
Rancho Santa Margarita, California Sep 15, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - A powerful new childrens book, Leo is Different by Jenny Leo, is bringing warmth and understanding to the conversation about individuality and acceptance. Written with both tenderness and expertise, the story introduces young readers to Leo, a preschooler who sees and experiences the world in his own way.
Leos story unfolds with honesty and heart. While he struggles with speaking fluently, playing certain games, or handling loud noises, he has a remarkable memory for songs, a deep love of music, and a joy for dancing and laughter. He may not like pizza or pancakes, but he treasures green beans, yellow broccoli rice, and cinnamon buns. He dislikes scratchy clothes and rough textures but finds comfort in his favorite blanket and stuffed monkey. In every detail, Leo is portrayed not as less than, but as uniquely himself a child whose differences are part of what make him special.
At its core, Leo is Different is about more than one childs experiences. It is an invitation for families, teachers, and children 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 challenges and joys 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. Jenny Leo 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 and therapist allowed her to portray his experiences 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 todays world, where kindness and acceptance are needed more than ever, Jenny Leo has given families a way to begin those important talks through the simple and powerful act of storytelling.
Jenny Leos Leo is Different is a timely and heartfelt contribution to childrens literature, reminding readers that every child is unique, and that being different is something to embrace with pride.
About the Author
Jenny Leo is a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and a licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT) specializing in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders. She has worked with neurodivergent children for more than a decade and completed her dissertation on neurodivergent disorders in children.
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. When she is not writing or working, she enjoys traveling, cooking with her family, working out, and watching movies.
Availability & Contact
Leo is Different is now available on the official website, Amazon, and other online platforms in multiple formats; paperback, hardcover, e-Book. Follow the listed channels below to stay up to date with any exciting news and events regarding the authors literary journey:

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3 day's ago
Acclaimed horror novelist and U.S. Army veteran Vanessa M. Chattman returns with a chilling new supernatural tale that promises to haunt readers long after the final page. Her latest novel, BENEATH THE OAK, delivers a gripping blend of psychological terror, hidden family secrets, and ghostly suspensecementing Vanessa M. Chattmans reputation as one of the most compelling voices in modern horror.
Set in the quiet isolation of rural America, BENEATH THE OAK follows Alyssa Ward, a grieving woman forced to confront the shadows of her past when she returns to her childhood home after her mothers sudden death. What she expects to be a simple homecoming becomes a descent into a generational nightmare. The massive oak tree looming behind the houseonce a symbol of comfortnow pulses with an eerie, oppressive presence. At night, whispers seep from its roots, and ghostly silhouettes gather beneath its branches, watching, waiting.
As Alyssa sorts through her mothers belongings, she discovers a series of journals revealing a dark family curse tied to the ancient tree. For generations, the Ward family has been tormented by a spirit bound to the oakone that selects a single family member to keep beneath its roots. When Alyssa begins experiencing visions of a young girl calling her name, begging for release, she realizes the curse is awakening once more.
The deeper Alyssa digs into her familys past, the more the veil between the living and the dead unravels. The spirit beneath the oak soon reveals its true identitysomeone Alyssa once knew, someone she unknowingly abandoned. To break the curse, Alyssa must confront buried memories, longforgotten guilt, and a supernatural force determined to claim her as its next offering. The battle becomes not only for her life, but for her soul.
Vanessa M. Chattmans signature styleatmospheric, emotionally charged, and rooted in psychological horrorshines throughout BENEATH THE OAK. Known for her ability to blend haunting imagery with human vulnerability, Chattman crafts a narrative that is both terrifying and profoundly intimate. Her exploration of grief, memory, and generational trauma elevates the novel beyond traditional horror, offering readers a story that is as thoughtprovoking as it is chilling.
With a growing body of acclaimed work spanning supernatural fiction, psychological thrillers, and cinematic screenplays, Vanessa M. Chattman continues to push the boundaries of the genre. BENEATH THE OAK stands as one of her most powerful works to datea haunting reminder that the past never truly stays buried, and some spirits refuse to be forgotten.
BENEATH THE OAK is now available through major retailers and online platforms. Readers seeking a gripping, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant supernatural horror experience will find themselves captivatedand hauntedby Vanessa M. Chattmans latest masterpiece.
Amazon.com: BENEATH THE OAK: A NOVEL: 9798248707652: Chattman, Vanessa M.: Books
BENEATH THE OAK: A NOVEL by Vanessa M. Chattman | eBook | Barnes & Noble®
BENEATH THE OAK by Vanessa M. Chattman on Apple Books
BENEATH THE OAK eBook by Vanessa M. Chattman - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States
Source :Author Vanessa M. Chattman
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.