A young boy laments how messy autumn leaves are when they fall to the ground and he  envisions ways to blow them up to the sky or keep them from falling to the ground. But each solution creates another problem and he realizes that if leaves fell up there would be many negative consequences. Eventually he comes to realize there are good reasons leaves fall to the ground...they fertilize the soil, they provide food and shelter for bugs and small creatures, plus they are a whole lot of fun to jump and play in. He concludes that the beautiful colors of autumn leaves and the benefits to the earth bring more happiness than trouble. It's how the world was meant to be.

This is a children's picture book about a boy who laments how messy fall leaves are when they fall to the ground and he delights in imagining a stress free autumn with no leaves to rake because they all fell up. His imagination leads him to envision ways to blow them up to the sky or keep them from falling to the ground. Maybe each tree could have its own fan. Perhaps Santa's elves could tie them on with "elfish thread" or monkeys stick them on with super glue. But each solution creates another problem and he realizes that if leaves fell up there would be many negative consequences such as they'd bump the clouds and hide the sun. Birds and butterflies would avoid the skies and you could never fly a kite. Eventually he comes to realize there are good reasons leaves fall to the ground...they fertilize the soil, they provide food and shelter for bugs and small creatures, plus they are a whole lot of fun to jump and play in.    He concludes that though they can be messy, the beautiful colors of autumn leaves and the benefits to the earth bring more happiness than trouble. It's how the world was meant to be.

Terry Bartlett is an artist, photographer, musician and pastor. As a photographer he has produced numerous educational and motivational videos, locally and nationally, for churches and non-profit organizations as well as many training and promotional videos for various corporations. As an artist and pastor, Terry believes that stories help children understand and find their place in the world and keep alive the heart of childhood in us all.  He is the proud father of three grown daughters and grandparent to five delightful and independently minded grandchildren. Terry and his wife live in Ohio where autumn leaves are abundantly enjoyed and raked. "If Leaves Fell Up" is his second published book, his first children's book.