It Smells Cold Outside.

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Written by Julia Rawlinson & Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Age Level: 2-5 Years
Published August 26, 2008

Could you be any cuter?!

A few weeks ago, I got Caroline her first toddler purse. She instantly fell in love and carried it with her everywhere: she clutched it to her chest during diaper changes and draped the strap over her highchair at lunchtime. Whenever she got distracted and left it behind, she’d realize it was missing and start exclaiming, “My person! Where’s my person?!” It was so cute that I didn’t correct her.

Fletcher the fox stole our hearts with that same type of adorable, wide-eyed innocence. He’s a baby fox, experiencing the changing seasons for the very first time. As autumn progresses, he is alarmed by the deteriorating state of his favorite tree. It’s turning brown! The leaves are falling off! This can’t be right, he must DO something!

“Oh, tree. I am so sorry,” gulped Fletcher. “All your leaves are gone.”

Fletcher tenderly cares for the tree, gently catching its falling leaves in his paws and trying to put them back on the branches. But it’s no use. Just when he feels like he has utterly failed, Fletcher wakes to the first snow of winter. His tree is draped in a thousand icicles, glittering and shivering in the light. Dazzled by its beauty, Fletcher knows that the tree is okay, and you’ll all be warmed from the inside-out knowing that things are exactly as they should be.