Endorsed by Professor Tony Atwood, author of Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals A masterfully told story with many layers added by the thoughtful illustrations about a boy named Leo who is neurodiverse (later revealed in a note by the author to be on the autistic spectrum). This brilliant activity book is designed for autistic people and their friends and family to enjoy.

Leo and the Octopus Book Review - BooksForTopics Leo and the Octopus Book Review - BooksForTopics

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)? Before I even had a chance to put this book on display in my class library, children were asking me about it. There’s just something about the fluorescent orange that really gets them! Themes

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Leo and Octopus, by Isabelle Marinov, illustrated by Chris Nixon, is a sensitive and perceptive story about a little boy who struggles to make sense of the world until he meets Maya the octopus. ‘Sensitive, accurate and perceptive’ Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Leo is a curious child but he feels different from the other children in his class and he doesn't understand them. He doesn't like too much noise and the commotion of the classroom can sometimes upset him. When he meets Maya the Giant Pacific Octopus he builds a friendship that assures him he is not alone. The story will strike a chord with children who have Asperger's Syndrome, as well as educate other children about the condition in a way they can relate to. LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. A beautiful picture book written by Isabelle Marinov with amazing illustrations by Chris Nixon follows a little boy, who has Autism, called Leo who believes that he is living on the wrong planet. One day Leo meets Maya, the octopus, and the more he learns about her the more Leo starts to believe that isn’t alone in this world anymore.

Leo and the Octopus - Peters Fraser and Dunlop (PFD) Literary

What a wonderful book. Isabelle Marinov handles autism with incredible sensitivity, whilst somehow also conveying so much about what it’s like to see the world through the eyes of a child who has Asperger’s Syndrome. Both Leo and Maya are fully developed characters, and their blossoming relationship is a joy to read. The story itself is sweet and simple. A child feeling out of place and finding friendship with an animal is so realistic that I couldn’t help but fall in love with Leo. Following his journey to finding a friend, I’m certain, can be very relatable to many children and adults. After all, animals, especially misunderstood ones, just want someone to reach out and show some compassion. This is exactly what Leo does with Maya. What I also loved is how Leo doesn’t just stop with Maya, the octopus, but he also is able to share this interest in octopuses with another child. Maya is an octopus, and the more Leo learns about her, the more he thinks that perhaps he isn't alone in this world, after all. My children have Aspergers syndrome and over the years we have struggled to find a book that they could relate to, and a book that my husband and myself could understand what go through their minds,Leo and the Octopus is a brilliant book for building empathy; it really raises awareness of what life is like living with autism. ✭✭✭✭✭”

Leo and the Octopus: Isabelle Marinov, Chris Nixon Leo and the Octopus: Isabelle Marinov, Chris Nixon

Through Leo, Isabelle Marinov provides the reader with many facts about octopuses, and we learn about them as he does. I found the information so interesting that I ended up watching My Octopus Teacher! I can certainly see how Leo was fascinated by Maya, and I believe that children of all ages reading this book will be too, making this a great book to read alongside an ocean-based or environmental topic.Overall, I loved this book and can see myself reading it to my son, once he’s a bit older, and having discussions about how sometimes people can make friends easy, some need more help, and what we can do to help. I would recommend this picture book to young children and to parents to read to their youngsters about how being different is okay, and how can we show acceptance and care to everyone. Not everyone can read social cues, or infer how someone else is feeling: how much simpler things could be if we just telegraphed our feelings more directly, like by turning a specific color when we felt a particular way. I appreciated how this book approaches a need for clearer communication by turning to the octopus. Leo knew exactly how Maya felt. Sometimes he wished he could squirt water at all the things that annoyed him to make them disappear. Isabelle Marinov