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The Gold Leaf
A gold leaf appears in the forest. As soon as the animals notice it, each wants it more than anything else in the world. But in their struggle for it, the leaf is destroyed. Heartbroken, the animals wonder: Will we ever again see such a leaf?
After getting an MA in early childhood education, Kirsten Hall taught preschool and elementary school for several years. The Jacket, her debut picture book, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2015. This is her second book.
Born in Toronto, Matthew Forsythe grew up in London. After publishing his first books, he moved to LA, where he worked on Adventure Time. He now lives in Montreal, working on animations, picture books, and comics.
After getting an MA in early childhood education, Kirsten Hall taught preschool and elementary school for several years. The Jacket, her debut picture book, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2015. This is her second book.
Born in Toronto, Matthew Forsythe grew up in London. After publishing his first books, he moved to LA, where he worked on Adventure Time. He now lives in Montreal, working on animations, picture books, and comics.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2017
304 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Hall
114 books9 followersKirsten is a native New Yorker. After college, where she majored in English and minored in Child Development, Hall taught preschool and then Kindergarten while studying Early Childhood Education in NYU’s masters program. Her first easy reader book was written (and published) when she was in the 7th grade. Since then she has written approximately 150 early reader and chapter books for children, on a broad range of topics, for publishers including Scholastic, HarperCollins, Barnes & Noble, Random House, and Chronicle.
In addition to writing, Hall operates her own boutique illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. Hall currently resides in New York City.
In addition to writing, Hall operates her own boutique illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. Hall currently resides in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 5, 2017
I was reminded in reading this of The Treasure of The Sierra Madre, a tale of the folly of greed as several men risk their lives to find gold. A similar cautionary tale is told here about animals/birds in the forest who covet a single gold leaf.
A warbler nabs it, but in turn it is stolen by a chipmunk, a mouse, a deer, and a fox until it is torn to bits. Next spring a gold leaf comes back, but this time they behave differently: “Their happiness was that it had come back to them after all.”
The author’s note: “Gold leafing is an artform invented by the Egyptians. To make gold leaf, gold is pounded into thin sheets that are then layered between paper and pounded some more. Finally those gold sheets—now as thin as butterfly wings—are pressed against an object’s surface and applied by brush. Many buildings and decorative items have gold leaf details. The effect of gold leaf on an object is long-lasting and luminous.”
The author’s grandfather gold-leafed several buildings in NYC.
The central feature of this picturebook is the artwork of Matthew Forsythe, who creates wonderful colorful images of a forest with a focus on animals, birds, trees, but maybe mainly the focus is color. Oh, and actual shiny gold leaves, of course. Lovely!
A warbler nabs it, but in turn it is stolen by a chipmunk, a mouse, a deer, and a fox until it is torn to bits. Next spring a gold leaf comes back, but this time they behave differently: “Their happiness was that it had come back to them after all.”
The author’s note: “Gold leafing is an artform invented by the Egyptians. To make gold leaf, gold is pounded into thin sheets that are then layered between paper and pounded some more. Finally those gold sheets—now as thin as butterfly wings—are pressed against an object’s surface and applied by brush. Many buildings and decorative items have gold leaf details. The effect of gold leaf on an object is long-lasting and luminous.”
The author’s grandfather gold-leafed several buildings in NYC.
The central feature of this picturebook is the artwork of Matthew Forsythe, who creates wonderful colorful images of a forest with a focus on animals, birds, trees, but maybe mainly the focus is color. Oh, and actual shiny gold leaves, of course. Lovely!
September 29, 2019
The forest animals are dazzled by the appearance of a shiny golden leaf one spring day, and compete with one another to possess it. A warbler manages to scoop it up first, but her efforts to show off lead to its loss, as it is snatched by a chipmunk. A mouse steals it next, only to have it purloined by a deer, who then loses it to a fox. Eventually all of this competition leads to the disintegration of the leaf, much to the animals' dismay. Will the leaf reappear the next spring? And if it does, how will the animals react...?
