If You Find a Leaf by Aimee Sicuro

 


Aimée Sicuro’s beautiful picture book If You Find a Leaf is an invitation to see the world with wonder. The story begins with a simple, everyday object, a leaf, but transforms it into endless possibilities: a crown, a boat, a mask, even a hot-air balloon. Through poetic language and whimsical illustrations, the book celebrates imagination, creativity, and the treasures that can be found in nature.

Although designed for younger children, If You Find a Leaf also works wonderfully with middle and high school students as a springboard for writing, science investigations, and artistic expression. Its blend of nature and creativity makes it a rich interdisciplinary resource.

Curriculum Connections

Science

  • Life Science: Students can collect and identify leaves from their local environment, learning about tree species, plant structure, and ecosystems.

  • Seasons & Climate: Explore why leaves change color in autumn, the science of photosynthesis, and how seasonal cycles impact plant life.

  • Environmental Awareness: Discuss conservation, biodiversity, and the importance of noticing the natural world.

English Language Arts (ELA)   

  • Descriptive & Poetic Writing: Use the book’s lyrical style as a mentor text for students to write their own imaginative “If you find a…” pieces.

  • Symbolism & Metaphor: Explore how ordinary objects can take on new meaning in literature.

  • Creative Storytelling: Encourage students to imagine what their leaf could become in a short narrative or poem.

Art

  • Leaf Prints & Collages: Students can create visual art inspired by the book, combining collected leaves with drawing or painting.

  • Mixed Media Projects: Experiment with combining natural objects and traditional art materials.

  • Illustration Study: Analyze Aimée Sicuro’s illustration style and experiment with blending natural textures into their own artwork.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are some of the creative ways the author imagines a leaf being used? Which one stood out to you the most?

  2. How does the book encourage readers to see ordinary objects in new ways?

  3. Why do you think leaves make such a powerful symbol for imagination and change?

  4. How might your cultural background or environment influence what you imagine a leaf could become?

  5. What connections can you make between the science of leaves and the art in this book?

  6. How can slowing down and noticing small things in nature, like a leaf, affect our mental well-being?

Closing Thoughts

If You Find a Leaf is a gentle reminder that inspiration is everywhere if we just take the time to notice it. Whether used in a science class to study ecosystems, in ELA to spark descriptive writing, or in art to encourage mixed-media creativity, this book opens a doorway into interdisciplinary exploration.

By connecting nature, creativity, and imagination, Sicuro gives readers of all ages the gift of seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

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