The Adventures of Lionel the Leaf

Experience the magical world of Lionel the Leaf, who resides atop the grand horse chestnut tree named Horace. From his earliest days as a bud, Lionel yearned to fly like his friends – Pipi the Bat, Bryony the Ladybird, and Ruby the Tiger Moth. Even the Swift family journeyed from Africa each summer, gliding effortlessly through the sky.

Could Lionel’s dreams come true? Can he learn to fly and embark on his own adventures? The conkers on the tree hint at a future possibility. Nearby, Poppy and her Grandad hold a secret that will shape Lionel’s fate – a secret that leads to a surprising and joyous ending.

Discover whether Lionel’s aspirations take flight, as he unfolds a remarkable journey of friendship, wonder, and the extraordinary power of believing in oneself.

Born and educated in Coventry, Derek Eccleston started his working life in the Public Sector before studying for qualifications in Personnel/Human resources. He worked for the next 20 years as an HR professional before completing an MA in Employment Law and setting up a training consultancy – which he ran for over 20 years. During this time Derek wrote a number of books covering topics of employment law.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought face to face training to a halt in 2020; but at least it gave him the time to finally develop and complete the story of Lionel the Leaf.

The original ideas came from the enjoyment of reading and telling stories to his granddaughter Poppy – hence the name of the character in the book.