The Gold Leaf is a beautiful picture-book, one that pairs an engaging story from author Kirsten Hall, whose grandfather was responsible for the gold leafing on many of New York City's famous buildings, and gorgeous illustrations by illustrator Matthew Forsythe. Forsythe's work here is soft-edged, capturing the sylvan enchantment of the forest world being depicted, while the gold leaf itself is depicted with a shiny gold substance. The story, in which the gold leaf is a fleeting thing of beauty, one that should be savored but cannot be kept, reminded me of Robert Frost's famous poem, Nature's First Green Is Gold, which I have always loved, although Hall gives her tale a more hopeful conclusion than Frost. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books featuring beautiful artwork and a beautiful text.
The Gold Leaf is a beautiful picture-book, one that pairs an engaging story from author Kirsten Hall, whose grandfather was responsible for the gold leafing on many of New York City's famous buildings, and gorgeous illustrations by illustrator Matthew Forsythe. Forsythe's work here is soft-edged, capturing the sylvan enchantment of the forest world being depicted, while the gold leaf itself is depicted with a shiny gold substance. The story, in which the gold leaf is a fleeting thing of beauty, one that should be savored but cannot be kept, reminded me of Robert Frost's famous poem, Nature's First Green Is Gold, which I have always loved, although Hall gives her tale a more hopeful conclusion than Frost. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books featuring beautiful artwork and a beautiful text.
December 17, 2022
Teeny little parable, very cute. Five stars for an outstanding visual presentation - awesome art, and the use of bits of gold foil really pop. I'd buy this for my personal collection.
April 18, 2024
? Op mijn rondgang door de jeugdafdeling van mijn bieb meegenomen.
# natuur; seizoenen; hebzucht; dieren
🤔Verhaal is heel mooi. De auteur zet in het colofon dat het ontwikkelen van bladgoud 3000 jaar geleden door de Egyptenaren is uitgevonden en haar opa verantwoordelijk was voor het vergulden van veel bekende gebouwen in New York. De tekeningen zijn prachtig.
MW18/4/24
# natuur; seizoenen; hebzucht; dieren
🤔Verhaal is heel mooi. De auteur zet in het colofon dat het ontwikkelen van bladgoud 3000 jaar geleden door de Egyptenaren is uitgevonden en haar opa verantwoordelijk was voor het vergulden van veel bekende gebouwen in New York. De tekeningen zijn prachtig.
MW18/4/24
June 18, 2017
Spring has returned to the forest, filling the woods with all colors of green. In the midst of the new growth, something special sparkled. It was a gold leaf, unique and different. All of the animals wanted to have it. A bird got it first, planning to use it to line its nest. Soon though, other animals grab it and take it for themselves until finally it lays in tatters on the ground and then is swept away by the wind. The animals are so dismayed at what they have done. The seasons change and fall and winter arrive and go. It is spring once again, green and lush. Will the gold leaf return?
Hall dazzles with her prose, offering so many colors of green in a single sentence that it is almost like being in a woods and noting each color. She uses very dynamic pacing in this picture book from the frenzy over the gold leaf itself as it is torn apart to the sadness afterwards and the slow turn of the seasons. That slow consideration continues as the animals wait to see if the gold leaf will ever return to them.
The illustrations take Hall’s considerable list of green colors and convey them to the page. The images are lush and filled with rich colors that have dapples of sunlight, deep shadows and animals that glow against the background. The use of goldleaf for leaf itself is very effectively done, particularly as it is ripped apart and each little piece continues to brighten the page.
A book about wonder, patience and sharing, this picture book is particularly golden. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Hall dazzles with her prose, offering so many colors of green in a single sentence that it is almost like being in a woods and noting each color. She uses very dynamic pacing in this picture book from the frenzy over the gold leaf itself as it is torn apart to the sadness afterwards and the slow turn of the seasons. That slow consideration continues as the animals wait to see if the gold leaf will ever return to them.
