Leo, the wanderer, sails his small boat into a rocky bay. He’s surprised to discover two towns facing each other, each boarded and segregated by a large stone wall. The mayors of both towns refuse to allow Leo to reside in their respective towns, so he builds a cabin in the empty space between the walls. In Tuula Pere’s Between the Walls, young readers learn how Leo decorated the walls to make them less barren in appearance; he grew a garden; and, at night, he played his violin on the abandoned pier. This lonely traveler had carved a place into the hearts of the people who lived in both towns. They soon came out to join him, to listen to him play, to enjoy the artwork he created on the walls, and to play.

Tuula Pere’s picture book, Between the Walls, is a folktale about collaboration, friendship, and getting along with others. The plot follows Leo’s arrival and his initial confrontation with the mayors of the two towns. Told in simple language so young readers can easily follow along and improve their reading skills, this story reads like a fairy tale. It intends to both educate and entertain and the author has done just that. Leo’s character is well-developed: he is a simple boy with a strong sense of compassion and a good heart. He has an intuitive ability to work with others and bring them together. The illustrations by Andrea Alemanno are pastel-toned and calming – very suitable for this story.

In Between the Walls by Tuula Pere, two towns face each other across a bay, two towns that have grown from little villages. Now, bigger boats are docking in the bay, but there aren’t enough berths. When Leo docks at a pier belonging to both towns, he finds it deserted. The town mayors will not allow Leo to enter their towns, but he’s in luck – a piece of land between the two towns, not owned by either, is perfect for him to set up home. And so he does. A beautiful cabin, a garden full of flowers, and his lovely violin playing soon attract people from both towns. As they stare over the walls, a thought begins to be voiced – shouldn’t they just tear the walls down and get together? What will the mayors of each town think? Can the two towns become friends again?

Between the Walls by Tuula Pere is a fun little story but with some serious undertones. The illustrations by Andrea Alemanno really do this story justice. On the face of it, this is a cute story about a traveler trying to put down roots, but there’s more to it. This is about not putting up walls to cut other people off, or if you do, knocking them down again. It’s about accepting each other for who and what they are, regardless of the differences between you. Kids should learn early that everyone has different opinions, and it’s not right to knock anyone for theirs and it certainly isn’t okay to shut them out because their opinions don’t align. I loved this book. Highly recommended for parents, kids, and schools everywhere.

Between the Walls by Tuula Pere is the story of two neighboring coastal towns separated by a shard pier. Over time, the hostility between the inhabitants forces the mayors to build walls around their towns, and soon people from the eastern and the western sides stop mingling with each other on the pier, and the land between them becomes no man's land. One day, a young boy on a little sailing boat arrives in the neglected harbor. After failing to convince the mayors of both sides, he finally finds room for a little cabin with his own garden in the no man's land. He covers the ugly stone walls on both sides with beautiful paintings of flowers, trees, and birds, drawing the attention of the people from the rival towns. But is it enough to bring them together?

Borders may divide us, but art, music, and culture can bring humanity together. This is the premise of this wonderful picture book by Tuula Pere. Between the Walls is full of wonder and shows how much human beings can achieve if they work together in unity. Pere is a master of weaving poignant themes in children's books, and this short story is no exception. Leo is the charismatic protagonist who steals the show. However, the book also features some unnamed children who aren't big fans of the walls separating them from their friends on the other side, despite the adults thinking otherwise. It has some deep-seated parallels to how things work in our society in the real world. Andrea Alemanno's drawings are spectacular and enhance the story in the best way. Recommended to both children and adults!

Between the Walls by Tuula Pere is a modern-day fable. Two towns exist on either side of the bay. Each town's fishermen use the pier in the middle of the bay. As the cities grow, so do the boats, and soon the dock is no longer big enough for everyone. Disagreements erupt, and the situation becomes so volatile that the mayors build walls to separate their towns. Unable to agree on a single wall, each town builds a separate wall, leaving a no-man's land in between, which includes the pier. Each town becomes more isolated from its neighbors, except for the children who try to connect with their peers. One day, a young boy, Leo, appears and gains permission to build a cabin in no-man's land. The townspeople are curious about this newcomer. What will happen between Leo and the townspeople?

Tuula Pere's Between the Walls mirrors events happening in our world today. Children will see how disagreements can spiral out of control and lead to consequences no one wants to live with. Once things get out of control, it is often difficult for people to find their way back to each other. Leo and the children find a way to gently encourage a change of heart in the adults. The images by Andrea Alemanno are soft pencil-type drawings with just a few hints and splashes of color. The simple illustrations are filled with distinct characters and details. Between the Walls is a story that will provide children with a sense of hope in our often chaotic and fractious world.