Questions for Exploration

I have used these questions when reading to small groups of children. They seem to elicit a tremendous amount of dialogue. I ask a set of questions prior to reading and then following the reading.

Pre-questions

1.    Do you feel that you are important?

2.    Why do you think you are important to me?

3.    How are (what makes) you special?

Post-questions

4.    Why did the leaf think it was going to die?

5.    Who was watching the leaf?

6.    Why was the squirrel watching the leaf?

7.    Why does the squirrel need to make a nest?

8.    How do you know that it is fall (winter)?

9.    How did the leaf help the squirrel?

10.    How did the squirrel help the leaf?

11.    How are you like the leaf (the squirrel)?

12.    How do you help me survive?

13.    How do you help other creatures?

14.    Why are you important?

15.    When you grow up, who will you become?

Literary Forms and Devices

Foreshadow means to present an indication or suggestion beforehand. In the book, illustrations foreshadow the entrance of the squirrel character. For example, the tree on page 3 depicts a den hole that is later seen dominantly on page 13. On page 3, snow-capped mountains foreshadow a change in the weather conditions described in later pages.  

Symbolism means the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships. On page 3, a path leads through the woods. This is symbolic for the path that leads one to self-exploration, the path of life, and the journey that a reader takes as they begin a book. The "Tree of Life" symbol appears on page 4. This symbol is a universal motif, found in every ancient culture, which depicts enlightenment and spiritual illumination. The third symbol used is the "triad." This symbol represents birth, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature, air, water, and earth. It has been used by many ancient cultures including the Celts. This symbol appears on page 21.

An allegory is a story that represents abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form. A Simple Brown Leaf is an allegory. On the surface level, the story is about a leaf that falls from a tree and is used by a squirrel for her den. The leaf represents each of us. Like the leaf, we all have a deep, profound purpose to our lives that we may not even understand until it becomes manifest. This purpose may be very simple on the surface, but may deeply affect the course of many lives. The squirrel character is representative of the community and individuals that we have the opportunity to affect everyday. The underlying theme of the story is that all creatures have importance, no matter how seemingly insignificant, and that humans must understand their interconnectivity and affect on others. The main theme is that everyone and everything has a purpose in life, although sometimes we are not clear on what that purpose is. Page 20 is placed within the narrative to provide young readers with a synopsis of this major theme.

Language is also used to compare and contrast certain narrative elements.