The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages

by Leo F. Buscaglia

An incisive, sensitive exploration of the questions of life, death, mortality, and immortality uses the leaves of a tree as symbols of enjoying life to the fullest and accepting mortality with dignity and equanimity

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Death, Fiction, Grief, Psychology, Spirituality

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 1982

About the author

known as "Dr. Love"

Dr. Felice Leonardo Buscaglia Ph.D. was a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California. He was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles).

Leo Buscaglia authored a number of New York Times bestselling inspirational books on love and human reticences on the subject, including The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Bus 9 to Paradise, Living Loving and Learning, Love and My Father. In lectures he often protested, in outrage at the comparative absence of writings on the subject, "I got the copyright for love!!!"

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sappy, and predictable . . . and, I still teared up at the end.

We're all just . . . mulch.

[الف‌م‌ی‌ر · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتابی ساده و کوتاه در باب زیستن و البته مرگ.
از آن‌جایی که به تازگی عزیزی را از دست داده‌ام خواندن آن حلاوت خاطرات دوری را زنده کرد.
و شاید فکر ما را بتواند درگیر جزئیات ریز و به ظاهر بی اهمیت زندگی کند
آوند برگ ها
درخشش برگ های پاییزی زیر نور آفتاب
ریشه هایی که خود دیده نمی‌شوند اما زیبایی بی‌حد و حصری به نام درخت را مقابل چشمان ما سرپا نگه می‌دارند.
فکر کردن به مرگ و اضطراب مرگ یکی از مسائلی است که بشر از ابتدایی ترین روزهای بودنش همواره به سراغ آن رفته. لحن ساده و شیوای این کتاب تلنگر و فرصتی مختصر اما حیاتی درباره این مسئله عمیق فراهم می‌کند.
کتاب خیره به خورشید از اروین یالوم یک تجربه وجودی و مفهومی از مرگ است که آن هم پیشنهاد می‌شود.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddie the leaf grows to maturity on the branch of a tree, surrounded by his fellow leaves, and guided in wisdom by Daniel, the largest and oldest leaf of all. He experiences Spring, Summer and Fall, with all of their beauty and majesty. When Winter comes, and it is time for him to fall, to die, Freddie is frightened, and refuses to let go of his branch. Even Daniel's wise words cannot help him then, and eventually he is the last leaf on the tree, stubbornly clinging to life. But one day he does fall, seeing the splendor of his arboreal home for the first time, and going on (although he does not know it) to help create more life...

We had The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages in my childhood home, and I read it countless times as a girl, finding it terrifying, mysterious, beautiful, and ultimately reassuring. Although it is secular, and addresses the topic of death through an entirely natural lens, it has a spiritual feeling to it, and would be appropriate for people of many different beliefs, I feel. First published in 1982, it has become a minor classic, in the field of bibliotherapy for young people. It is illustrated with photographs of trees and leaves throughout the seasons - an illustrative style more popular in the 1970s and 80s, than it is today - and is fairly text-heavy, so I wouldn't recommend it for very young children. I couldn't say whether this was the perfect book to use explore the idea of death with specific children, but I do know that I found it very meaningful when I was a child myself, and recommend that adults seeking such titles take a look, and decide whether it suits the child reader/listener in their lives.

[sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

leo buscaglia fanclub <3

[Gypsy]

ستاره‌دادن به این کتاب سخته. چون هم کامله هم نیست. واسه وقتایی که خیلی پُر مرگ و درد و بدبختی‌هاتی، التیام‌بخشه. اما نمی‌دونم... انگار نمی‌خوام این‌طوری تموم شه. می‌خواستم فلسفه‌ی پشت این کتابو بدونم. یه دیدگاهی هست یادم رفته اصن(یه مدت زیادیه که هیچی فلسفه نخوندم و حس می‌کنم خیلی چیزا هم یادم رفته!) ولی یه جور اعتقاد به جهانی شدنه. فیلسوف‌های زیادی چنین نظری دارن. ینی می‌گن ما بخشی از یه جهانیم که هی تو این جهان متولد می‌شیم و هربار گسترسش می‌دیم. ینی مرگ رو زندگی جدید می‌دونه و در جهت رشد دنیا، در عین رشد هر شخص. شاید برای درک حرفام کافی باشه فقط صفحه آخرشو بخونین. هرچند کتاب خیلی کم‌قطره کلاً. حیف که کتاب ادبیات زیاد دارم وگرنه می‌رفتم دنبالش. خیلی وقته هیچی فلسفه نخوندم و حس می‌کنم همه‌چیو دارم قاطی می‌کنم. :/

