Leyla

by Galia Bernstein

Leyla is sick of her big, loud, overbearing family. They are always chatting, snuggling, and grooming each other (ew!), and—for Leyla—there’s no escape from their attention. So, she decides to run away until she can’t hear (or smell) her baboon troop anymore. In the middle of her desert habitat, she finds a lizard sunning himself. Unlike her family, the lizard loves to sit alone, be quiet, and do absolutely nothing at all. Leyla joins the lizard, and after soaking up some quiet time, she feels recharged and ready to return home to her large, ever-doting family. Now that she knows where she can always find a little peace, Leyla can embrace the chaos and the kisses with open arms. From the celebrated author-illustrator of I Am a Cat , Leyla shows kids how to appreciate both the wild and the mild.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Love, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Galia Bernstein loves animals and has been studying and drawing them since she was two years old. She is the bestselling author of three picture books, which have been published in fifteen languages, and the illustrator of many more. Galia lives in Brooklyn, New York, with a very small dog and a large cat.


I am a Cat (2018)
Leyla (2019)
The Pumpernickel - Daffodil (2023)

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are delightful -- so expressive! I really appreciate the story of a child realizing it is okay to be different from her family, to seek her own pace and peace ... that we can be at once different from our family but also appreciate them -- to want times apart and times together. I was a bit puzzled at why no one in Layla's family followed her or checked on her for the whole time she was gone? It wasn't clear if she is old enough to be off on her own? I also found it really interesting that Layla's family didn't learn any lessons here. They didn't change. Not that there was anything wrong with their gregariousness. I just wanted them maybe to get a little more awareness that it sometimes bothered Leyla. At first, I found this somewhat disappointing. (See Don't Hug Doug as contrast.) On the other hand, perhaps it is more true-to-life and I can value that. Many times, the people we love or must surround ourselves with don't change -- if we want things to be different, we as an individual must be the change. Layla does this. She finds a place she can go to be quiet -- she finds a friend who understands why this is important -- and she comes back to the big, noisy family she loves and has a better sense of inner peace, and a better appreciation for them, because of her time away. So, I think it's a valuable book, one that would benefit both introverts and extroverts.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young baboon with a huge family longs for some solitude, so she strikes out on her own.

The author's illustrations really make this one special.





Leyla is adorable

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sorry... I know that I say that I reserve five stars for books everyone should have a chance to enjoy, and this might not be quite that amazing. But: everyone who ever longs for peace & quiet, everyone who wants to understand those people, and everyone who delights in expressive, humorous, appealing illustration is very likely to enjoy it.

I particularly liked the author's note.
And the picture of Leyla in a lotus pose.

Update: I gave it to my husband and my youngest adult son and they both enjoyed it, too.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leyla the baboon lived with her mother, her father, and nine aunts and twenty-three cousins. It was a loving but loud environment, and one day, when she just couldn't take the constant attention and activity anymore, Leyla ran away. She ran far away, and eventually met an extremely quiet, extremely inactive lizard, who taught her the pleasure of doing nothing but basking in the sun. After her restful break with her new friend, Leyla was ready to return to the heart of her sometimes over-active family, secure in the knowledge that she had a retreat, when and if she got overwhelmed again...

Having absolutely adored author/illustrator Galia Bernstein's debut picture-book, I Am a Cat , I was eager to pick up her forthcoming title, Leyla, and was lucky enough to see an advanced copy. Although I wouldn't describe it as being quite as clever or as droll as the earlier book, I did find this one engaging. The story captures the travails of a more independent personality type caught in an overly demonstrative social situation quite nicely, and offers a possible solution - temporary breaks in order to meditate and be alone - to the problem. The artwork is lovely, and quite expressive. Bernstein captures the various baboon expressions quite nicely! All in all a sweet follow-up, and although it wasn't quite as strong as the author's first - if half stars were available, this would be a 3.5-star title, but as they aren't, I've rounded up - it was still quite appealing. Recommended to anyone who gets overwhelmed by strongly emotional and overly active crowds, as well as to Galia Bernstein fans.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Concerns about the message this sends, once again with anthropomorphic monkey/ape imagery. I read the authors note to understand the inspiration, but the wording of the view of the child's too big messy, smelly family contains underlying racism to it.
See Edith Campbell (@CrazyQuilts) work on curating and explaining concerns with the historical racism of monkey/ape imagery.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner from this author! Not many picture books star baboons, and LEYLA is a true gem. The expressive illustrations are a joy to look at.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting riff on the idea of the lizard brain and mindfulness meditation.

[Deepti Jawale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh. So cute.

[Almira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes being in a large family is overwhelming ---
It is ok to get away from them all, just as long as you remember "they" all love you!

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmG2E...

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big families. Can't live with them, can't live without them in this story about Leyla a young baboon who runs away from her family and then realizes she misses them.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leyla runs away from her crowded, noisy, over-attentive baboon troop and finds a lizard who teaches her how to cope.

[Miranda]

This book was absolutely adorable!

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apedruk door Galia Bernstein

Apedruk is geschreven en getekend door Galia, een super getalenteerde dame dus.

Luna heeft een mama en een papa. En negen tantes en 23 neefjes en nichtjes. Redelijk normaal voor mantelbavianen maar voor Luna veel te druk. Iedereen wil almaar kusjes geven en knuffelen en zij wil rust. Dus begint Luna te rennen, tot ze hen niet meer kan horen, ruiken en zien.

Dat loopt (natuurlijk) niet helemaal van een leien dakje. (Als je wil weten wat er gebeurt moet je het boek zelf maar lezen…)

Apedruk gaat over Luna en haar familie maar ook over ons, mensen. Want ook wij hebben het het almaar druk druk. Als je daaraan even wil ontsnappen lees dan dit verhaal over Luna.
Samen met je (klein-)kinderen of lekker alleen in de zetel onder een dekentje. Bernstein en Luna nemen je even mee naar een wereld die niet door draait maar gewoon even stil staat. Je hoeft niet de laatste meditatie-app te downloaden; dit boek helpt je ook om te ontspannen.

De tekeningen zijn grappig, ontroerend en lief. De tekst is eenvoudig en klein maar net dat maakt hem groots. Een boek om te koesteren, te lezen en te herlezen. Vol prenten om te delen. (De dubbel-pagina zonder tekst is mijn favoriet, ik zou hem wel aan de muur willen hangen.)

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's Leyla to do when her family of baboons is so noisy and fussy and busy?

Leyla's new friend, a lizard, provides an alternative.

Problem solving books are useful. Plus, they bring hope. Therefore, I'll rate this one with FIVE STARS.

HOWEVER, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

It's troubling that the lizard friend is teaching little Leyla to meditate.

Children up to age 10, like fictional Leyla, are learning to direct their awareness outward, toward objective reality. For the next decade or two they’ll be adding to this irreplaceable knowledge base. And once they’re adapting pretty well to life around them, then, maybe, THEY will choose to do some meditation, etc.

Otherwise, coaching children to do this too young? It’s like fitting out your three-year-old with toe shoes. That child will live with the consequences. And so, if you’re the parent, will you.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super sweet and cute, this picture book about familial love. Leyla herself is adorable, and the other monkeys (baboons?) are fluffy balls of wide-eyed curiosity and kindness.

I wonder, though, why it just had to be monkey characters (a brief author's note does explain the inspiration). These extremely anthropomorphized animals, with their expressive human faces, relatable human emotions, and distinctively human motivations might be a bit jarring for some readers whose own humanity has been discounted and who have instead been likened to primates. A very human family story that might've resonated just as well, if not better, had it featured people.

