The Wishing Leaf

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Author(s)

Kallie George

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Paola Zakimi

Publisher

Harry N. Abrams

Genre(s)

bears

Age Range

Release Date

August 12, 2025

ISBN

978-1419772467

Buy This Book

As the seasons change from fall to winter, Bear eagerly waits for the last leaf to fall so that he can make a wish in this charming and cozy picture book from author Kallie George and illustrator Paola Zakimi

A story of patience, friendship, and awe, The Wishing Leaf is a picture book full of wonder for the changing seasons, with a perfectly cozy ending.

Bear knows that when the last leaf falls in the forest, whatever wish you make is sure to come true! Although it’s almost time to sleep, Mama allows Bear to watch and wait with his friends.

But it seems like the leaf is never going to fall, so one by one, the other animals grow impatient and start to head home. Bear, however, finds active ways to wait, all the while wondering what to wish for—until finally, he’s the only one left, and he’s growing tired.

Will Bear see the last leaf fall? And if so, what wish will he make?

Editor review

1 review

It's hard to wait

November 12, 2025 (Updated: June 29, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

A young bear, bundled up in a warm vest and hat, doesn't want to come inside until the last leaf falls, because he wants to make a wish on it. His mother reluctantly lets him go out and wait with his friends until the maple tree decides to let go. Along with his friends Hedgehog and Chipmunk, Bear sits and waits, watching for the leaf to finally tumble down. When they get cold, the friends chase each other around the tree, but one by one, Bear's friends leave. Snow falls, and even Porcupine gives up. Bear, however, finds things to occupy himself, playing in the snow. When it gets dark, his mother calls, but even though he is beginning to yawn, Bear really wants to wait. Just as he is about to leave, the golden leaf twists on the branch and Bear makes his wish... that his friends could see the leaf, too. As the leaf wafts through the autumn evening, it blows by the windows of Bear's friends. Bear and his mother return home to cuddle up in their cozy beds and go to sleep.

Good Points

It's hard to wait, especially as a child, so Bear's dedication to his purpose is a good example in patience. He does find it difficult, but comes up with coping strategies to help pass the time. He remains steadfast, even when his friends leave and his mother calls for him to come back to the warm house. I really enjoyed the quiet message that sometimes it is worth waiting for something to happen.

The pencil and watercolor pictures have a vintage quality to them that made me think about being a child in the fall. There is a different picture of Bear under the dust jacket, and the endpapers have beautiful golden maple leaves on them, which really added a nice surprise to the book. There is a feeling of cold as the sun goes down, although if the animals had pants on, they might have been a LITTLE warmer! Zakimi does a nice job portraying both the outside landscape as well as the different kinds of animals.

Fall is my favorite season, and there are lots of delightful books about autumn and leaves to read to chidlren. Rake this up into a pile with board books such as Kaplan's Pumpkin Spice and Trukhan's When Autumn Comes, or longer picture books like Macurova's We're Off to the Forest, Ryland's Haev You Seen My Acorn, Hemming and Slate's The Leaf Thief, and Henkes and Dronzek's In the Middle of Fall.