Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

by Lois Ehlert

In this innovative and colorful work of early nonfiction from Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones are introduced to facts about trees. Ehlert blends bold graphics, vibrant colors, and precise details in her watercolor collage alongside found objects like seeds, fabric, wire, and roots. A special glossary explains how roots absorb nutrients, what photosynthesis is, how sap circulates, how to make a bird treat, and other facts about trees. Children and adults will feel inspired to take a closer look at the nature in their own backyards. Celebrate Earth Day, spring, and the basics of trees while improving color recognition with Lois Ehlert's Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf !

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Science, Childrens, Nonfiction, Plants, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 1991

About the author

Lois Ehlert has created numerous inventive, celebrated, and bestselling picture books, including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Holey Moley, The Scraps Book, Mice, Ten Little Caterpillars, RRRalph, Lots of Spots, Boo to You!, Leaf Man, Waiting for Wings, Planting a Rainbow, Growing Vegetable Soup, and Color Zoo, which received a Caldecott Honor. She lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I certainly do much enjoy the bright and expressive collage like illustrations of Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf (and especially of the woodpeckers which just happen to also be amongst my favourite bird species), I personally think that it would have been better and more successful for author and illustrator Lois Ehlert to have either penned a non-fiction book about sugar maples (and woodpeckers) or recounted a fictional tree-based narrative, as the combination of fiction/non-fiction in Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf is in my opinion not executed all that well, has not been rendered all that successfully (and actually even tends to feel rather disjointed and uneven, with the fiction part of Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf more suitable for younger children and the non fiction part definitely more suitable for older children, and perhaps even younger teenagers). Now Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf is definitely informative and still a worthwhile read for (or with) children interested in trees and ecology (and I do much appreciate the included recipe for the bird treat and have, in fact, made it on occasion for the many downy and pileated woodpeckers on my property). However, I really do not find the story part of the presented narrative all that engaging, and really, rather flat and majorly uninspiring (or at least, it feels that way for me and to me). Nevertheless, somewhat recommended, but only in a rather limited fashion (as for me, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf is really and truly just a very basically adequate two star read, and not all that special and spectacular by any and all stretches of my imagination).

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehlert's collage artwork is worth an OOH! and an AAH! as it celebrates the fireworks of fall . . .


The story is nothing but the life cycle of a sugar maple tree.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the books for October’s Autumn/Halloween theme at the Picture Books club, one of the Children's Books group's clubs. Of the six monthly books for this club, I’d read two and I’m waiting for three to arrive. This is the first one I’ve read specifically for the club.

Well, I thought I was going to love this when I opened the book and saw a leaf shape cut out of yellow over orange (I am often easily entertained) and I did like this book, but I wasn’t wowed.

I liked the non-fiction parts best, sections where information is given about sugar maple trees, and I liked the illustrations, although I loved only a very few. But I didn’t find the “story” all that entertaining. I think children who are in a position to plant and/or tend a sugar maple are most likely to find this book engaging. My favorite thing (even though it’s not vegan – egg white is included) was the how to make a bird treat on the inside back cover of the book, which includes a photo of the heart shaped finished product and the instructions to make it.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up just based on the cover thinking it would be a good autumn read. It's actually more of a "nature book" talking about the life of a maple tree from seed to sapling to being planted in the child narrator's back yard. There's some info in the back discussing different aspects of the maple tree. This would be a good seasonal tie-in to science curriculum, perhaps, though I didn't find it an especially engaging read.

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf and I was hoping for more. When I first saw the cover and the first couple pages I thought the artwork was great; the leaf cutout and the pretty fall colors. After a few pages unfortunately I began to lose interest. My favorite part wasn't a part of the story. It was how to make a bird treat. I plan on making this with my daughter, mom, and dad at their house which has an abundance of trees and many birdhouses. I appreciate what the author was doing, teaching about planting trees through their personal experience. I learned of this book from the wonderful group found here. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
Update: Pictures from bird treat day http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

[Ronyell · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” is an informative children’s book by Lois Ehlert and it is basically about the life cycle of trees being told through creative illustrations. “Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” may have interesting illustrations and great information on the tree cycle, however the story might be a bit too bland for many children to handle.

I did enjoyed Lois Ehlert’s illustrations as they were both colorful and creative at the same time. I especially loved the way that Lois Ehlert used real objects such as tree roots, name labels and suet bags as a part of her own illustrations by pasting each object on her illustrations, which makes the content of this book much more believable for both adults and children! I also enjoyed the fact sheet about trees and how to plant them that Lois Ehlert provided towards the end of the book since this will help both children and adults about the process that the trees go through and how to plant the trees.

Even though I was practically glorifying over how beautiful Lois Ehlert’s illustrations were and how informative the book is, this book is a bit too bland for some children to handle. The book seems to lack a bit of excitement that you would find in informative children’s books like Babette Cole’s “Dr. Dog” as the book seems to drone on in a monotonic tone and the writing is a tad bit confusing as there are several phrases in this book that are not easily comprehended, such as this phrase “Tiny leaves unfolded on their stems” instead of saying “The tiny leaves are unfolded on their stems.”

