This story about a boy and his love for a stuffed lion is sweet and gentle. While similar to an old classic The Velveteen Rabbit, it is original enough to stand on its own. And the illustrations are superb! ( )

For a book with very little text, this was an excellent storytime pick. The kids were mesmerized. ( )

Gorgeous pictures! Beautiful story. ( )

This book tells a story about lost and found. Henry has a stuffed toy---Leo. Rather than treating Leo as a normal toy, Henry sees him as his best friend. Leo is real! However, Henry's family does not agree with Henry. Once when they play in the wood, Henry lost Leo and was worried a lot. The next morning, they found Leo. Having a toy as a best friend is common for children. This story could easily make connection with young readers, even elder ones since they may had similar childhood. The whole book is fairy-tale like illustrations, with each character has a transparent crown. It blurs the boundary between reality and fairy world, because though it is dream-like atmosphere, but it also contains real-world like plots, such as, having a family talk and walk in the woods. ( )

Gift from Meghan R

LOVE this book, from the gorgeous art (reminds me of Mary GrandPre) to the story that perfectly captures a true element of childhood, the love for a favorite stuffed toy. After all, "I guess we can never really know what makes one particular toy more special than another." Henry's devotion to Leo is reciprocated, in this case, as Leo makes his way home from the Nearby Woods with the help of some woodland creatures. ( )