Leo and Ralph are the very best of mates. They dream-up and play games together, hang out together everyday and Ralph sleeps over every night. Leo’s family are cool with Ralph being with Leo all the time, but no-one else but his teacher knows about their friendship. Ralph is an alien imaginary friend.

Leo’s younger sister doesn’t have any trouble making friends at school. She seems to attract them like a magnet, but Leo finds it difficult talking to other kids his age. He’s a thinker, doesn’t talk quickly or if he does, kids seem to find him boring. Leo loves lying outside alone at night and staring up at the stars. Space is his thing, and no-one else he knows likes it as much as him.

One night he sees a speck in the sky, which soon brings him Ralph – an alien from one of the moons of Planet Jupiter. Ralph changes colour depending on his mood and keeping Leo smiling is Ralph’s happy place. Yellow is the happiest colour of all.

Leo finally feels like he fits in at school, because he doesn’t need to worry about the other kids any longer. Ralph is always by his side. Years pass and Ralph is still Leo’s best friend. But times are getting tough, and his family needs to move for Mum’s work. They also want him to say goodbye to Ralph, and leave him behind.

Moving from a city to a small country town is hard enough, but without his best friend? Leo’s learnt lots of ways to make new (real) friends, but can he?

Leo and Ralph is a sweet story about a little boy who is different from his peers. Leo likes Space and asks lots of questions, and likes to think about things carefully. Other children aren’t patient enough to let him be himself, so he spends most of his time alone and trying to figure out how to make friends.

An imaginary friend is the perfect solution, and it’s marvelous watching Leo come out of his shell in the company of a small alien horned monster, named Ralph.

The patience and understanding from his family (including his little sister), and his teachers is sweet, allowing Leo to make new friends in his own time. His first new friendship is unplanned, unlikely and lovely to read.

A gentle story for lovers of Wild Robot, Polly & Buster and the Willa & Woof series’

Author – Peter Carnavas

Age – 7+

(2024, University of Queensland Press, Family, Friendship, Growing up, School, Secret, Aliens, Jupiter, Imaginary Friend, Imagination, Space, Planets, Night Sky, Telescope, Soccer Ball, How to Kick)