All in all, even though “Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” does have great information about the tree cycle that can help many children understand about trees, if you are expecting a creative or interesting informative book for children, then this book might not be for some children due to the bland story.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have fond memories of the many hours I would spend - in all seasons, and every kind of weather - swinging upside down from the Japanese maple that stood in my front yard, growing up, so this picture-book tribute to a maple tree (a sugar maple, in this case) was bound to appeal to me! With a simple text and bright illustrations, Ehlert follows the story of the tree's life, from its germination from a fallen seed, and uprooting by nursery workers, to its purchase and planting by the young narrator. An informative afterword discusses the parts of the tree (the roots, the buds, etc.), and how it might best be planted.

Chosen as a Reading Rainbow Book, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf is a title that is both engaging and educational. The gorgeous collage artwork, created using everything from seeds and roots to fabric and paper, is vivid and memorable, and the emphasis on fall colors makes it especially appealing as a seasonal autumn read. Although it isn't really a story-book, it would function very well as a science selection for younger children, I think. All in all, it's just a lovely little book!

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I expected this book to be about the changing of seasons or Autumn because inside the front cover there is a cut out of a leaf amongst a pile of yellow leaves. My son and I quickly determined that this book is more about the author writing about her maple tree, its parts and how it was planted. My son’s favorite illustrations were the ones that included the Black capped Chickadees, Squirrels and Downey Woodpecker eating suet from the tree. I think this book would work well when discussing the life cycle of a tree or about planting trees.

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real-life nature pictures and shape cut-outs inserted are a hit with young children who have an interest in how things grow.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction picture book about Sugar Maple trees. Mixed-media collage illustrations create interest in the subject. Includes information about how to plant a tree.

[Leslie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story that talks about the life cycle of a tree and some of the birds and animals that make the tree part of their home. Creative illustrative style.

This book was selected as one of the October 2011 - Autumn and Halloween reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely mix of beautifully crafted fiction with real information about trees, giving children a chance to really love nature!

[Carolyn Jeziorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid nonfiction book on how trees grow. It includes the tree through the seasons. It would be good to use in early childhood classes learning about trees and plants.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text-to-Teaching Connection:

After reading "Read Leaf, Yellow Leaf," I immediately thought of a good hands-on science experiment for children. What child does not like to get messy and watch things grow? In response to this picture book, children will have the opportunity to plant and take care of a tree seedling. Many science standards could be taught using this experiment such as water cycle, and properties of plant life. Students can also journal about the seedling's sequencing of life as well as their hands-on experience with helping the tree seedling grow. The hands-on experience and the writing connections will help leave a lasting memory that the children certainly will not forget. I think the seedling would be a great addition to the classroom, children have the chance to feel responsible with the seedling's care while strengthening their science and character.

[Ten_zillions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This introduces great vocabulary like photosynthesis. It is also a great book to introduce plant life cycles and plants. A lesson on nature can be created from this book. A teacher could also go on a nature walk with Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf as the basis for the walk and to reinforce important facts from the book.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book depicting the life cycle of a tree. The book has cute pictures with labels for different items within the picture. There is also some extra detailed content in the back of the book.

[Esther Barajikian · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf" is a beautiful picture book intended for primary readers. It has won many awards including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award. I gave this book a 4-star rating. "Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf" is written from the perspective of a young child who is telling the story of his beloved sugar maple tree. The little narrator takes the reader from its most early stage as a wind blown seed to its present state as a lovely tree in his yard. The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful and filled with the brilliant colors of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Children are sure to love the simple, yet imaginative language as well as the beautiful pictures that reflect the excitement and fun of childhood days.

Another wonderful aspect of this book is that it is a great teaching tool. Not only will children enjoy the easy paced story line, they will also have the opportunity to learn all about the life cycle of trees. Near the end of the book, the author has included all kinds of interesting fact about the sugar maple tree. Information on the leaves, roots, seeds, bark, flowers, and much more is presented in a child-friendly format. Steps are even provided to help young readers plant and fall in love with their own trees.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for Halloween and autumn books lately and this one fit the bill perfectly. All my children loved this one, my 5 yr old as well as my twin 3 yr olds. They loved watching the cutout leaves change color from page to page and my older son loved watching the whole tree growing process documented like a science project. He loves science. Lots of fun for the fall season.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tells about planting a tree and the seasons it passes through.

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me of my grandparent's street that was lined with maple trees.

[Dusty Budd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Title: Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
Author/Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 2.6
Based on your evaluation of the ten characteristics related to text difficulty: 1.Genres/Form, 2.Text Structure, 3.Content, 4.Themes and Ideas, 5.Language and Literary Features, 6.Sentence Complexity, 7.Vocabulary, 8.Words, 9.Illustrations and 10.Book and Print Features such as pages, print font, punctuation, reader’s tools.

Book Summary: (1-2 sentences)
This book explains the life cycle of a Sugar maple from being harvested as a sprout and then purchased by a young child to be planted in their yard for years to come. The storyteller describes the emotions and the sights they see as they watch the tree grow over a number of years.


