Leo, the Little Wanderer by Tuula Pere is a children’s book that follows a young boy named Leo who hears whispers in the wind which tell him to venture out into the world and experience what life has to offer. Leo listens to the wind and is taken on an enchanting and enriching journey through towns and mountains where he meets an array of people that teach him about life.

I have never read a children’s story with such a powerful message until this book. The writing was beautifully illustrative all on its own. The full page illustrations by Andrea Alemanno gave a delightful charm to the adventure and made the reading experience simply enchanting. The moments when Leo met people throughout the story were relatable and filled with introspection and meaning. He was able to connect with many different people from diverse places on basic levels such as music. This shows that we all have so much in common and this story effectively sends that message to young readers. 

My favorite line from the story, and one that I truly connected with, was “…the building was like life itself- a big dream full of details and always in the making.” This one poetic line gives just a small taste of the soulful reflection that this picture book offers. Author Tuula Pere shows life’s possibilities in this bewitching children’s book, if we just take the time to listen and to live.

Pages: 46 | ISBN: 978-952-357-337-6