Title: The Leaf That Went on an Unexpected Road Trip
Author: Laure Stack
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 9798251062571
Pages: 35
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Adventure
Reviewer: Gabriella Harrison
Pacific Book Review
Often, we go on adventures without considering other living things such as animals and plants could also be on their own adventure. Well, in this imaginative and colorful illustrated children’s book, The Leaf That Went on an Unexpected Road Trip, author Laure Stack allows readers to envision themselves as a leaf on a scary, new, but exciting adventure.
This leaf’s adventure begins when it’s blown off its tree and lands on a car’s windshield, becoming separated from its friends. While it’s still processing this change, two girls get into the car excitedly talking about some trip. Indeed, the leaf feels it’s over and it’ll soon meet its end, and although it’s terrified with the illustration aptly capturing this terror through its wide-open mouth and outstretched arms, it somehow hangs on to the car as it rumbles down the road. The first stop is a large shopping center, after which the leaf realizes that they’re leaving its beloved mountain, as the meaning of a trip slowly begins to dawn on it.
I particularly like how the leaf’s changing expressions were portrayed to match the story, as it slowly began to enjoy the trip, conquering its fear and refusing to be blown away even as objects whizz past threatening to strike it off the car. From the desert with its strange Joshua trees to the noisy city, and even the breathtaking beach, its courage is tested, even as it longs for the mountains it calls home. And despite this huge terror it feels when it’s torn from its oak tree, it gradually discovers a resilience within itself that it never knew it had, encouraging children to never give up while passing across a gentle message about loving adventure while still cherishing where you come from.
The warmth shown by the girls to it, as they make it part of their trip, constantly checking on it, is also endearing, and reminds readers to show care to others, even if they are different. A nice reminder, especially in a children’s book.
What I like most about this book is the vibrant illustrations and how well the landscape and scene changes are captured from the mountains to the shopping center and roads till they eventually get to their destination. When the leaf finally spots its familiar mountains in the fading sun, its relief is so palpable, as it begins to glow. Laure Stack’s warm children’s book, The Leaf That Went on an Unexpected Road Trip, reminds us that even the most unexpected road trips can give us better stories to share without necessarily changing who we are. Young readers will delight in following the leaf’s path while gaining a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the changes that shape it.
