Dance Like a Leaf

by A.J. Irving, Claudia Navarro (Illustrations)

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

Genres: Picture Books, Death, Grief, Family, Childrens, Fiction, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2020

About the author

A.J. Irving grew up in Boise, Idaho, writing stories and daydreaming about becoming an author. Now, she writes picture books and poetry beneath an old elm tree in Salt Lake City. A.J. is the author of Dance Like a Leaf, The Wishing Flower, and The Bi Book (Knopf BFYR, May 2025).

As a children’s author and former bookmobile librarian, A.J. is passionate about inspiring kids to love books. When she’s not reading, writing, or dancing, she enjoys exploring Utah with her husband, two children, and their English bulldogs. Learn more at www.ajirving.com

Reviews

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lost my Grandmother a few years back and I'm still not over it. There are so many things that remind me of her and it hurts daily. I pick up the phone to talk with her but then I remember that I can't and it hurts all over again.

This brought back fond memories of the times I've had with my Grandmother. It hit me right in my feelings.

Just remember that just because someone you love dearly is gone, doesn't mean that they'll ever be forgotten. Live in those memories and feel their love surround you as you do.

[Jolene Gutiérrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

September is filled with beautiful colors and experiences: sipping tea with Grandma, singing to the trees, and dancing like a leaf as the trees lose their leaves. But as autumn turns to winter, Grandma isn't the same, and soon, Grandma is gone. A powerful and important book about the seasons of life and the celebrations to be found both when our loved ones are with us and after they're gone. Lyrical language coupled with vibrant illustrations makes this book a must-have for all libraries and homes, and this book is a perfect bibliotherapy book for counselors and therapists as well.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl and her grandmother celebrate the delights of autumn as they sip their tea, bundle up, twirl under the falling leaves, and wave to the trees. "Dance like a leaf!" Grandma says, and the girl does.

But, as time goes by, Grandma has more and more difficulty enjoying her tea and wrapping in scarves, twirling under the leaves and waving to trees.

And then the girl only has memories of Grandma to console her.

Beautiful illustrations. Poetic language.

[Bonnie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I had to dry my eyes before I could see to write this review. What an absolutely beautiful story about love and life and the changing of seasons (literally and figuratively). This lyrical masterpiece, complimented by the vibrant illustrations tells a simple story of a girl and her grandmother who love autumn and mark the passing of time together with tea, and scarves and dancing with leaves. But what will happen when grandmother is no longer there? This story is must read for any family with elderly grandparents who are forgetting, or who have left us- with fond memories.

[Candace Spizzirri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Irving weaves a beautiful story about the loving relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter. As the season changes from autumn to winter, grandma can no longer sip tea, wrap scarves, and dance like a leaf with her granddaughter. When grandma ultimately passes, the loss is painful, but granddaughter carries her grandmother’s memory in her heart and continues to dance like a leaf like grandma taught her. Navarro’s vibrant illustrations pair perfectly with Irving’s lyrical text. Oh, my heart! A must read!

[Jolene Gutiérrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

September is filled with beautiful colors and experiences: sipping tea with Grandma, singing to the trees, and dancing like a leaf as the trees lose their leaves. But as autumn turns to winter, Grandma isn't the same, and soon, Grandma is gone. A powerful and important book about the seasons of life and the celebrations to be found both when our loved ones are with us and after they're gone. Lyrical language coupled with vibrant illustrations makes this book a must-have for all libraries and homes, and this book is a perfect bibliotherapy book for counselors and therapists as well.

[Ollie Skyba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to say I’ve never loved autumn (that was before I moved to California and somehow lost my sense of seasonal change)... and this book reminded me why.

Autumn (fall) is always a time of loss, remembrance, and trying to hold onto fading memories. My lips trembled as I read this tender story, and I felt as if my loved ones who are no longer here were looking at me from somewhere beyond.
A beautifully emotional book that gently touches on the themes of aging, memory, and letting go.
A quiet, powerful read.

