Take a peek inside
Written by Shira Geffen
Illustrated by David Polonsky
Price: £12.99 / $21.95
Pages: 32
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781784382629
Highlights
‘Mesmerisingly illustrated . . . A comforting fable about parenting, loss and love.’ Angela Kiverstein, The Jewish Chronicle
‘The book is so captivatingly beautiful, so meticulously and carefully produced, so technically perfect, so attentive to its wording, that it’s worthy of some kind of supreme seal of quality.’ Yael Dar, Haaretz
‘Geffen has written a fable-like text with multiple meanings . . . This has been achieved by Shira Geffen, modestly, wisely and simply.’ Lea Aini, Maariv
‘Geffen is an ocean of talent. This is one of the most beautiful children’s book to ever appear, and not only in Hebrew . . . Thrilling.’ Yaron Fried, Hair
Illustrated by David Polonksy, award-winning artist responsible for the Anne Frank graphic novel
Winner of two international book awards
Description
Winner of The Hadassah Prize for Children’s Literature 2003 and The Israel Museum Prize for Illustration 2004
‘So captivatingly beautiful . . . it’s worthy of some kind of supreme seal of quality.’ Yael Dar, Haaretz
This magical tale follows a little girl named Alona on her journey through a windswept park. As she rests under a tree to eat an apple, a golden leaf falls from the branches above. This leaf is different to all the others. It’s heart-shaped, and it protects Alona from the pouring rain. But does this enchanted leaf belong to her? And will she keep her new treasure or help it find its way home?
Shira Geffen’s delicate, vivid and moving fantasy, perfectly illustrated by Polonsky’s intricate pictures, is one of the most beautiful children’s books to ever appear. A touching and poetic story for 4–8-year-olds.
Author Details
Shira Geffen comes from Tel Aviv and is a playwright, director, actor and children’s author.
She has written four books for children. The Heart Shaped Leaf has also been translated into Swedish, Arabic and Persian.
Illustrator Details
David Polonsky has illustrated several picture books and also works as a teacher of animation and illustration. He was head illustrator for the film Waltz with Bashir, a critically acclaimed animated documentary and is the illustrator of the new, highly acclaimed Anne Frank graphic novel.
Reviews
“Mesmerisingly illustrated … A comforting fable about parenting, loss and love.” – Angela Kiverstein, The Jewish Chronicle
“ A beautifully written and charming fable with a message of respect for the earth and gratitude for all it gives us. It will serve as an appealing Thanksgiving story as well as a nice Tu B’Shvat read-aloud.” – Association of Jewish Libraries
“Even for those who do not exactly need a new book right now, it would be worth their while to take a walk to the neighborhood bookstore and page through this book by Shira Geffen and David Polonsky. The book is so captivatingly beautiful, so meticulously and carefully produced, so technically perfect, so attentive to its wording, that it’s worthy of some kind of supreme seal of quality. After browsing through it, it’s worth finding a quiet corner and reading. Between the narrative and the illustrations, a delicate and moving fantasy is spun … The style of illustration demands a high technical ability, and that indeed is evident in each drawing. Polonsky’s pictures are full of movement, their coloration is enthralling, and they are drawn from many and varied angles … The delicate texture breaks out of each one of them … He also manages to gently convey a very tangible Israeli-ness in his illustrations.” – Yael Dar, Haaretz
“Geffen has written a fable-like text with multiple meanings … A parent could help make the child’s questions into thought. This has been achieved by Shira Geffen, modestly, wisely and simply. The illustrations by Polonsky, remarkable in their intricacy and beauty, only bolster the text with warmth, humanity and symbolization.” – Lea Aini, Maariv
“Geffen is undoubtedly an ocean of talent. This is one of the most beautiful children’s book to ever appear, and not only in Hebrew … Thrilling.” – Yaron Fried, Hair
“Magical and poetic … Penetrates the heart and wipes away the aches. This is a book of reflections, a kind of journey into the soul, which will provoke your kids too to think about themselves and their surroundings … Superb.” – Smadar Shir, Yedioth Ahronoth