Cover Design by Jo Hunt
Published by Pushkin Children’s Books
Leo and Ralph is the most wonderful, heart-warming story of family and friendship, of saying goodbye and starting again, and of being given the space to reach for the stars.
Leo and his best friend Ralph are lying on a blanket in Leo’s backyard enjoying their last time together, looking at the night sky through Leo’s old telescope and talking about all the planets they’ve imagined. This is hardly surprising as they first met when Ralph flew down from one of Jupiter’s moons and decided to stay with Leo for as long as he needed him. But now he is older and his family are moving, his mum and dad think that it’s time to leave Ralph behind … but how do you leave behind a friend like Ralph?
Moving to a small country town feels wrong to Leo and he is anxious that he will not be able to make any friends, and his parents will continue to worry about him. After all, he was not able to make any friends in his last school so why should his new school be any different? Will be need to use the secret promise he made with Ralph? Or, can he find a new best friend who will accept him as he is and give him the space to be himself?
It won’t be long before someone likes the way you don’t fit.
This is a truly gorgeous story which I absolutely adored as I followed Leo on his journey to saying goodbye to one friend and taking tentative steps to finding another. I adored the gentleness of this story; the truth of the ebb and flow of friendship; the space and time needed for it to develop; and the connections and sense of belonging that come from a friendship filled with encouragement, acceptance and kindness. What a wonderful message for young children, especially those who feel like they don’t quite fit in, as they traverse their own friendships and times of change.
Leo is an incredibly likeable young boy whose anxieties and need for space to express himself have made it difficult to form friendships in school. His friendship with Ralph is joyous and comforting as they know each other perfectly which makes it all the more difficult for Leo to let go and build a new friendship. He feels like an alien in social situations, not being given what he needs in order to be able to interact with others, so when he finds someone who accepts him and gives him space to bond, it is just what he needs to help him open himself to friendship.
The full-and-partial-page illustrations are beautiful and really complement the gentle, heart-warming nature of the story.
This is a gorgeously heart-warming story of family and friendship, of difference and acceptance, perfect for readers of 8+
Thank you to Pushkin Children’s Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Craic 