[Katje van Loon]

Well, this made me tear up.

Beautiful book to help teach kids about grief and remembering those who have left us.

[Robin Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous book talks about a grandmother and granddaughter's relationship and the rituals they share through the seasons. "September. Green goes to sleep. Yellow sings a sweet melody. Grandma loves autumn. We sip our tea. ‘Tea makes your tummy toasty,’ Grandma says.” Unfortunately, Grandma becomes ill and eventually dies, but the granddaughter lovingly continues their rituals that brought her so much joy. The text is short and lyrical, and will sing to your heart. The illustrations could not be more perfect. p.s. You may want to keep some tissues nearby when reading this book. Highly recommend it!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance Like a Leaf is stunning on all levels. The imagery, story, and art are all absolutely gorgeous and heartwarming. I cried reading this beautiful progression from having fun with an exciting, vibrant grandma to dealing with grandma passing away to finally remembering and celebrating the inspiring woman that the child loved so much. Everyone should get a copy of this book to celebrate the wonderful relationships between kids and grandparents.

[Lisa Katzenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance Like a Leaf is a beautiful picture book about losing a loved one, told in a gentle and accessible way. The parallel between the tree’s lifecycle and Grandma’s life is beautifully written. The lyrical text is like a hug through this story that will melt your heart.

[Norene Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irving's touching story paired with Narvarro's bold and dynamic art tugs at the heart of anyone who has loved (and lost) a grandparent. Handling loss in a children's book is not an easy task, yet DANCE LIKE A LEAF does so lovingly and compassionately. The grandparent/grandchild relationship is personal and strong and so is the reader's response as the story unfolds. Grandma is entering the autumn of her life, and her granddaughter's response to slowly losing her and their special bond will touch the heart of every reader. The analogy of the seasons of the year and the seasons of life is perfectly orchestrated to make this story a perfect choice for anyone dealing with loss.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh, what a beautiful book - story, text, illustrations, and color.

I was pulling some books to consider for storytime this week, and I thought this would be perfect since it incorporates fall (since tomorrow is the first day of fall), and a grandparent (since National Grandparents' Day was earlier in September). However, I'm not sure the adults of kiddos at my storytime would appreciate me reading a book that subtly incorporates the death of a grandparent, so I'm just savoring this sweet story for myself. It would be excellent for a book display for children on grief/loss.

I'm glad that our library has copies in both Spanish and English!

[Skylaar Amann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance like a Leaf is an ode to a grandmother, to loves and lives lost. Irving's prose reads like a lyrical poem, words flitting and floating like autumn leaves in a story that feels like a memory and will tug at your heart strings. Navarro's illustrations use color masterfully and are loaded with nostalgia that enhances the bittersweet story of the bond between child and grandmother, and the inevitable, beautiful cycle of seasons, life, and death.

[Rita Orrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lyrical story about a grandmother's declining health and eventual loss is written with a delicate hand and illustrated with vibrant, beautiful illustrations. Irving offers readers a hopeful reminder that those we lose are never really gone, as they live on in our hearts. An important story about love, loss, and remembrance, this book is sure to make a difference in many lives and even inspire a few young readers to go out and dance in the leaves. Highly recommended.

[Meera Sriram · Rating 5 out of 5]

From title to text to art, this book is gentle and beautiful every step of the way. The story is about a little girl having to take the lead when Grandma turns slow and forgetful. And when Grandma drifts into the other world and their favorite season comes along, she learns to find comfort in recreating memories - of sipping tea, bundling up, and dancing in the leaves. Lyrical words bounce and flow on gorgeous spreads of floating autumn foliage.This book is a celebration of special bonds. It's a tool to help grieve and a great read-aloud to savor at home or talk about in a classroom. 

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought back a lot of memories for me. Like the child in the story, I remember dancing with my Nana when I was a little girl. I love that this book ended, not with sadness, but with hope as the main character danced in the leaves and imagined her grandmother was there with her. A beautifully written story that both celebrates the bond between grandmother and granddaughter and deals with loss.

