Double spread 4 – Why do the animals name the bear Leaf? Can you think of another name for the bear? Why might the seagull think the polar bear is a ghost? What sort of voice might the badger have? Write a letter from the polar bear, persuading the other animals to let him stay. Look at the illustration – is there anything amusing or unusual occurring?

Leaf spends his days, alone in his dark cave. The animals are afraid of him and run away when they see him, they don’t talk to him but they talk about him. Read the story of Icarus and Daedalus, the inventor and architect who used bird feathers to create wings so he could escape from King Minos’s prison. Explore the themes, characters and storyline. But every child is different, so feel free to adapt our activities to suit their interests and abilities!How do his emotions change throughout the story? Recreate the bear's postures, gestures and body language from other spreads in the book and find words to describe him at each stage. Is it helpful to understand how other people feel? Why? What happens if you don't understand their feelings? There's a stranger in the forest and everyone is worried. Can empathy and insight overcome difference and prejudice? Girls Who Draw Masquerade exhibition :: Leeds, Sep/Nov 2013Mythical Creatures :: Here Gallery, Bristol UK, Feb 2013

Carefully-handled drama activities can be an effective way to develop thinking around such issues, as well as helping children improve their speaking, listening and other language skills. Double spread 9 – How has the illustrator shown the movement of the water? What do you think has happened to the bear? Why do you think he has jumped from the cliff? Explain what the crows are thinking and feeling. Can you summarise what has happened in the story up to this point? Double spread 2 – Where does the polar bear set up his home? Which word or phrase tells you that the animals were wary of the bear? Look at the illustration – what do you notice about the size of the polar bear? What animals can you see in the picture? How do the colours used to depict the bear’s cave compare to the colours used for the animals and foliage?

Double spread 12 – How are the crows helping Leaf? Imagine you are Leaf, saying goodbye to all the animals – what might you say? Do you think Leaf has forgiven the animals for being so mean to him? What do you think the moral is this story is? Does this story remind you of anything? Is this story a fairytale? Do you think Leaf will be reunited with his family? Why do you think the author created this book? One day, a polar bear washes up on the edge of the wild wood. Never seen such an animal, all the other animals of the wild wood run away from him. Eventually, the animals named the polar bear Leaf, because they want him to leave. I genuinely can't stop thinking of the utterly vibrant illustrations in here. Like, I tried to close my eyes after reading and all I could see were the lively colors springing up in my mind over and over. Here's a handful of examples of said occurrence: Look at one of the illustrations. Can you work in a group to create a soundscape for that illustration? What noises might you hear? What mood will you try and create? Can you use your body to create percussion and rhythm? Look at the first spread (the bear floating on the ice.) How does the bear feel? How can you tell? As a class, collect words to describe him and his feelings. Copy the bear’s posture, then find other ways to use your body to show sadness, loneliness and fear

What shape is the globe? Why? Where are the oceans, and where is the land? Where do you live? Can you name the continents? The oceans? What’s at the northern tip of our world, and who lives there? The crows saw him first, drifting toward the shore one moonlit night on a raft of rapidly melting ice. He took shelter in the old empty cave that the other animals steered clear of, and the whispers started soon after. He looked so different from the other animals, and even from the lush and colorful land around them, this great white bear. And he acted so strangely, wandering the forest every day and collecting leaves. The other animals called him Leaf, not because of his odd habit, because they wanted him to LEAVE. Too loud, too different – the other animals were so sure he didn’t belong, and felt threatened by his presence. But as the crows argue for compassion, Leaf does something entirely unexpected that just may encourage the animals to consider changing their point of view. Fill a large bowl with water. Look closely at the surface. How does it move when you blow on it? Agitate the water to make little waves. How do they move? Make small splashes and notice how the water behaves. What does it sound like? Recreate using your voice and/or percussion instruments. What does this mean? How might this quote link in with the story? Can fairy tales tell us anything about real life? Is everything you are taught true? Have you ever learnt anything from a fairy tale?One day, the polar bear Leaf arrives at the coast of the temperate climate wilderness. The first reaction of the animals is fear and confusion, but eventually, they overcome their own fears, and they help Leaf. I really appreciate this, especially now with the refugee crisis. I think to be afraid of the unknown is a normal thing for humans, but often I see not the most helpful attitude towards this fear. We should not shun each other for that; we should approach each other with an open mind and willingness to talk and listen. If there is anyone who deserves to be condemned, it's the politicians who feed and then build their careers on this fear instead of doing something meaningful. This is a beautifully illustrated book, full of vibrant colours and simple, yet emotive language. It would be perfect for initiating discussion relating to global warming, displacement, exclusion, family and journeys. Leaf didn’t want to leave his home, he had no control over it. But when he entered into the Wildwood, he wasn’t treated kindly. The other animals were scared and didn’t want him there, and they called him names. Leaf’s treatment is reminiscent of the treatment that can be seen in real life.

Double spread 10 – Can you explain the phrase ‘the sea spat him out’? What impression does this give you of the sea? How do the colours used reflect the nature of the sea? Would the illustration have been as impactful if the sea colour was a light, sparkling blue? Find one adjective used to describe the crows. How would the story have changed if the crows had spoken to him at the beginning, when he arrived? What might the polar bear be thinking and feeling? Ask children to use their voices to explore sounds that could be made by water, wind and birds, then choose their favourite to add to a communal soundscape. Conduct your orchestra, using signals to raise and lower the volume. Talk about what you’ve done and how it felt to take part. What can the bear hear in this picture, do you think? Working in small groups, decide who will roleplay the bear and who will be the other animals. Create freezeframes showing the animals ignoring the bear. How will you use your body to show how your character feels? This fantasy text revolves the personification of animals. One day, a new animal that the other animals have never seen before moves to the forest, arriving on a sheet of ice. They refer to him the entire book as “the creature” and “the beast.” The animals begin calling him “leaf” because of the weird habit that he has of always eating leaves and because they want him to “leave.” They argue about different ways to get him to leave the forest, but they can not come to a consensus. Eventually, they agree that because he looks so sad and lonely, they will listen to his story. This act changes their entire outlook towards the “creature.”Leaf is a pleasure to read aloud. There not too many words to detract from the images and emphasis and call outs are added to make this a simple but very powerful book. The animals who live nearby are frightened of the stranger. They call him Leaf, because of his habit of collecting plants, but nobody is brave enough to speak to him – until the bear makes a pair of leafy wings and tries to fly. Now ask children to write about the moment shown in the picture. Encourage them to involve their readers by using vivid words, descriptions and ideas.