Resource Filters Description More information about this book
More information about this book

Book Description

Resource Type

  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • During Reading Activities
  • Post-Reading Activities

Skills and Subjects

  • Oral Language
  • Make Predictions
  • Social & Emotional Learning
  • Visual Elements
  • Vocabulary Acquisition
  • Writing
  • Comprehension Strategies
  • Making Connections
  • Critical Thinking in Literacy
  • Key Ideas & Details
  • Character Development
  • Just for Fun!
  • Further Research
Show All
Reset Filters

Leo and Ralph

A stellar novel about space, starting over and a friendship that's out of this world.

    Book Genre:

  • Fiction

    Audience:

  • ages 7 to 10 / grades 2 to 5

Written by

  • Peter Carnavas

  • Book Description

    Leo and Ralph is a thoughtful, emotionally rich story about a child who experiences the world differently and relies on imagination to navigate feelings of loneliness, misunderstanding and belonging. Leo’s imaginary companion, Ralph, provides comfort, validation and companionship during moments of social difficulty. As Leo grows, the story gently shows that imagination can coexist with real-world connections and that friendships may change without losing their meaning. The text supports conversations about neurodiversity, emotional regulation and acceptance.

    Leo and Ralph explores friendship across differences in communication styles, imagination, emotional needs and social experiences. The story emphasizes inclusion, acceptance and belonging by showing that meaningful relationships can look different from what others expect, and that every child deserves connection and understanding.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Oral Language
    Exploring Friendship in Many Forms
    Begin with a guided discussion about friendship. Ask students to describe different types of friendships they know about (close friends, imaginary friends, family friendships, quiet friendships). Emphasize that friendships do not all look the same. Chart student ideas and explain that the class will return to this chart after reading to reflect on how their understanding has grown.
  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Oral Language
    Imagination as a Tool

    Discuss imagination and pretend play. Ask students why imagination can feel comforting or helpful during difficult moments. Introduce the idea that imagination can support emotional regulation and problem-solving.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Make Predictions, Social & Emotional Learning, Visual Elements
    Cover and Title Analysis

    Display the book cover and title. Ask students what they see on the cover. What is the setting? Ask students to predict who Leo and Ralph might be and how they might be connected. Encourage students to support predictions using visual evidence from the cover.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Emotional Vocabulary Building

    Introduce and define key emotional vocabulary such as lonely, misunderstood, comforted, anxious and belonging. Invite students to share examples or act out emotions to deepen understanding.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Visual Elements, Writing
    Quick Write or Sketch
    Have students write or draw about a time when imagination or creativity helped them feel safe, brave or understood. Emphasize that sharing is optional.
  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Social & Emotional Learning
    Emotion Tracking Over Time
    Pause at key points in the story to identify Leo’s emotions. Create an emotion chart showing how his feelings change. Discuss what causes these emotional shifts and how Ralph supports Leo.
  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Making Connections, Visual Elements
    Guided Stop-and-Think Discussions

    Use the discussion questions for each chapter or ask open-ended questions such as, “Why does Leo need Ralph right now?” or; “How does Ralph help Leo cope?” Encourage students to justify responses using evidence from text and illustrations.

  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Critical Thinking in Literacy, Key Ideas & Details
    Chapter-by-Chapter Discussion Questions

    Prologue

    1. Why is this night in the backyard different from other nights Leo and Ralph have spent together?
    2. What do we learn about Leo’s feelings from the way he talks about moving?
    3. Why do you think Leo throws the telescope away?
    4. What does the backward goodbye show about their friendship?
    5. How does this prologue prepare us for the story?

     

    The White Balloon

    1. Why does the balloon capture Leo’s attention?
    2. How does the balloon show how Leo thinks?
    3. What do Leo’s questions tell us about him?
    4. How do adults respond to Leo’s curiosity?
    5. Why is wonder important in this chapter?

     

    Questions

    1. Why is it hard for Leo to talk with other kids?
    2. What happens when Leo tries to share ideas?
    3. How does this affect how he feels at school?
    4. What does “you can’t see it but it’s still there” mean?
    5. How does this idea connect to the rest of the story?

     

    Mum’s Wish

    1. What are Mum and Dad worried about?
    2. Why does Mum wish Leo had a friend?
    3. How does Leo feel hearing this?
    4. What does this show about Leo’s parents?
    5. Why is this wish important?

     

    Dad’s Idea

    1. What does Dad hope Leo will do?
    2. Why is Leo nervous to try?
    3. How do adults and children see problems differently?
    4. What do Leo’s drawings show?
    5. Do you think this plan will work?

     

    Morning Activities

    1. Why does Leo sit apart from others?
    2. How does Leo feel during class?
    3. What stories does Leo prefer?
    4. Why does Leo imagine a friend from space?
    5. What does this show about Leo’s loneliness?

