The picture book was introducing a lot of themes here from the melancholy of Fletcher's feelings to the grief of his favorite tree changing to only being able to hold onto just a few leaves, seeing animals take the falling leaves leaving him with a sense of worry and much more. The final page, in which Fletcher finally sees his tree in a new light, was particularly beautiful, offering a satisfying reassurance that, while change has come, it hasn't destroyed the tree's beauty. All in all, “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” is a cute little story about the beauty of changes in the weather that I think many children who also love trees will enjoy for many years to come! Since then I have written lots of stories about rabbits, bears, mules, dragons, hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, a kind-hearted but easily confused fox. The narrative itself captures a young child's uncertainty and fear, when confronted with change, while the beautiful pastel illustrations evoke all the magic of the season.

I sort of like how the story covers late autumn and early winter only; a part of me wanted more but I think the author made the correct choice of what time period to cover. Fletcher is such a sweet character, and the book's gentle exploration of accepting change is perfect. The image I really loved the most was the final image where the tree is covered in icicles during winter and the icicles are covered with glitter which truly makes the image look beautiful and mesmerizing. When I saw that the title character shared a name with my best furry friend, I knew I had to own this book. Her other recent works include Sweet Dreaming, illustrated by Nicola Wong (Sourcebooks), Dragon's Lost Roar, illustrated by Beccy Blake (Franklin Watts) and Mule School, illustrated by Lynne Chapman (Gullane Children's Books).I am actually writing a review of this picture book because I saw that it was published in Great Britain as "Ferdie and the Falling Leaves," and as an American I am horribly offended that we couldn't be trusted with a fox named Ferdie.

There's a melancholy to the story as Fletcher is confused and sad as to why the leaves continue to fall, so he protects the leaves day after day, but as the season changes the reader understands his grief.

Deeply attached to his favorite tree, Fletcher was terribly worried, as autumn proceeded, to notice it losing leaves. Each morning, Fletcher would come out of the den and explore the world, but then he realizes that the tree’s leaves were turning gold and beginning to fall off the tree. This book shares the precious innocence that children will easily relate to and the gorgeous artwork is such a treat. Julia Rawlinson has certainly done an awesome job at writing this story about a young fox’s attempts to save the tree he loves!

Fletcher loves his tree, but when autumn comes he begins to fear that something terrible is happening--for the leaves begin to turn color and fall off. Originally published in Britain as Ferdie and the Falling Leaves (and subsequently published by Scholastic, for the American school-market, as The Fox and the Falling Leaves), this delightful autumn picture-book follows the story of a young fox, and his somewhat less-than-graceful adjustment to the changing of the seasons. As the autumn season sets in, Fletcher is very worried his beautiful tree has begun to loose all of its leaves. Young readers will share the feelings of wonder and empathy as they curl up with a parent or gather in circle time to enjoy this beautiful picture book. This charming autumnal picture book for young children with a gentle caring storyline by Julia Rawlinson is brought to life with stunning artwork by Tiphanie Beeke.I have loved this picture book ever since I first read it, and I asked for a copy for Christmas when I was sixteen. I love the way that Julia Rawlinson makes Fletcher into such a cute and determined character and what I really loved about Fletcher was how he did not understand about how it is natural for leaves to fall off the trees during winter and autumn but it made him into a caring and determined character which many children will definitely relate to Fletcher’s predicament as I am pretty sure that some small children wondered about what happens to the leaves on the trees during winter and autumn just like little Fletcher here! My Thursday storytime had a lot of younger kids, and some of them lost interest partway through, although the adults seemed to enjoy it. Fletcher And The Falling Leaves features cozy artwork, introducing readers to a curious fox named Fletcher whose looking to protect his favorite tree as the seasons change and the leaves begin to fall. Tiphanie Beeke attended the Royal College of Art where she gained a Master's degree in Illustration and has since specialised in children's books.

but of course being an older reader, it felt like these really impactful themes just weren't explored too much in the sparse text. A tiny breeze shivered the branches, making a sound like laughter, and in the light of the rising sun, the sparkling branches nodded. I read this aloud to 4-year-olds today, and I have never, ever heard such audible gasps of "ohhhh"s as I did when I revealed the final page.

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.