{"product_id":"the-unlikely-journey-of-leo-the-leaf-9781734324211","title":"The Unlikely Journey of Leo the Leaf","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis children's book with 22 illustrations is for all boys and girls who play sports and wish they could play their best when their team needs them the most. Sometimes it requires just a little encouragement from someone who cares  Big Mo is a 10 year old baseball player who lives in New Jersey. He is tall, lanky and slow. His teammates tease him and call him \"Slow Mo.\" He's assigned to play right field, where he occasionally glances over the right field fence to be cheered up by the happy, dancing leaves on Walt the Willow Tree. One of those leaves is Leo, who has a deep affection for Big Mo and tries to encourage him. When Big Mo comes up to bat in the biggest game of the season, he is inspired by Leo and the other cheerful leaves on Walt the Willow. He's able to overcome his anxiety, loosen his grip on the bat, and let his competitive juices flow  What happens in the very next instant sends Leo on a remarkable journey and changes both Leo's life and Big Mo's life forever \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe theme is the emotional attachments and interdependence that develop between different forms of life.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe scenes are set in real locations, spurring curiosity in the young reader's mind about southern New Jersey, the Delaware River and its tributaries, the Delaware Bay, and the town of Cape May, New Jersey.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe story sheds light on the lives of willow trees and their leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe beauty and wonder found in every single day is highlighted, as is the everlasting lifespan of love.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBarker, William J.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Bill Barker is the father of three grown children, and lives with his wife Anne in suburban Philadelphia. He grew up in Somerdale, New Jersey, the setting for this story. A graduate of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and Columbia University Law School, Bill has had two careers: a trial attorney for his first, and a small-business owner for his second. This is Bill's first book. He was encouraged to write a picture book by his children, to whom he told many original bedtime stories as they were growing up. Dad, you should make one of these stories into a book and publish it! they said. When they were all grown up, and Bill no longer had an audience at home, he took their advice!\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMadeleine, Kunda:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Madeleine Kunda is an artist, graphic designer and illustrator from Telluride, Colorado. Her work has been featured by the Telluride Ski Patrol and appeared in several children's books, as well as the film Lids on Kids. Madeleine received her degree from Quest University Canada and has lived in such places as Spain, France, Wales and Honduras, all of which inspired her to new ways of communicating through art and language. When she's not being artsy she's taking to the great outdoors rain, snow or shine!","brand":"William J. Barker, Jr.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50859412226322,"sku":"9781734324211","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8bbf9808-f4d1-4a4d-9290-047c614f9eeb.jpg?v=1737557480","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-unlikely-journey-of-leo-the-leaf-9781734324211","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}