A seven-part portrait of a New York City kid who turns everyday experiences into opportunities to learn and grow.

Featured on the Autism Stories podcast with Doug Blecher!

For nine-year-old Kalen Rietta, everything is an adventure - whether he's making dinner for his family, sitting next to his best friend at school, or going trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

As the seasons change, Kalen experiences the highs and lows of a kid's life. He learns that there won't always be someone there to take care of him, but he discovers confidence in himself.

Inspired by his own passions for getting creative and changing the world, author Leo Finelli introduces readers to a thoughtful kid and the wonderful world around him.

Praise for Seven Slices of Life

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading each segment. My ten year old had been eyeballing the book since it arrived and absconded with it as soon as I was done. He loved it, too." -- An Amazon reviewer

"It was such a breath of fresh air to read a book like this! The characters are genuine, and the varied stories about the main character are sweet and real and engaging! The book is truly well-written, with the 'slices of life' all connecting with each other in interesting ways. I'm excited to give this to my 10 year old nephew!" -- An Amazon reviewer

A multicultural reimagining of the classic ballet, complete with stunning photo illustrations.

Featured on the We Make Children's Books podcast with Barney Smith!

Winter is here, and Clara is so excited! Her friends and family celebrate many different winter holidays: Hanukkah, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and Lunar New Year!

At a holiday party, Clara receives a very special gift: the Nutcracker, a magical toy who will lead her to a grand palace inhabited by living, dancing decorations and symbols of the different winter holidays.

Based on Tchaikovsky's classic ballet, The Nutcracker's World is the perfect book to cozy up with on the coldest and darkest nights of the year. The lively text and photo-collage illustrations will delight readers of all ages.

Praise for The Nutcracker's World

"You've never seen The Nutcracker quite like this...Clara's magical journey is still at the heart of the story, but Leo Finelli builds something much bigger around it: a shared winter world that honors Christmas, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and Lunar New Year, all woven together through symbolism, tradition, and imagination." -- Barney Smith

The story of an 8-year-old who finds some old photos in the attic and becomes fascinated by what life was like before smartphones, social media, and AI.

More information coming soon...