     

    The Album

    1. Why does Leo enjoy making aliens?
    2. What does Peg mean by “friends”?
    3. Why does Leo name the album “Frends”?
    4. How does the album help Leo?
    5. What does it replace for him?

     

    Peg

    1. How is Peg different from Leo socially?
    2. Why is Leo surprised by Peg’s advice?
    3. What does Peg’s confidence show?
    4. Why is her advice hard for Leo?
    5. How do siblings help each other?

     

    Playground

    1. Why is the playground overwhelming?
    2. What happens when Leo tries to join?
    3. How do others react?
    4. Why does Leo avoid the playground?
    5. What does this chapter teach us?

     

    Family Day

    1. Why does Leo dread Family Day?
    2. How does Peg’s success affect him?
    3. Why does Leo hide?
    4. What decision does Leo make?
    5. Why is this a turning point?

     

    A Lump of Worry

    1. What does the “lump of worry” represent?
    2. How does staying home change Leo?
    3. Why does drawing help?
    4. What makes Leo feel safe?
    5. Why isn’t this a permanent solution?

     

    Animals

    1. Why do adults talk about Leo instead of to him?
    2. How does Leo express feelings through drawing?
    3. Why does he draw himself as an alien?
    4. What do the animals represent?
    5. How does Leo feel different?

     

    Golden Retriever

    1. Why does Leo focus on the dog?
    2. What does it symbolize?
    3. How does imagination help Leo?
    4. Why are adult questions overwhelming?
    5. What does this reveal about Leo?

     

    The Balloon Returns

    1. Why does the balloon come back now?
    2. How does it connect to the beginning?
    3. What risk does Leo take?
    4. Why does the balloon feel important?
    5. What does this chapter build toward?

     

    A Friend

    1. How does Leo react to the creature?
    2. Why isn’t he scared?
    3. What details make it friendly?
    4. How does this fulfill Mum’s wish?
    5. Why is this moment important?

     

    Ralph

    1. Why does Leo name him Ralph?
    2. How is Ralph different from Leo’s classmates?
    3. Why didn’t Ralph speak at first?
    4. How does the game help Leo?
    5. Why is Ralph the right friend?

     

    Games

    1. Why does Leo bring Ralph everywhere?
    2. How does family react?
    3. What does “as long as you need me” mean?
    4. How does Leo change?
    5. What does this show about friendship?

     

    The Telescope

    1. Why is the telescope special?
    2. How is stargazing different with Ralph?
    3. What do they create together?
    4. How does Dad show support?
    5. What does this chapter show?

     

    Alien Ships

    1. Why does Leo want to see real ships?
    2. What warning does Ralph give?
    3. How is Leo changing?
    4. What do ships symbolize?
    5. What does this hint about the ending?

     

    Final Chapters

    1. How does Leo grow?
    2. Why does Ralph appear less?
    3. What does Ralph represent?
    4. Why is letting go hard?
    5. How does the ending show readiness?
  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Making Connections, Social & Emotional Learning
    Text-to-Self and Text-to-World Connections
    Invite students to connect Leo’s experiences to their own lives or to situations they have observed. Emphasize respect and optional sharing.
  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Key Ideas & Details, Visual Elements
    Theme Noticing
    Ask students to listen for messages about belonging, imagination and change. Record emerging themes on chart paper as the story progresses.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Key Ideas & Details, Making Connections, Oral Language
    Theme Deep Dive
    Facilitate a structured discussion about how the story portrays friendship and change. Ask students whether change always means loss and guide them toward understanding emotional growth
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Character Development, Key Ideas & Details
    Character Growth Analysis

    Have students compare Leo at the beginning and end of the story. Use a T-chart to analyze emotional, social and behavioral growth.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Character Development, Writing
    Perspective Writing
    Invite students to write a short reflection or journal entry from Ralph’s perspective, focusing on how Ralph supports Leo emotionally.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Creative Expression Project
    Have students create an imaginary character that helps someone feel supported. Require students to explain the character’s purpose and emotional role.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    Community Reflection Circle
    Hold a guided circle discussion on how classmates can support one another when someone feels different or misunderstood.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    Space, Curiosity and Wonder

    Website: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/

    • Research a planet Leo might enjoy and create an alien fact card for an alien from that planet
    • Write three “wonder questions” inspired by space
    • Compare Earth to an imagined planet from the story. Discuss the similarities and differences.

    Website: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/space

    • Read one article and summarize a new fact learned
    • Create a space vocabulary chart
    • Match real planets to imagined planets from the book
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!, Oral Language, Writing
    Design, Create and Write

    Description: Interactive creativity-focused games that encourage imagination and problem-solving.
    Suggested Activities:

    • Design an imaginary friend like Ralph
    • Create your own board game and explain the rules
    • Draw a place from an imaginary world

     

    Description: Writing activities that encourage storytelling and creativity.
    Suggested Activities:

    • Write a short story about an imaginary friend
    • Rewrite a scene from Ralph’s point of view
    • Illustrate how imagination helps solve a problem