School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

PreS-Gr 1 In this spare picture book, Zagarenski explores the familiar theme of a stuffed animal becoming real. Leo, a stuffed toy lion, is Henry's favorite. Henry has other toys, for sure, such as a bear, bunny, and fox. But Leo is special, with his glass button eyes and jointed and movable parts, and he and Henry are inseparable. One day the family decides to go for a walk in the woods, and Henry excitedly declares, "Leo loves the woods!" Henry's disbelieving sister scolds him, though, saying, "Leo is a stuffed toy, and toys aren't real! " Henry knows better as they enjoy a stroll through the Nearby Woods. Unfortunately, after a long, tiring walk, Leo is accidentally left behind. Heading out again into the night, the family searches, but the little friend is nowhere to be found. Henry is inconsolable as he lies in bed, but magic is happening in the Nearby Woods. Henry's stuffed toys transform into real animals, and the bear, the rabbit, and the fox guide Leo safely home. The next morning, the family finds him in the garden, looking every bit like a stuffed animal again. However, Leo quietly whispers a real "I love you" into Henry's ear. The full-bleed illustrations are done in mixed media and have a soft, dreamy quality to them. As the people and toys drift between the real world and the magical one, ghostly crowns appear over their heads. The nighttime scenes in the forest contain fantasylike elements, contrasting with the more realistic ones in the real world. VERDICT The stunning, sumptuous artwork and familiar themes make this a serene and satisfying bedtime story for young children, with just the right amount of dramatic tension.— Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

ALA Booklist (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Zagarenski enlightens young readers with an enchanted story of love and friendship between a young boy and his favorite toy. Though his family tries to tell him his beloved Leo isn't real, Henry and the plush lion are inseparable, and when he accidentally leaves Leo behind on a walk in the woods, the boy is disconsolate. Although his parents assure him they'll look first thing in the morning, Henry is still worried. But back in the woods, something magical takes place while Henry fitfully sleeps: in wordless spreads, Zagarenski's warm, lustrous, and whimsical multimedia paintings depict Leo conspiring with other forest denizens to find a way back home. The little lion's plight is clear, thanks to the animals' expressive forms and some visual hints, while the jewel-toned palette cultivates a welcoming, mystical atmosphere. The transition from Henry's story, rendered in simple text, to Leo's is seamless, and the sumptuous imagery is packed with delightful details, which are a pleasure to hunt for. Little ones will be entranced.

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

After a walk in the woods, Henry's papa carries him home; children will likely notice that Henry's stuffed-lion friend Leo is no longer in his arms. Back home: "Leo will be scared," says Henry. Lush wordless spreads show Leo being accompanied home by helpful animals. Zagarenski uses layers of paint over found materials and, in the story, layers the imaginary over layers of reality.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Zagarenski (The Whisper) frames her splendid, tapestrylike paintings within a story that focuses their power. Henry-s family loves him, but his insistence that his toy lion, Leo, has feelings is a problem. -Leo is a stuffed toy,- his sister sniffs, -and toys aren-t real.- When Henry falls asleep on a hike and drops Leo in the woods, his mother assures him that they-ll search for Leo in the morning. In a series of hauntingly lovely wordless spreads, Zagarenski returns to the forest under the warm light of a full moon, where a bear, fox, and hare discover Leo. They sip out of mugs while Leo draws a picture of his house; he rides home on the bear-s back. When Henry spots Leo on the lawn the next morning, his sister says wonderingly, -But I looked in that very spot last night,- allowing readers to share in Leo-s secret. Lost-toy stories can be frightening, but Zagarenski presents the forest as a place of beauty and refuge, and the closing endpapers suggest that Leo and Henry find more to do there. Ages 4-7. (Oct.)