(Isstories Editorial):- Rancho Santa Margarita, California Oct 1, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – A powerful new children’s book, Leo is Different by Jenny Gemsio Molstre, is bringing warmth and understanding to individuality and acceptance. Written with both tenderness and expertise, the story introduces young readers to Leo, a preschooler who sees and experiences the world a little differently.
As you get to know Leo, you’ll find out about his likes and dislikes, and through Leo, you are taught that everyone deserves to be respected, valued, and seen.
While Leo struggles with spoken language, joining his peers’ play, and handling loud noises, he has a remarkable memory for songs, a love for music, and a sense of humor and laughter that is contagious.
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Leo’s stuffed monkey is an interesting little character throughout the book, mirroring Leo’s moods and feelings. Through colorful illustrations designed for younger children to point to and explore, readers can discover things in Leo’s environment and experience the world through his eyes. Through Leo, readers might also learn a bit more about others and perhaps also about themselves.
On every page, Leo is portrayed not as less than, but as uniquely himself — a child whose differences are part of what makes him special.
Leo is Different is about more than one child’s experiences. It is an invitation for all children, families, parents, teachers, and students to reflect on the beauty of diversity.
The book provides a way for parents to talk with their children about neurodiversity, empathy, and acceptance.
For children who identify with Leo, the story offers comfort and recognition; for their peers, it sparks compassion and understanding. The balance of obstacles and abilities shown in the book makes it relatable and accessible, while also honoring the realities of children who may process the world differently.
The inspiration behind the book is deeply personal. The author drew on her experiences as both a professional and a mother. The character of Leo is loosely based on her youngest son, and her background as a psychologist allowed her to portray his strengths and challenges with nuance and authenticity. The result is a story that resonates on many levels, combining lived experience with professional insight to create a meaningful resource for children and adults alike.
Leo is Different is more than a book to read aloud; it is a tool for building conversations at home, in classrooms, and within communities about why differences should be celebrated. In today’s world, where kindness and acceptance are needed more than ever, the author has given families a way to begin those important talks through the wonderful and powerful act of storytelling.
Leo is Different is a timely and heartfelt contribution to children’s literature, reminding readers that every child is unique and should be loved and seen for their individual qualities. We should all embrace our own differences and strengths as well as others with a sense of pride.
The author successfully finds a way through easy language and simple words to convey the deep and extremely important message: it is okay to be different. We are all unique in our own special way!
About the Author
Jenny Gemsio Molstre is a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and a licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT) specializing in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders. She has over a decade of experience working with neurodivergent children and completed her dissertation focusing on the levels of autism spectrum disorder in children and the experiences of their caregivers.
Jenny lives in San Diego with her husband, their four children, and their golden retriever puppy. She has long dreamed of becoming an author, and with Leo is Different, she brings her love of writing together with her passion for helping children and families. She also involved her own children in Leo is Different through their drawings and their love for their little brother.
When she is not writing or working, she enjoys reading, traveling, watching movies and cooking with her family, working out or playing tennis.
Availability & Contact
Leo is Different is now available on the official website, Amazon, and other online platforms in multiple formats: paperback, hardcover, and e-book. Follow the listed channels below to stay up to date with any exciting news and events regarding the author’s literary journey:
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
