[Paperback 1/5] Niky and the leaf that let go: The fall before the flight

Niky and the Leaf That Let Go is the first gentle tale in the illustrated fable series Tales of Niky, created for young adults and thoughtful readers of all ages who find wisdom in the quiet patterns of nature.

Told in soft, rhyming verse and accompanied by black-and-white illustrations, this pocket-sized book follows Niky, a curious soul who lives high in the Canopy Realm—a world of whispering trees, hanging moss, and swaying branches.

Niky has always clung to safety. The branch beneath is steady, familiar. But when a swirling autumn wind arrives and the leaves begin to dance away, Niky feels something stir inside: a longing to follow… and a fear of falling.

With the help of a wise squirrel, a spiral-shaped leaf, and a sky full of signs, Niky begins to question what it really means to let go. Is the fall a loss—or a kind of flight?

This is a story about:

* 🌿 Letting go of control when the time is right

* 🍂 Finding strength in surrender

* 🐿️ Trusting unseen paths and internal timing

* 🌀 The spiral shape of growth and change

Each spread contains:

* A poetic passage (ABAB or AABB rhyme) that flows with calm, lyrical rhythm

* A hand-drawn black-and-white illustration facing the text, visually echoing the emotion of the scene

Subtle interactive details invite readers to slow down and engage creatively:

* 🖋️ Hidden riddles woven into the narrative

* ✏️ A surprise drawing page: “Design Your Own Symbol”

* 🧠 Gentle metaphors that speak to transition, anxiety, and courage

Who is it for?

This book is perfect for sensitive teens, daydreamers, nature lovers, and anyone at a threshold moment—graduating, moving, releasing something old, or starting anew. Readers will recognize themselves in Niky’s hesitant heart and take comfort in the rhythm of change.

Letting go is sometimes how we grow.

Part of the Tales of Niky series:

Each book in the series follows a different character from the same interconnected world. Symbols recur. Themes echo. Together, they form a cycle of becoming.

Book 1: Niky and the Leaf That Let Go – The Fall Before the Flight

Book 2: Lina and the Ember That Waited – The Flame Beneath the Stone

Book 3: Tamy and the Shell That Sang Alone – The Silence Beneath the Song

Book 4: Manu and the Path That Grew Backward – The Way That Found Itself

Book 5: The Spiral That Chose Itself

Written by Nora Etta

Published by Echo Tales Editions (www.EchoTalesEditions.com)

Begin your journey with the letter N… and trace where it leads.