The true story of a Midwestern “town” created with leaves, sticks, and children’s imaginations Leaf Town suddenly springs up. One day the clearing outside the school is empty, and the next it’s a bustling town complete with a hotel, shop, and mayor. Children gather and find treasures everywhere: feathers, acorns, lost rings, an old medal, and plenty of leaves and pine needles. They even uncover a silver skeleton key in the muddy banks of a nearby creek and proclaim it the heart of Leaf Town. As the town grows, it attracts the attention of the kids up the street, and a colossal fight threatens to destroy everything that was built. But the heart of Leaf Town is saved, and the kids rally to rebuild their city together, expanding to welcome the neighboring kids as well as all sorts of birds and animals. They hang a sign, Leaf Town Forever , and pass the key to the next generation of children who will look after their beloved town. Based on a true story, Leaf Town Forever is the gentle tale of a town created by children with vivid imaginations. The timeless and universal saga, written in haiku, reminds both kids and adults that some dreams are worth protecting. Unfurling over the cycle of seasons, this is the story of an enchanting place full of tenacity and hope, creativity and fun—a connection to the natural world within reach for us all if we unite to make and maintain it. "Sometimes all you need are nature and imagination. This poetic tale about kids working together to improvise a town out of leaves, twigs, and discovered treasures will ring true to anyone who’s spent quality time on a playground. Kathleen and Beth Rooney tell the story of the rise and fall (and rise again!) of Leaf Town in nimble and evocative haiku, and Betsy Bowen’s gentle, expressive illustrations are an autumnal delight. A tribute to the resourcefulness of children and the quiet pleasures of paying attention to nature, this book is perfect for those who know the best fun is to be had with friends in the woods―or for those who need reminding."―James Kennedy, author of The Order of Odd-Fish " Leaf Town Forever reminds us how children can create whole worlds with whatever is at hand, a skill that seems to fade as we age."―Giselle Potter, author of This Is My Dollhouse "A beautiful book for a cozy read any time of the year."― Booklist "This book is a poetic commemoration of this community and team work of the beautifully wild imagination of children."― Books Grow Minds "Playful hours outside let imagination take flight in this inspiring read about a town of leaves."― Bookworm for Kids "This timeless children’s book is a tribute to the resourcefulness of children, the quiet pleasures of nature, and the tenacity of hope."― Home School Book Review "Kathleen Rooney and Beth Rooney, sisters, create an experience children will remember all their lives... Bowen’s childlike illustrations make the book approachable and inspiring. As we encourage kids to interact with nature, this is a key book to set their imaginations alight."― Reading Ahead "For children three to eight who read Leaf Town Forever or have it read to them, the book is not only a description of how imagination, individually and collectively, can create a vivid and vibrant place, but also an invitation to them to imagine."― Third Coast Review " Leaf Town Forever is the perfect book to let go of “real” and enjoy creating and imagining with a child."―Nancy Bo Flood, author of Walking Grandma Home " Leaf Town Forever celebrates community in a most beautiful way."― Star Tribune " Leaf Town Forever captures the spells cast by collective imagination, the way a spun world can build and accumulate for days, weeks, and whole seasons."― Zoe’s Book Log "A celebration of creativity and nature―perfect for readers who cherish the outdoors and childlike imagination."― Northern Wilds Magazine "A story doesn’t always have to be written with a moral in mind, although Leaf Town Forever is still a story of resilience, and like the kids, if something we work on is destroyed, we can rebuild."― Newcity Kathleen Rooney is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press, a nonprofit publisher of literary work in hybrid genres, and a founding member of Poems While You Wait. She is author of five novels, including Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey, as well as the poetry collection Where Are the Snows . She lives in Chicago and teaches at DePaul University. Beth Rooney is a visual journalist based in Oak Park, Illinois. A writer and photographer, she is drawn to stories that explore our place in the world and show how individual circumstances reflect larger truths. Betsy Bowen is author and illustrator of many children’s books, including Plant a Pocket of Prairie and The Lost Forest, both published by the University of Minnesota Press. She lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota.