Leo: A Ghost Story

Product Information

Leo: A Ghost Story is a 2015 children's book written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Christian Robinson. For many years, Leo lived by himself in a house on the edge of the city, reading books and drawing pictures in the dust. Meeting a young girl named Jane on a sidewalk, Leo finds a companion, one who can see him, but who mistakes him for an imaginary friend. Of course I appreciate the appearing act orchestrated in the first two spreads, but part of me questions that usage of space for a narrative that ultimately is about two characters. Christian Robinson’s beautiful illustrations are simple and stylish; the cool blue palette perfectly captures Leo’s quiet world and the city scenes evoke classic New Yorker-style illustrations.

A lifeless story about the ghost of a child who gets evicted from his house and then confused for an imaginary friend. Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson create such a unique little story and empathetic characters, that I feel like children would get heavily invested in this picture book as well, and outwardly emote in reaction to the story as it goes.The only thing that could make this better is that we get sequel after sequel after sequel following Leo and Jane. This charming tale of friendship—from two of the best young minds in picture books: the author of the Caldecott Honor–winning Extra Yarn and the illustrator of the Bologna Ragazzi Award–winning Josephine—is destined to become a modern classic that will delight readers for years to come. Considero que cuelquiera puede leer este libro porque apresar de que diga poco, nos deja con un mensaje hermoso.

The lovely message of friendship in all forms is timeless and Barnett’s charm shines through each sentence. Morbidly amused, but also genuinely curious, I turned to Mac and asked, “If we did all die in a fiery crash tonight, how many books do you have finished that would still be published posthumously? This book feels instantly classic: the retro illustrations paired with a timeless tale of finding friends who really see you.There are so many subtle, positive messages in this story, creeping into the brain through the eyes.

With Autumn approaching, and Halloween around the corner, it is the perfect time to read Leo: A Ghost Story. And in Jane, they create a brilliant heroine whose powers lie within her wit, her open mind, and her freedom of play. It’s also a powerful paean to the wonders of a child’s imagination, and the intricate games about knights and dragons, golden treasures and glorious feasts, initiated by go-getter Jane, have a familiar resonance about them that will make parents smile.Mac immediately establishes a connection with the reader by breaking the fourth wall and allowing them to see Leo with the first page turn when not many others in the story can see him. I love the palette of “Leo”: black, white, gray and various shades of moody blue, in a mix of acrylic paint and chunky ­construction-paper collage. Christian Robinson, the book’s illustrator, is one of the most exciting children’s book artists working today. A few have two or three sold ahead of time, but haven’t written them yet, and even less have two or three finished waiting for publication, but SEVEN? My favorite illustration is from the part of the story when Leo has just found his first real friend.

The look of the book is mod and sparky enough to delight design-loving parents, while the text, by Mac Barnett is wry, evocative and rich. We're not sure how long Leo wanders, but he is a lonely ghost in a foreign world, for we find out that his town has changed considerably since Leo became a ghost. It’s about friendship, about how sometimes leaving some things behind could lead you to better things.Although there is a ghost it is not scary at all, unless you have already made your tiny tot terrified of the mere word, in which case you are shit parent.