[Anita Amin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl remembers her special traditions with Grandma and looks for a way to cope with loss. This story is like a beautiful tapestry of imagery, emotion, and lyrical language. The gorgeous, vivid illustrations are breathtaking. This book is not only an excellent tool to help children through the grieving process but it also serves as a great introduction to colors and seasons. An unforgettable book.

[Cassandra Federman · Rating 5 out of 5]

People talk about the power of picture books. The really special ones can move you to tears and this is one of those. The words are sparse and powerful. Beautiful poetry. The pictures are stunning. I challenge you to read this and not feel something! It's also a wonderful book/tool to open up discussions about death and dying with children. I highly recommend buying this book!

[Nanette Heffernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helping Children Deal with Death. No matter how prepared we might be for the death of a loved one (a long illness or just age itself), it is never easy. Irving takes such a sad and delicate subject and makes it hopeful; our loved ones are always with us. The art is an absolute treat as well. My favorite spread was Navarro’s rendition of Grandma dancing in the child’s memory. Precious and touching.

[Serena Gingold Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and touching story about a girl’s relationship with her grandma. While reading it, my five-year-old son asked me “Why did they make it sad?” and I thought he was going to be turned off by the story, but at the end he said that he like everything about it. Gorgeous, bright illustrations keep the story positive and hopeful, as does the sweet simplicity of the text. When we finished reading, my son and I talked about how his grandparents won’t be alive forever. I’m sure we’ll come back to this story in the future.

[Jen Bagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! Irving's lyrical prose and Navarro's vibrant illustrations perfectly capture the bond between a grandmother and granddaughter. The sticky subject of declining health and death are skillfully handled and easily accessible for young readers. This book is a gem and deserves a place on every home and library bookshelf.

[Eric Rosswood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book that tackles a difficult topic in a gentle, loving way. It’s about losing someone you love, but it’s also about honoring them and celebrating life. The pairing of the beautiful text and the vibrant illustrations create a heartfelt story that will stay with readers long after they finish the book.

[Katia Wish · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a poetic way to show the connection between a Grandma and a granddaughter! And more importantly, the bond is still there once the Grandma is gone.
The writing is direct, sincere and full of emotion. The images are as evocative as the words. I love how golden autumn leaves are incorporated in all the images and add another layer of emotion and connection between the Grandma and the girl.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores a beautiful relationship between a girl and her grandma, and shows their rituals together, like sipping tea and waving to the trees. The writing is wonderfully poetic, and the illustrations are the perfect complement and show the changing of the seasons. Have tissues ready.

[Susan Novich · Rating 5 out of 5]

AJ Irving has taken on the difficult subject of loss and turned it into a beautiful book that honors the memory of her grandmother. It is sweet, honest and profound on a level understandable to children. The vibrant, colorful illustrations by Claudia Navarro capture the relationship of a grandmother and granddaughter, and like the lovely, poetic text, celebrates their relationship, showing children how memories of times shared with someone you love can keep their spirit alive and always be a part of your life.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandma and granddaughter love fall. They have a tradition of dancing in the leaves and sipping tea. In November and December, her health declines and she dies. It is up to her granddaughter, through her grief, to keep up her grandmother's traditions.

[Derick Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This multi-generational tale wraps the theme of personal loss in the warmth of fall colors, steeping tea, and comforting scarves. As a young girl must take the lead in the arboreal dance with her grandmother, the lyrical text and autumn palette immerse us in their journey. A beautiful homage that handles the subject matter with the beauty and grace...of a dancer.

[Michal Babay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical, gorgeous, heartfelt. What a beautiful ode to a beloved grandparent!

[Sita Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, poignant story, which is about a little girl’s relationship with her grandmother and how she copes with the loss, when this special person is gone from her life. As Claudia’s vibrant art breathes life onto every page, AJ’s lyrical text tugs at your heartstrings. Dance Like a Leaf is a heartwarming story that would help initiate conversations about important topics like special bonds and painful losses.