[Gita · Rating 5 out of 5]

بچه که بودم عاشق این کتاب بودم. به یاد دارم که بارها آن را در کانون خواندم و هربار با آخرش گریه‌ام می‌گرفت. داستان مرگ است.
۴۰۲/۴/۱۵

[Luisa Knight · Rating 1 out of 5]

You're best off not thinking of this as a children's story but as a humanistic sermon with a few non-enticing photos. I just don't see how kids would stay attentive (especially as it would be too over their heads), and I'm not sure that the parents I read for would embrace the message anyway.

If you're looking for a book to read to a child that addresses loss, please see my shelf "Children's Life Issues" for the books I highly recommend.

Ages: 4 -8

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful allegory about the circle of life

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 5 out of 5]

وقت آن فرا رسیده که برگ‌ها خانهٔ خود را عوض کنند. بعضی از آدم‌ها به آن مرگ می‌گویند...

[Sara Hosseini · Rating 1 out of 5]

لئو بوسکالیا رو با کتاب‌های انگیزشی و خودشناسیش می‌شناسن. این کتاب که برای بچه‌های گروه سنی «ج» نوشته، یه حسن داره و اونم حرف‌زدن راجع به مرگه. منتها یه چیزی که من تو چنین کتابایی می‌بینم،‌ اینه که انگار بیشتر برای خوشامد بزرگ‌ترها نوشته شده. به نظرم مطرح کردن مفاهیم انتزاعی مثل مرگ و زندگی برای کودکان، لازمه که با قصه و نمایش همراه باشه. آوردن یه برگ عارف-فیلسوف تو کتاب احتمالن خیلی آسون‌تر از تنیدن مفهوم مرگ در دل یک داستان و قصه‌ست. مثلن نگاه کنید:
-برگک پرسید: «آیا درخت نیز می‌میرد؟»
-درخت هم روزی می‌میرد. اما چیزی هست که نیرومندتر از درخت است و آن زندگی است. زندگی ادامه می‌یابد و ما همگی بخشی از زندگی هستیم.

[Abby Peskin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not the biggest fan of this book for several reasons.
1) Comparing human death to death in nature is often inappropriate because many plants go into hibernation in the fall and come back again in the spring. However, this book does present it in the most appropriate way possible, in that individual leaves are what dies on a tree. The individual leaves do not come back the next year.
2) The pages get too wordy trying to explain the story. The story line could have been explained in a much more simple way.
3) Although the book uses the word 'death' several times, when the leaf actually dies at the end, it says that it 'goes to sleep,' which is not appropriate wording to talk to children about the end of life. This euphemism makes many children believe that the dead person will 'wake up' eventually.
4) For children, the illustrations (just photographs) are not very appealing and, given how much text there is, do not make the reader want to read more.

That being said, I think this book could be a touching look at death for older children and adults who are processing death together. It really looks at the relationships of the person who died, and gives a very poignant, comforting view of the end of life.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
What did I think? I think sweet and wonderful. A very precious way to talk about life and death with children. With anybody, actually. I was supposed to read this together with one of my girlies, Mary Kate, but time got away from both of us, and I decided to go ahead and read it. We will have more times to read together.

This is a great book to share with your little ones, your big ones, your everybody. :)
 

[Sevenponds · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages by Leo Buscaglia is not a children’s book per se; rather the book is “an inspiring allegory [that] illustrates the delicate balance between life and death,” in a way that transcends the category of age. Nature becomes a metaphor for community, identity and the life cycle for Leo Buscaglia, who has crafted a story that looks past the need for any specific ideological comfort or message to answer end-of-life questions. Rather, Freddie the Leaf explores the possibility to address these questions through the universal motif of nature.

[Continued]



Full SevenPonds Review:
http://blog.sevenponds.com/lending-in...

[White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me cry. It is an excellent choice when teaching children about the end of life for someone they love. It makes death a natural celebration of peace after a struggle to hang on to something that is no longer important. It speaks of a higher purpose in the circle of all things. Kinda sad though.

[Kelly Kosinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember how many years ago I read this. The author wrote a wonderful story of life and changes we will go through, from what I remember. I would love to hear other people’s thoughts. I read this 40 years ago and I really enjoyed it. Sad though, yes, about a leaf.

[Kandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I lost someone very close to me, as a child. It was incredibly helpful, and I have used it to help my children deal with loss.

[Jennifer Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most beautiful book for children, or anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one.

[valia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

if in a millennia Leo Buscaglia reincarnates or whatever, i swear imma jump from that grave and trace him down, HE IS THE SWEETHEART.

[claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahh this is so heartwarming, the narrator was really good, too !

[Melissa Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I chose to read is The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia, PhD. It was published on September 15, 1982. This book shows the reader the journey a leaf goes through and the thoughts and feelings he experiences. He starts out young and strong and gradually he ages, the leaves around Freddie get scared, and Freddie sees the leaves fall around him until it’s his turn to fall. Much like the cycle of human life. I read this book to my daughter when she was five years old to help explain her grandmother’s death in a way that was age appropriate and easy for her to understand. We have also gone back and reread this book anytime there is a death that touches her life, or when she begins to question about death. I use it as a starting point and as we read, I will explain the similarities between what occurs with the leaves and what happens in life. The plot of this book is simple in the way it’s worded, yet it is deeper than that. It’s set in seasons which also means the seasons of life. This gives the reader the opportunity to help children understand that there are cycles of life and everything comes to an end, including life. Freddie and his best friend Daniel are talking about the different changes in life and Daniel is shown as the older and wiser leaf and he helps Freddie understand the changes in life. The author was able to take the roles of a youth and an elder helping children understand that your elders are there to help you through life. I would recommend this book for children who have experienced death, have questions about death, or are in a situation where someone close to them are going to pass away. It’s age appropriate for children around four to eight years old. It does talk about death and it states that everyone dies, which may be something scary for children. This book helps parents and children open a dialog about death, what it means, and that when it does happen it is something final. It also helps explain that as the leaves, which are symbols for people, change as they get older and their outward appearance changes and that’s just a part of life. Overall this book helps parents who may not know how to approach their children about the loss of a loved one, which can be a scary time for young children and adults.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and sweet story about life and death.
By using the magic of nature: the trees, the leaves, the change of seasons, Leo Buscaglia tells us a story about ourselves, about our lives, about our purpose on this planet, which is simply that of "making things more pleasant for others", making other people happy, because when we do that we are experiencing life, which basically is love, in all its glory.
It's also a story about death, since death is part of life and for this reason is not to be feared.
Freddie didn't know where he would go after his fall, as we don't know where we are going after we die but if we love life and we try to experience it completely every day, there is no need to be afraid. Life is a magical thing, and all seasons are part of this magic, even the last one.
Someone may wonder why are we here, what is the reason for all of this. Buscaglia gave an incredibly simple and yet powerful answer to this question.
"It's about the sun and the moon. It's about happy times together. It's about the shade and the old people and the children. It's about colors in Fall. It's about seasons. Isn't that enough?"

Well... I think it is.

[Tasneem Zafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply touching story of Freddie the leaf going through life's changes (the passing seasons) and finally falling to the ground!! He keeps asking questions about life and death. Daniel the loving friend helps him through with his delicately wonderful and wisely confident answers!
It's an amazing book that helps adults answer real deep questions such as, will we all die? why were we here at all if we only have to fall and die? And where will we go after we die?

One of my favorite quotes by Daniel, "everything dies. No matter how big or small, how weak or strong. We first do our job. We experience the sun and the moon, the wind and the rain. We learn to dance and to laugh. Then we die."

Some of the photographs were great but I'd rather see a more attractive kind of illustrations.

[Sara Hodorowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Work requested review. This book is on the older side, and came up for weeding. I think it’s important we keep it. It won awards for a reason and the simple but not dumbed down explanation of life cycles can be great for a child.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book written to explain the different stages of life and give comfort to those who are grieving. A book with good intentions, it is a simple approach in giving the reader food for thought that might rationalize death.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This heartwarming tale of Freddie The Last Leaf fosters acceptance and equanimity in the face of change. Change is inevitable but not necessarily scary. We all will change from one form to another, even in death.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely photos, not so sure about the accompanying story. I've been looking for some good kids books about death/grieving, and this isn't quite what I'm looking for.

[Vicki_Loves_Libraries]

Good for children. Sad and poignant.

[♥Sabulous ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a picture book it meh but the story as a whole is beautiful.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be good for someone who understands metaphor.

[ʚ manvi°•✮•° · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, casual read🤍🤌🏼
loved how the author expressed life with this story.
Smooth and Understandable.