A Pile of Leaves: Published in collaboration with the Whitney Museum of American Art

Description

Readers explore the concept of layering and collage with this interactive exercise in composition. Each acetate page depicts a single element in the leaf pile, though some are not leaves at all! As readers turn the pages, the leaf pile is deconstructed on the left. Younger readers will enjoy the seek-and-find aspects of hidden objects, while older readers might experiment by adding their own images between the pages. A key at the back provides the names of each kind of leaf shown. Inspired by the Whitney Museum's approach to looking at art, these books provide a new way to look at the world. First, it's not a book made of paper, but of clear plastic: - The pages are acetate (in board frames), which means you can see through them. - The pantone colors are screen printed onto each page, creating a rich, slightly transparent look. - And so: Yes, it's a pile of leaves... but it's also a collage! - A collage that is methodically deconstructed and reconstructed with each turn of the page. - A collage that artfully hides a few surprises between the leaves - A collage the invites readers to flip back and forth, to hold the book up to the light, consider the color overlap, the blending and the contrast, the shifting shapes... - A collage with which readers can experiment by adding their own leaves or objects or colors between the pages ...I think we'd call that interactive, no? And artful. And also, nonfiction! - The final spread features each leaf and object with its proper name - Horse chestnut, cherry, birch... they're all stylized by factual, adding another dimension to this interdisciplinary book.

Author Tamara Shopsin has garnered much critical acclaim for her other (non-children's) books, most recently her memoir Arbitrary Stupid Goal which was reviewed by NPR, The New Yorker, Vogue and others.

"I'm not much of a fan of wordless picture books. A Pile of Leaves is an exception... My kids and I paged through the book once, silently. Then we started over and talked through it, discussing leaves and piles and missing objects. 'It's like digging through a toy basket for a missing piece', my son said."-The New York Times "Say hello to the coming season with this beautiful new book... With stunning autumnal elements... Inviting young readers to dig through leaves of all shapes and sized to uncover surprises beneath."-Baby Magazine "The striking design engages tactile and visual senses while inviting readers to observe colors, compare shapes, and learn new vocabulary."-Publishers Weekly "Rising Board Book Superstars... Fulford & Shopsin have been producing consistently inventive books in that field... With bold striking colors and [an] infinitely cool design, I can't think of a better autumnal title to kick off today's list."-School Library Journal Online "Fantastic and fascinating for pre-readers, this clever collage book features see-through acetate pages to create, quite literally, a pile of leaves. Delve through the layers to discover the creepy crawlies hiding underneath."-Absolutely Mama "A lovely way to introduce young children to the art of collage."-5 Minutes for Mom "Playfully designed to invite young readers to dig through a pile of laves and uncover the surprises throughout. The clever design also presents the opportunity for children to add their own images between the book's clear pages."-City Kids "This clever book of collage features see-through acetate pages with beautiful autumnal elements, playfully designed... Young readers will enjoy the seek-and-find aspect... The clever design also presents the opportunity for children to add their own images between the book's clear pages."-Just imagine "An interesting book that will get children excited about fall."-Imagination Soup "Innovative, modern and incredibly fun."-Kids' Home Library "If you love the countryside in autumn, and want to share woodland walks and nature with your little ones, you'll love this new book for pre-schoolers."-Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays "What a wonderful way to invite children to explore not just this book, but also the world around them, where so many simple treasures hide in plain sight... This book is its own little work of art."-Kirkus Reviews - Starred review "This board book is one that feels extra special the moment you open it... It's one of those books that makes you think "I can't believe no one has thought of this before!"-Book Nerd Mommy blog "A sophisticated reprise of the old kindergarten activity of sealing fallen leaves between sheets of transparent wax paper... Turning the pages has the effect of emptying one pile (which, like a real leaf pile, includes the odd insect and lost mitten) and creating a new one."-The Wall Street Journal "This innovative wordless book, created in partnership with the Whitney Museum of American Art, uses see-through pages to create a collage of beautifully coloured leaves... A clever idea that sparks conversation and encourages curiosity."-BooksWithBaby.com "Published in association with the Whitney Museum of American Art, this book is its own little work of art."-Kirkus Reviews "Just right for fall reading either one-on-one or with a small group, this board book offers a unique experience... Clever and a delight to explore, this board book is like breathing crisp fall air in book form."-Waking Brain Cell