Kelly Canby, A Leaf Called Greaf, Fremantle Press, June 2024, 40 pages, RRP $24.99 (hbk), iSBN 9781760993894
A Leaf Called Greaf is a book that deals gently with loss and grieving. Rather than focusing on the event of the loss itself, Kelly Canby has focused on the feelings created by loss. One day, Bear finds a green leaf that reminds him of mourning, and he calls it Greaf. He carries it with him, until one day it’s no longer fresh and green, and it’s time to let go of Greaf.
A Leaf Called Greaf is a gentle story that would be well suited as a starting point for talking with young readers aged four to seven about the myriad feelings, from loneliness and sadness to moments of joy, that come with grieving. There is no judgement of Bear’s emotions throughout the story – just acceptance of how Bear feels, and a soft reminder that even at the moments of greatest loneliness love leaves its mark. For a child trying to process their own feelings, this book could be a good starting place for talking about which moments in Bear’s journey with Greaf they have felt themselves.
As beautiful and understated as the text is, it’s Canby’s artwork that left me both tearing up and smiling as I made my way through this book. From the simple, huggable, emotive drawings of Bear to the deeply evocative background colours that speak of isolation, struggle and gentle acceptance, the illustrations summon up a lot of feelings. Again, this would be something to talk about with a young reader – how do the pictures make them feel, and how do they think Bear is feeling?
The strongest direct connection to loss in A Leaf Called Greaf however, and one of the most powerful visual elements in the book, are the almost unseen outlines of three other bears that walk through the pages with Bear. Who they are, and what they mean in the story, might be something else to gently discuss with young readers. Their lingering presence, and the love that connects them to Bear, is something that feels very powerful.
This is a book that will touch different readers in different ways, and it speaks to adults who have known grief as well as children who are facing grieving with all the mess of complicated emotions it can bring. In the end, A Leaf Called Greaf reminds us, too, that love is never far away.
Teaching notes and activities are available at the publisher’s website.
Reviewed by Emily Clarke
