Look Under the Leaves
- Kirsten Edwards
- Feb 17, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Author: Elsie Locke
Illustrator: Trevor Lithgow
Look Under the Leaves marks the final Elsie Locke book I’ll review. While she authored additional bulletins for schools and journals, those won’t be covered here. Published in 1975, this large, beautifully crafted hardback picture book introduces young readers to New Zealand’s ecology, weaving in ideas about preserving the environment for future generations.
The book’s pages—some of which I’ve sampled here—reveal a curious blend of styles: prose, short stories, poetry, a song, and even a Biblical Psalm. Ecology is personified as a scarecrow-like figure, guiding readers through Locke’s ambitious environmental philosophy. This melds Biblical references, evolutionary theory, Māori mythology, Mother Earth concepts, simplified New Zealand history, and ecological principles. While creative, I found the mix odd, convoluted, and, nearly 50 years on, noticeably dated. Advances in environmental science since 1975 further highlight its age.
Trevor Lithgow’s illustrations are a standout—lush, vibrant, and sprawling across every page, they’re a visual feast. Yet, their charm is marred by an inexplicable choice: computer clipart plopped right into the middle of his drawings. It feels jarringly out of place, though the sample pages here dodge that quirk. (Hope you’re enjoying the smoking cat, though!)
Locke’s intent is admirable, but the execution falters. I wouldn’t recommend Look Under the Leaves for children today—its eccentricity and outdated science don’t quite hold up. However, for collectors of quirky New Zealand children’s literature, this rare gem could be a fascinating addition to the shelf...
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