Lucky Leaf

Rating:
Summary: Nicely done book, surprise ending!
Review: You know you have joined the 21st century when children's books show the protagonist playing a video game. Undoubtedly, most kids will be able to relate to this, but I confess I didn't know what "level 20" meant when I opened this book. It was a jarring contrast to what seemed to be the topic of the book: fall leaves. Then it hit me, the contrast is one of the things that makes this book interesting and as arresting as the bright, digitally-colored illustrations that help tell the story. And the story is that Mom forces the video-game-playing boy to go outside and play. While outside, he and some likewise digitally marooned boys decide the last leaf to fall is the lucky one. His friends finally give up the wait, and there are some humorous frames of the boy and his dog in the leaves, impatiently waiting. Finally, he does catch it and take it home where - no surprise - he is wearing the leaf on his head to give him luck while he again plays level 20. It's not a typical story where the young boy rediscovers nature, but it is something kids can relate to, even if it does make some of us diehard video-game haters blood boil!