Review: Fantastic Lou: Little Comics from Real Life

Book cover for Fantastic Lou

Review: Fantastic Lou: Little Comics from Real Life

Book cover for Fantastic LouFantastic Lou: Little Comics from Real Life

Written and illustrated by: Qin Leng
Tundra Books, 2025

ISBN: 9781774885673 (hardcover)
9781774885680 (eBook)

$24.99 CAD (hardcover)
$11.99 CAD (eBook)
96 pages

Ages: 5 to 9 years old

Review by: Alexandra Becheru

Fantastic Lou tells the story of Lou, an adventurous and curious boy with boundless creativity, playful dance moves, and a unique zest for life. Each comic lets us peer into the beautiful chaos of Lou’s day-to-day adventures. Whether he is waking up his parents in the middle of the night, role-playing as a ninja, or listening to mom’s bedtime stories, we get to revel in these silly moments alongside him. With her graceful and simple illustrations, Qin Leng perfectly captures the raw, sentimental, and whimsical essence of youth that is found in the everyday moments of childhood. This hardcover graphic novel is inspired by real-life moments and is written for those ages 5 to 9. As an adult, I found myself feeling a warm sense of nostalgia when reading this book. These simplistic yet thoughtful comics are drawn in a linework style accented with a light blue pop of colour. Fantastic Lou is suited for those looking to explore themes of family dynamics, children’s self-expression, and the wonders of childhood.