Little Leonard grew up in Montréal, Canada, and was a child who delighted in the world around him. From roses with too-long stems, to birds chirping on a rusty wire, he noticed the beauty in things that others might miss. His trips to the synagogue were a source of wonder, too. Leonard listened in awe to the songs and stories – moved by their messages and timeless Leonard was nine, his father sadly died. To cope with the loss, he began writing poems, and soon realised how important it was for him to express his feelings through art. As an adult, his search for poetic inspiration led him to London and Greece until, finally, he settled in New York City.