Alfie's Long Winter

Elizabeth Levin is a professor of psychology at Laurentian University.

Alfie was a leaf who grew on a high branch of a tall tree. Even though
all the other leaves changed colors and jumped gleefully from the tree,
Alfie was too frightened. Soon Alfie was the only leaf left. Because he
had been too afraid to jump, he was going to have to spend the winter
alone in the tree. It was a cold, stormy winter, and Alfie was sorry he
hadn’t jumped from the tree. Eventually the snow melted, and new buds
formed on the tree. The new leaves respected Alfie because he was older.
When they told him how afraid they were to jump, he got the second
chance he was hoping for. He said he would jump first in the fall, and
he did.

While the story has a happy ending, Alfie’s suffering during the
winter (punishment for not jumping) is not likely to endear this book to
young readers. The underlying message seems to be “You’ll be sorry
if you don’t do what you are supposed to do.” The story may,
however, be helpful to a child struggling to overcome a fear. The text
is accompanied by pleasing illustrations. Recommended with reservations.