What a breath of fresh air.. The pictures, the words.. Like magic and whimsy in a bottle. I can't wait to gift copies to my loved ones and future children someday. This collection is just so delicate and delightful. Like faeries describing nature to curious animals. I look forward to Laings future works. What a privilege it was to read this.

Metaphors for grief, resilience, and growth written during the pandemic and in mourning of the author's sister, interspersed with GORGEOUS pages of artwork from the artsit Kelly Leah Radding. The visuals complemented the poems, and there were some cases where they overshadowed them. This version is updated after its initial release.

A cute addition to your coffeetable. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This book has some beautiful poems about nature that you can relate to your own life. My favorite was “Cactus”. Also, the art on this book is really pretty and it compliments the poems really well.
3.5 ★ ≈ 4 ★

I liked how the author shared some of her experiences and knowledge to try to help people.

It was such an amazing read, the formatting of the book and the writing was amazing. The visuals complimented and completed the poems and this is just another addition to coffeetable books.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Morning Leaves by Laing F. Rikkers is a beautiful collection of poems that navigates grief through artistic release. Additionally, there is no shortage of gorgeous artwork by Kelly Leahy Radding accompanying each poem. After initially reading the introduction, I prepared myself for grief-stricken poems about loss, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself reading about nature personified. The poems are short and deceptively simple. I found myself highlighting lines throughout the book. Looking back, I have highlights from the following sections & poems:

Avocado Pit
Grape Vine
Ancient Pine (2 highlights)
Coral Tree
Palm
Fern
Conclusion
Epilogue (2 highlights)

There are too many highlights to recount here, but I’ll leave you with these standouts:

“My heart is an avocado pit pierced with toothpicks, hanging in my chest.” (Avocado Pit)

My vines have been trained along wires cascading out over the horizon.” (Grape Vine)

“I may quietly retreat to the pinnacle and look out to the clear sky and take in the cool air.” (Ancient Pine)

“One unexpected gift of loss is clarity. It quiets the noise of everyday life and sharpens our focus. Things that once seemed important fall away. What remains is deeper and more true. Grief can be a narrowing, but within that narrowing, something honest and vital is often revealed.” (Epilogue)

One theme that I noticed recurring across poems was metamorphosis as a result of resistance. The grape vine that is shaped by wires but carries on, the coral tree that must prune and survive in an “over-irrigated world,” and the palm that impresses onlookers with its flexibility as it bends to the winds. These passages were particularly poignant at this time in my life where I fight to balance peace and calm with political and feminine rage.

So why not 5 stars? Well, first, I live by the phrase that 5 stars is a feeling, and sometimes that feeling comes from just the absolute right thing at the right time. With Morning Leaves, I noticed that several poems read like lists and lacked the metaphorical depth that I admired in other poems. I think that I may have liked this more if the poem selection had been pared down (botanical pun intended) and refined.

Don’t let that take away from the rest of my praise. I will recommend Morning Leaves to my fellow poetry lovers, especially the lovers of plants, animals, and nature, and those who believe in the spiritual interconnectedness of the natural world.

Thank you to the author, illustrator, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

What lovely pieces describing nature which alluded to loss and growth. The author’s personal messages in the beginning and end of this poetry book were very heartfelt and helped me to connect even more to the pieces she wrote, especially as a healthcare worker. Each poem was accompanied by a beautiful illustration and it all helps to paint a very beautiful picture in the reader’s head. The poems were refreshing and thoughtful. Thank you very much NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

The perfect coffee table book!
Stunning illustrations and fitting poems about self-discovery, handling grief, etc.
It would be the perfect book for reflections or journaling but also enjoying it on its own.

The author reminds us to live our lives now. She shows us that by connecting with nature we can also connect with ourselves.

The descriptions of nature make you feel like you can see yourself in nature. In the positives and also the imperfections.

You can connect to the emotion in the poems. I really liked Ancient Pines. “Yes, I am deeply grounded. And yes, when it is too much, I must seek solace in the stars.”

I also really enjoyed the artwork scattered throughout the book.

As a visual artist, I want to start with the illustrations. Beautiful. They fit the content and themes so well.
The book:
Also beautiful. Despite being created out of grief, I felt so peaceful reading it. I found I related to so many of the poems.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A delightful blend of creativity and encouragement. This book gently guides you to slow down, make something beautiful, and nurture your well-being at the same time.

A great collection of poems surround grief and various topics. The illustration/visual accompanying the book was a nice touch. My personal favourites in the books were "Lemon Tree".

Thank you to #NetGalley for the read of Morning Leaves: Reflections on Loss, Grief, and Connection in return for my honest review and opinion.

Beautiful poetry in this book.

This book takes lots of life's beauties and puts them into short little poems. Open your eyes to what is around you because its all amazing.

Always remember how important self-care is and enjoy all the small things in life.

I recommend reading this book of poetry.

I absolutely loved this collection of poems. They made me feel, think, and pause. I want to take more time to notice the things around me and just be in that awareness, the way these poems seem to just be. The poems felt accessible and the artwork enhanced the entire experience.

Thank you for the ARC!

This was a deeply emotional poetry collection about the grieving process and navigating internal and external challenges in the face of pressure to be okay. Sometimes it manifests as sadness, anger, and melancholic joy, when something otherwise mundane reminds you of the people you have lost.