The illustrations take Hall’s considerable list of green colors and convey them to the page. The images are lush and filled with rich colors that have dapples of sunlight, deep shadows and animals that glow against the background. The use of goldleaf for leaf itself is very effectively done, particularly as it is ripped apart and each little piece continues to brighten the page.
A book about wonder, patience and sharing, this picture book is particularly golden. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
June 14, 2017
THE GOLD LEAF is exactly what I love in a picture book. Gorgeous, frame-ready art that brings to mind the library books I read in my own childhood. A dream-like story that isn't heavy-handed or too busy. Books like this bring just as much joy to the adult reader as they do to kids.
August 16, 2017
I like the conceit of turning the art technique of gold leading into a kind of folk tale. To create a literal gold leaf that appears in the Woods in autumn is original & compelling. But I'm most interested in Matthew Forsythe's hazily colorful and well-composed illustrations, particularly his use of mono- and polychromatic spreads to denote competition for the gold leaf and changing seasons and motivations of the cast of animal characters. Too bad he lives in Montreal! This would be a Caldecott contender for sure.
August 6, 2017
The gold leaf in the story really is a shiny, gold leaf, that feels smoother than the rest of the page's paper. Beautiful story and illustrations.
May 26, 2017
Stunning. One of the most gorgeous picture books of the year.
February 17, 2022
gorgeous illustrations, not much of a story.
March 10, 2018
Gorgeous illustrations!
March 20, 2017
A stunner of a book with wonderful substance too.
The colors of the art, mentioned so beautifully in the text, seem to bounce right off the pages. The gold leaf becomes a focal point that tells its own story too. And this wondrous book shows us what to do when something is of value to a forest or to any community: cherish and share it.
The colors of the art, mentioned so beautifully in the text, seem to bounce right off the pages. The gold leaf becomes a focal point that tells its own story too. And this wondrous book shows us what to do when something is of value to a forest or to any community: cherish and share it.
August 1, 2017
Has a similar story structure to The Gingerbread Man or The Mitten, with the forest critters stealing the gold leaf from each other. I like that the seasons turned round again so that the animals could learn their lesson. :) Brilliantly illustrated!
March 19, 2017
A tour de force for both author and illustrator. A parable without a judgement, a celebration of nature's beauty, and a tribute to the author's grandfather.
August 15, 2017
I checked out this book because the artwork looked fantastic, and it certainly was! Beautiful and colorful! I loved it. I also enjoyed the fact that the golden leaf was a legit, metallic color in the illustrations. How fun!
The story was cute... except Kirsten Hall wrote "Amid all the newness and excitement, no one caught sight of something most unusual. Something that shone and sparkled. A golden leaf!" and then suddenly all the animals were racing to get it.... but she wrote "no one caught sight of" so how did all the animals see it if no one caught sight of it? Lol... mystery ;-)
Great book
The story was cute... except Kirsten Hall wrote "Amid all the newness and excitement, no one caught sight of something most unusual. Something that shone and sparkled. A golden leaf!" and then suddenly all the animals were racing to get it.... but she wrote "no one caught sight of" so how did all the animals see it if no one caught sight of it? Lol... mystery ;-)
Great book
November 9, 2017
A parable about how fighting over something ruins it. All of the animals want the gold leaf (it's a very shiny leaf!) but in the tussle to claim it, it gets ripped apart. A year passes and the leaf reappears. This time the animals don't fight over it: "Their happiness was that it had come back to them after all."
I am doing a leaf-themed story time tomorrow (starring Leaf Man) and this will do nicely. Beautiful illustrated.
I am doing a leaf-themed story time tomorrow (starring Leaf Man) and this will do nicely. Beautiful illustrated.
August 9, 2018
Bon livre pour apprendre les couleurs et les animaux de la forêt. Images magnifiques. L’histoire manque un peu de contenu.
June 17, 2017
Loved the artwork. Gold Leaf technique is described in the frontpiece, before the t.p.
The author, Kirsten Hall, had a grandfather who did gold leafing of many famous gilded buildings in NYC, an interesting side note about why/how this author came to write this story and to consider the sparkling gold accenting the illustrations.
