri in her special spot, high up among the dappled leaf-light, and below with her neighbour Wingo, two joeys, a wombat and a baby emu!

A story about friendship, taking down barriers and creating community, finding your own path in the world and inspiring others along the way - from one of Australia's most unique creative talents.

PRAISE FOR LANDING WITH WINGS

'Another lovely adventure from Trace Balla. Rich in country and family, deep in care for the future.' BRUCE PASCOE

'A beautiful book about being connected to the world at ground level. I feel like I've made a new friend through Trace's exquisitely accessible drawings and gentle prose.' ALISON LESTER

'Reminiscent of Alison Lester and Roland Harvey, Landing with Wings is a story about moving slowly, looking carefully and remaining curious, and it is a book that leads by example. In her loving portrait of community life in Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Balla achieves something like contemporary visual bush poetry. It is spellbinding.' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

86 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Trace Balla is often found sketching in nature, riding her bike, dancing, and growing vegies in her garden in central Victoria. She loves to illustrate and write songs and stories, and inspire others in their creativity and care for the planet. Her background is in illustration, community arts, art therapy, animation, and writing songs and stories, and she enjoys visiting schools and festivals to talk about her work.

Reviews

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more children's book reviews: https://littlesquirrelsbookshelf.blog...
Leaf-Light is told from the point of view of Miri, a young girl, who lives with her mother on Djaara Country in country Victoria. As Miri plays and explores with her neighbour and friend Wingo they learn about caring for native animals, the environment around them and being part of a community.

Leaf-Light is a stunningly illustrated and gentle graphic novel that empowers children, and adults, to embrace nature and community. The story shows the people, animals and birds living in harmony. Trace Balla encourages the reader to embrace joy from the little things in life, helping one another and spending time to be one with nature as we follow Miri and her friends go about their day playing, watching and learning.

There is so much love and detail in this book you could take days and days just going over the detailed illustrations and then come back and still find little things you missed.

Leaf-Light is a truly special addition to any home library.

Age recommended 8 - 12 years (however suitable for young and old)
*I received my copy from the publisher

[Laura Farrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Trace Balla has the most unique and beautiful way of drawing her picture books. I was lucky enough to attend a session Trace was running, and gained a little insight to how her illustrations come about. I really love that she describes the scene with words, that tell a story through their placement and pattern as well as what they literally say.
This book has a lot going on, so I felt it was a little hard for younger kids to read, and is had to read aloud to a group of children also, but I did find two of my girls laying on their tummies pouring over it pointing at the different things on each page. So much culture included too with lots of Djaara words.
I would probably recommend this to kids that enjoy graphic novels, that are bridging into chapter books.

CBCA Notable List 2024 - Picture Book of the Year