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don’t read into this book too much, it’s just a good lesson for children—especially for certain personalities—that the noise and craziness of a family can be too much. All of us need time to ourselves from time to time. If you’re an introvert, you get that. Rather than becoming a grump, take that time, then come back out to your extroverted family who loves you. In my house we have rest time each day to help facilitate those needs for my children (and me!).

[Juliana Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leyla is a little monkey with a mother and a father... and 9 aunts... and 23 cousins! Her family was too loud and always in her business. So she decides to run far away. She learns to sit quietly and do nothing with the chameleon but when the sun goes down she wants to go home to her big, loud, family who loves her!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leyla is tired of her busy, noisy family so she decides to run so far away that she can't hear them or smell them. She comes upon a Lizard who teaches her how to be still and listen to the world around her. This enchanting story is packed with personality and endearing illustrations. Children 2 - 8 will enjoy Leyla by Galia Bernstein again and again.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leyla is a Hamadryas baboon who lives in a troop with her loud, large, and loving family. But sometimes she is a bit overwhelmed by it all. One day she leaves and finds a secluded place, and meets a lizard who shows her how to do nothing. This helps Leyla understand and appreciate her family when she returns to the troop.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever story about a young baboon who needs some space from her large family. She runs until she's far enough to not hear or see them and meets a lizard who teaches her about relaxing and just being.
Love the expressions on the character's faces and their body language.
Use to talk about needing space and finding calm spaces.

[Allie Outhouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not attractive as images, story, layout or moral: run away from horrible big families because they'll take you back without any questions or apologies. It's better to avoid them, sit and do nothing by yourself all day than appreciate others' affection for you with new and different self-centered, cold-blooded individuals. Don't forget to lie about your experiences and be an ingrate!

[Yvette Mendez]

Leyla the monkey has a HUGE family. They are always around, loud, and constantly dotting on her. She decides to runaway. She meets a lizard who teaches her how to meditate and find the silence when things get to be "too much". She begins to miss her family and returns to them. Leyla will always remmeber how to find the quiet.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I needed this book as a child and as an adult at family reunions. Introverted or sound-sensitive children can feel overwhelmed, even by the family they love. Leyla shows them how to find a space to shut things out for just a little while (meditation). This charming book has gorgeous illustrations, deep sentiment, and is surprisingly funny.

[Mandi Simmons]

Leyla is a monkey who cannot take her family anymore. She ran away and met a lizard who made her decompress and relax. Then realizing when she returned home, her family just loved and cares for her. It could be used to teach the importance of taking care of yourself and understanding others. A writing activity would be great.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top-notch, expressive illustrations, effective humor and pacing, and a relatable plotline. Leyla's family is just TOO MUCH sometimes. She learns to calm her body and her mind, and then comes to see the good in her family as well. Strongly prefer this story to Bernstein's acclaimed debut, I AM A CAT.

**themes: SEL, mindfulness, family love, individuality, self-regulation

[Reagan Church]

She discovers a lizard lying in the middle of his desert habitat. The lizard, unlike her relatives, prefers to spend her time alone, in silence, and doing nothing at all. Leyla joins the lizard and, after taking in some alone, feels rejuvenated and prepared to go back to her sizable, devoted family.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een enorm schattig prentenboek over familie en dat je soms EVEN een momentje voor jezelf moet pakken als het allemaal teveel wordt. Ik vond het lief geschreven en de illustraties waren echt prachtig. Ik gaf het aapje ook zeker geen ongelijk, haha, als er aan mij zo wordt gefrunnikt en dat de hele dag dan zou ik ook even weglopen. Doei hé.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are just gorgeous and the idea of a baboon who is overstimulated by her huge, loud family is just awesome. (Please read the author's note to understand why she chose to depict baboons). I love how Leyla learned to find balance by engaging her lizard brain and being mindful. This will make a great story time book!

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leyla runs away from a crowded, noisy, busy family and finds a lizard who teaches her how to sit still and do nothing at all (meditate). She goes back to her family, but now has options when it all gets to be too much.