It seems that books (and films) revealing the astonishing complexity, intelligence, and emotional capacity of octopuses are having a moment. This story and others lead me to root for that trend and hope it expands and sustains. This story has so much going for it in fostering empathy and awareness of neurodivergent children, but it is much more than that. Even with the neon orange color accents, the tone and pace of the text and the images create a subdued, supportive, and engaging structure for readers of all kinds to dive right in to the story, and into the discussions it could spark. Leo struggles to make sense of the world. He doesn't understand the other children in his class, and they don't seem to understand him. But then one day, Leo meets Maya. 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. She is also a teacher and has extensive experience working with autistic children and their families and caregivers. I think this book would work well at the beginning of the school year to introduce how people respond to different stimuli and could be used to discuss ASD and SEN, and the general idea of ‘difference’.

Leo and the Octopus – Teachpal Leo and the Octopus – Teachpal

This is a three-session spelling seed for the book Leo and the Octopus by Isabelle Marinov. Below is the coverage from Appendix 1 of the National Curriculum 2014. 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. Well the struggle is over, this book tells the story of Leo, what goes through his mind, how he is feeling, my children could understand their thoughts and feelings better and my husband and me can understand them more. 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

When an impromptu trip to a chip shop seems to briefly engage Daniel with the real world, the family decide to revisit their Chip Shop Championships, on a quest to find the best chip shop in the country. Discover a heart-warming new picture book about a little boy with autism and the octopus who helps him understand the world. This book beautifully highlights, explores and explains how our world can feel like an alien planet to some children. Leo, a child with Asperger's syndrome, develops a connection with Maya the octopus, a creature he feels he has much in common with.

Leo and the Octopus (Paperback) - Waterstones Leo and the Octopus (Paperback) - Waterstones

Leo struggles to make sense of the world. He doesn't understand the other children in his class, and they don't seem to understand him. But then one day, Leo meets Maya. 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. About This Edition ISBN:Isabelle Marinov has written a sensitive portrayal of the challenges of autism in her picture book Leo and the Octopus. Sensitively illustrated by Chris Nixon, this story looks at how young Leo often is overwhelmed by his senses: lights become too bright, noises too loud. He finds refuge in a dark, cardboard box, where he can reset himself when everything feels out of control. Then, one day Leo meets Maya, an octopus who seems to react similarly to uncomfortable situations – turning red when she is frightened, and white when she’s calm. Leo understands how Maya is feeling and identifies similar traits in himself. Through his relationship with Maya, Leo begins to look at the world through someone else’s eyes and to understand their difficulties, which enables him to make his first human friend.