The artist, Matthew Forsythe, has bold, stylized animals and lines/shapes that attracted me to flip through the pictures, then to turn back to be called into the impact of the color schemes and striking shapes that made the book extra fascinating.
Could use this for a class visit or read-aloud also for K through 4th grade about.
Forest through the Seasons and the greed of some animals all wanting a special gold leaf figure in the minimal plot.
I would like to use this book for a writing exercise/class visit, to talk about the author's naming of many shades of green or yellow, some examples of alliteration, etc., to showcase vocabulary and descriptive writing.
Why only a 4 instead of a 5? The different greens and yellows described were not all defined enough that readers would know which was which, or how to imagine them (children might know pickle or pear colors, but how many shades of green are there in a parakeet, and what exactly do Crocodile green or sap green look like? I would have liked a chart in the back pages of the book after the story was over to help me sort out the different colors. Probably overthinking, but in taking the book apart after reading it through for the flow, I was disturbed that I could not pinpoint each color precisely, and if I could not, my guess is most children could not either.
The author, Kirsten Hall, had a grandfather who did gold leafing of many famous gilded buildings in NYC, an interesting side note about why/how this author came to write this story and to consider the sparkling gold accenting the illustrations.
The artist, Matthew Forsythe, has bold, stylized animals and lines/shapes that attracted me to flip through the pictures, then to turn back to be called into the impact of the color schemes and striking shapes that made the book extra fascinating.
Could use this for a class visit or read-aloud also for K through 4th grade about.
Forest through the Seasons and the greed of some animals all wanting a special gold leaf figure in the minimal plot.
I would like to use this book for a writing exercise/class visit, to talk about the author's naming of many shades of green or yellow, some examples of alliteration, etc., to showcase vocabulary and descriptive writing.
Why only a 4 instead of a 5? The different greens and yellows described were not all defined enough that readers would know which was which, or how to imagine them (children might know pickle or pear colors, but how many shades of green are there in a parakeet, and what exactly do Crocodile green or sap green look like? I would have liked a chart in the back pages of the book after the story was over to help me sort out the different colors. Probably overthinking, but in taking the book apart after reading it through for the flow, I was disturbed that I could not pinpoint each color precisely, and if I could not, my guess is most children could not either.
October 3, 2017
Expect to see "The Gold Leaf" on Caldecott short-lists in the future. Matthew Forsythe uses color with abandon, expanding Kirsten Hall's descriptions of shades of greens (and, later, yellows) into rich paintings reminiscent of Disney concept art. (Eyvind Earle and his work on Sleeping Beauty comes to mind.) Forsythe also uses negative space to great effect. The composition of each page draws the eye exactly where it needs to be. For example, the page on which the gold leaf (rendered in actual shiny gold!) first appears, every animal is stark white among the yellows and golds of the forest, all of which stands in stark contrast to where a spot where the forest breaks, a deep and mysterious black, exactly where the gold leaf hangs. Forsythe silhouettes the animals often into white, impressionistic renderings, especially when they're all together, which I think appeals not only to the aesthetic brain of adults, but to the newly forming child-brain, which might still be getting the hang on "warbler" over "bird."
The only thing holding this book back, I think, is its old-school commitment to rendering the type along the bottom of the page, in a single white strip. The font also isn't particularly special, which is kind of a bummer, considering how vibrant and unique the illustrations are. It doesn't appeal to me, aesthetically, but I can see how it would contribute to early reader success. I'm hoping the Caldecott committee might be able to see that, too.
The only thing holding this book back, I think, is its old-school commitment to rendering the type along the bottom of the page, in a single white strip. The font also isn't particularly special, which is kind of a bummer, considering how vibrant and unique the illustrations are. It doesn't appeal to me, aesthetically, but I can see how it would contribute to early reader success. I'm hoping the Caldecott committee might be able to see that, too.