Bookshelf Genre:
__X___Picture Books _____ Historical fiction _____Traditional Literature
__X___ Informational Books _____Multicultural Literature _____ Biography
_____Contemporary Realistic Fiction _____ Modern Fantasy _____ Graphic Novels
_____Poetry

Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits (explain one or two content integration ideas):

Ideas – The author explains in detail the life cycle of a Sugar maple through the eyes of a child that purchases it. It discusses visually what types of animals live in it, how it gets to be planted in a yard and at the end, a detailed definition of each part of the tree and what each does. For student writing, this can lead to breaking down simple concepts and vocabulary then bringing them all together. I would have students pick a tree or flower and then write down the life cycle of that from seed to full growth


Organization -


Voice -


Word Choice -


Sentence Fluency -


Conventions -


Presentation –



Other Suggestions:

[Hannah Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf helps show kids the lifecycle of trees, while telling the story of how a boy got a tree. Seeds get blown off of the big maple trees in the woods. If the squirrels don’t find the seeds, then they will be covered with snow. As spring comes, the warmth of the sun helps sprout the seeds and grow roots deep into the soil. Then, leaves begin to grow on the plant. Nursey workers come to the woods and transplant the sprouts to new homes. The trees get uprooted multiple times before the roots are finally wrapped up and tied with twine. Those trees are moved to stores and are sold. That is where the boy’s family got their tree, which is now planted in their yard! The boy checks on his tree throughout all 4 seasons. But, his favorite season is fall. The story ends by asking “Can you guess why?” The reason is quite clear with the colorful leaves spread across the page!

[Jackie Sisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf is a book that features a child narrator telling the readers about his tree. I love this book and I think it is very cute. There is a lot of science in this book as the child walks us through the lifecycle of their tree as well as a lot of explanation as to how trees come to be sold in stores. I had never thought to explain this concept to a child until now, but it makes perfect sense. This book also has environmental and conservation undertones which are always needed in as we try to teach our children to care for the world around them. Perhaps my favorite part of this book, however, is the pictures on every page. The mixed media artwork is stunning and engaging. It is something that I rarely see in children's books but greatly appreciated seeing in Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf.

[Brooke Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best fall books ever for children, this story is about the life of a tree in a child’s yard and the changes in it from fall to spring. In the book the child observes how the trees in his front yard keep changing all around him. He loves all the bright colors! This book would be great to implement in the classroom when learning specifically about fall because it explains the cycle of a tree through the year. The reader sees how the different seasons affect the tree and get to see it multiply. I would teach with this book in a unit focused on seasons or even in science for younger grades! I would have the students draw and observe the trees outside the school throughout the year. The only thing I don’t like about this book was just how short it was in length!  

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This tells the story of a Sugar Maple tree and how the sugar maplestrees shed their leaves and seeds, how they bud and grow, and how they can be uprooted and transplanted again elsewhere to make a new tree. The story is told with very simple language and illustrations which makes it a great story to educate young children about planting trees in the spring or fall.

While it's not my favorite story by Lois Ehlert, I always fall in love with her illustrations, paper cut outs, combined with real materials. It gives the story a 3D effect and is a really unique style. She's one of the first children's authors that I know of to ever illustrate a story this way.

[Brandice Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read during a lesson about seasons or fall. This book goes over leaves and how they grow and change colors. The words on each page are big and the pictures are bright. There are some words on each page that the teacher can go over while reading to teach new words. The teacher can bring leaves into the classroom and leave them to show the changing colors over time, the kids can make bird feeders for their trees at home or at school, or the teacher can also bring seeds in the classroom and go over each one. I would recommend this book be used to talk about fall or seasons.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows the 'birth' and growth of a tree as told by a child who plants it in their yard. Love the texture and colors in the pictures, but they are pretty zoomed in. Makes it a little hard to discern for my younger ones, what was actually being pictured. So yeah, I liked it, but as a storytime read, it's just OK for my usual audiences. Might use it for a storytime on trees or seasons (especially spring and fall). I can see using it as a STEM program book too, maybe with planting seeds as an activity. There are some good projects in the back of the book (including a bird seed treat ornament 'recipe' that I hadn't seen before).

[Courtney Hoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love how the author took a simple idea and transformed it into a book. This book illustrates the life of a tree, and I feel like it is important for children to know how they grow and how to take care of them because as they learn about trees, they learn about the Earth and how to take care of it. This is why I gave this book 5 stars because it teaches children about nature, and towards the end of the book the author laid out definitions of parts of the trees, how to plant a tree, and how to take care of trees.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about plants and seasons. There are so many activities that you can you can do with this book. Lois Ehlert was so creative when putting this book together. After reading the book you can instantly start asking questions about why fall is the best time to see the tree which could lead to a conversation about how the leaves change colors in the fall. I love how it goes through how the tree started from a seed and how it got to the nursery and then they bought the tree and planted it and so on. Very educational and very creative I love it.