A Home for Leo

PreS-Gr 2—Leo, just a babe in arms, becomes lost at sea. Cold and alone, the human boy is adopted by sea lions. As he grows, Leo adorably compares his body parts to other marine creatures and realizes that he is different. Though he is happy and loved, he also feels "like an empty shell" at times. One day he meets a new creature, a little girl playing on the beach. He says hello to her with a loud, "ARK! ARK!" He compares his body parts to hers and they match. The girl's surprised parents notice the lost boy. After becoming a media sensation, Leo is reunited with his parents and the family cat. Leo is happy, though adjusting to being a kid on land is difficult. Other kids don't act like sea lions. He misses the ocean and his adoptive family. His parents try to help, but Leo still feels empty. Finally, his parents move to a new home by the sea where Leo can live with both his sea lion family and his human one. Leo's tale is told with limited prose, relying heavily on the digital illustrations to convey the story. Readers will enjoy this method of visual storytelling, as bright colored images and careful use of white space separate elements of the story perfectly. The inclusive cast of human characters have large, round eyes full of cartoon charm which complements the endearing humor. Leo's story will resonate with anyone who has ever felt a bit out of place in the world and will reassure that life will be just fine.