July 30, 2017
The Gold Leaf, by Kirsten Hall, is one of those rare children's picture books that has all the things one wants in a children's picture book - beautiful artwork, succinct writing, easily understood or explainable moral lesson, and keepsake quality - to list the things I find of importance. Ms. Hall has created a timeless work that I, for one, found to be very moving by virtue of the hope that if storybook animals can learn to value community above individuality, then perhaps people can also set aside their own avarice. If there is one thing I can say is lacking in the book, it is that there are no memorable characters. However the forest animals involved comprise a group, and as a group, they are one of the two significant "characters" within the book. The other is the gold leaf, a representational figure that symbolizes things which we desire, which might pit us against one another, unless we learn a greater lesson on what is truly valuable.
July 24, 2017
Among the many beautiful green tones of spring in the forest, a gold leaf appears and mesmerizes the animals. Each animal claims it for her own, until the leaf is torn to pieces. The next spring the beautiful gold leaf appears once more, and this time the animals respect its beauty. Absolutely gorgeous illustrations, impressionistic and organic, make this book a standout. Spare poetic prose allows the illustrations to tell the story. An author's note tells about gold leafing, and about how her grandfather was responsible for the gilding of several buildings in New York City.
August 29, 2017
Beautifully illustrated, this book tells the story of how a forest comes alive at the sight of a lone golden leaf. Causing animosity among the animals, the leaf ultimately disappears. Only to return once more, at which time the animals enjoy it together instead of letting it break them apart. The text appears in a border at the bottom of the page, allowing the illustrations to speak for themselves and providing the option to read the book with or without text accompaniment. Well crafted, this book is a treat to hold and read.
October 5, 2025
Beautifully illustrated.
Greed comes in many forms. Here a beautiful gold leaf is coveted by all the animals, but as each one steals the beauty for themself, the prize gets torn apart and destroyed. All the animals find themselves regretting their actions, especially since they have all lost something most singular and precious. The seasons continue to change, and as spring comes around again, so does a single golden leaf. Will the animals remember the lessons from last time?
Greed comes in many forms. Here a beautiful gold leaf is coveted by all the animals, but as each one steals the beauty for themself, the prize gets torn apart and destroyed. All the animals find themselves regretting their actions, especially since they have all lost something most singular and precious. The seasons continue to change, and as spring comes around again, so does a single golden leaf. Will the animals remember the lessons from last time?
September 25, 2017
Each time you see a tiny peak of gold in this book, you will take a tiny gulp, and understand why all the animals in the forest were so desperate to hold get it for themselves, because it is so shockingly vibrant and alive. Beautiful story and wonderful illustrations, this book is one that needs to be slowly read and treasured.
January 18, 2018
All I do lately is make book comparisons. These animals are the sophisticated cousins of Rainbow Fish, what with all their admiring and coveting and absconding and then sharing of the golden leaf. The play on words is beautifully executed with the accented inlay, and the artwork is otherwise quite lovely.
December 7, 2018
A beautifully illustrated picture book about how a gold leaf blooms on a tree and all the animals want it. The gold leaf was made with gold metallic material that really made it pop off the page. I liked the subtle message that nature is best enjoyed where it grows, not plucked and taken home. Would be best as a one-on-one story to see all the fine details in the illustrations.
December 26, 2020
A golden leaf (presented in actual gold leaf that was quite fascinating to my son) captures the attention of forest animals. They fight over it and eventually end up destroying it. When the next season comes and a gold leaf grows again, they let it be. It was fun to try to find all the bits of shiny gold on the pages.
November 6, 2021
I was initially attracted to the artwork while flipping through this book. Wanted something with a fall theme for storytime in the classroom. This is abstract enough for them to make their own connections to the changes in the air, and still has a short lesson about paying attention and watching- the reward may be so small, and be missed, or enough to carry you through the day.
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July 1, 2025A cautionary tale about greed featuring a golden leaf and woodland creatures with a hopeful ending and subtle environmentalist message. The prose has a lush, sweet quality but creates enough suspense and action to keep a kid's attention. The illustrations and gold foil details take this book to the next level. It feels like an old folk tale in the best way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews