The first red maple leaf - Ludmila Zeman

In an ancient time when Winter reigned and ice and darkness covered the land, a young boy’s heroic and unselfish act helps his people find the shelter of southern trees. But Winter isn’t finished yet and shakes the leaves from the trees. To show his gratitude to the trees, the boy uses all his strength and perseverance to help bring back the leaves. This wonderful tale gives hope that, even though Winter can never be vanquished, there is promise of the coming Spring.

Ludmila Zeman was born in the former Czechoslovakia and immigrated to Canada in 1984. She has taught art in Vancouver, created animated sequences for Sesame Street and, with her husband, made the film Lord of the Sky, an award-winning animated short. Her epic Gilgamesh trilogy won numerous awards. Her book, The First Red Maple Leaf, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Illustration.

“A lovely story told in the universal folktale tradition”
–Quill & Quire

“Zeman’s fine illustrations…tell a story all on their own.”
–Ottawa Citizen