FLETCHER AND THE FALLING LEAVES

Fletcher is distraught as the season changes from summer to fall. There’s a tree in his life that he thinks of as “his tree,” and its leaves are turning brown. What can he do to make his tree feel better? How can the tree return to its leafy state? As Katherine Kellgren narrates, her voice projects caring and compassion for both Fletcher as he tries to comfort the leafless tree and for any young listener who has tried to understand the vagaries of Mother Nature. Kellgren is a leisurely but purposeful narrator who allows the impact of Fletcher's despair—and ultimate joy—to be fully realized. In the concluding interview, Julia Rawlinson shares her inspiration for writing the Fletcher stories and her methods of collecting writing ideas. A.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2010]