Leo Lionni books often includes sweet sentiments as well as a wry sense of humor that connects with kids.
Some authors create such a wonderful mass of work they deserve their own special post.
This week, Mommy Evolution is spotlighting Leo Lionni, who has a lighthearted magical quality to his work.
You can find these books at your local library or purchase through the affiliate links provided for your convenience.
Two of our favorite books are not necessarily his most popular across the board.
My son’s all-time favorite story is Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, about a mouse who wishes he could be a wind-up toy but discovers it’s best to be just himself.
Our other personal favorite is Inch by Inch, about an inch worm who out sneaks a vain bird who threatens to eat him.
Frederick
While the other field mice work to gather grain and nuts for winter, Frederick sits on a sunny rock by himself. “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days,” he tells them.
Another day he gathers “colors,” and then “words.”
And when the food runs out, it is Frederick, the dreamer and poet, whose endless store of supplies warms the hearts of his fellow mice, and feeds their spirits during the darkest winter days.
Frederick’s story will warm readers as well in this Caldecott Honor winning fable.
Swimmy
Caldecott Honor Book
Deep in the sea there lives a happy school of little fish.
Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along.
Swimmy shows his friends how-with ingenuity and team work-they can overcome any danger.
Inch by Inch
Caldecott Honor Book
A small green inchworm is proud of his skill at measuring anything — a robin’s tail, a flamingo’s neck, a toucan’s beak.
Then one day a nightingale threatens to eat him if he cannot measure his song.
Children will enjoy the clever inchworm’s solution and delight in finding the tiny hero on every page.
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse
Caldecott Honor Book.
Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander the real mouse is chased away with brooms and mousetraps.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse too.
Originally published in 1969, in this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical mouse, this book explores the magic of friendship.
An Extraordinary Egg
It’s an extraordinary day on Pebble Island for three frogs when one of them discovers a beautiful white egg.
They’ve never seen a chicken egg before, but they’re sure that’s what this must be.
So when the egg hatches and out crawls a long green, scaly creature, they naturally call it… a chicken!
From award winning-artist Leo Lionni, here’s a hilarious case of mistaken identity that children are sure to delight in.
A Color of His Own
Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Only the chameleon has no color of his own.
He is purple like the heather, yellow like a lemon, even black and orange striped like a tiger!
Then one day a chameleon has an idea to remain one color forever by staying on the greenest leaf he can find. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red . . . and so does the chameleon.
When another chameleon suggests they travel together, he learns that companionship is more important than having a color of his own.
No matter where he goes with his new friend, they will always be alike.
Like these Leo Lionni books? Find even more wonderful book lists for kids with more than 100 book-themed reading lists!
Leo Lionni Crafts and Activities
Swimmy the Fish Stamp Craft | Mama Jenn
5 Leo Lionni Activities | Random House Kids
Chameleon Pipe Cleaner Animals | Lines Across
A Color of His Own Art Lesson | Deep Space Sparkle
Fingerprint Fish | 3 Dinosaurs
Frederick the Mouse Collage | A Faithful Attempt
Letter I Activities: Inchworm | Fantastic Fun and Learning
Fish Bowl Craft | 4 Crazy Kings
Fish Paper Art Collage | Waddlee-ah-chaa
Color Exploration | Crayon Freckles
Measuring Play Dough Inchworms | Teach Preschool
Mouse Craft | No Time for Flashcards
Toilet Paper Roll Octopus | Simple As That
Wax Paper Chameleon | Pieces by Polly
Rock Frog Tutorial | Hundreds and Thousands
About Leo Lionni Books
Leo Lionni has gained international renown for his paintings, graphic designs, illustrations, and sculpture, as well as for his books for children.
He was born in Holland in 1910 of Dutch parents, and although his education did not include formal art courses (in fact, he has a doctorate in economics from the University of Genoa), he spent much of his free time as a child in Amsterdam’s museums, teaching himself to draw.
Lionni’s business training gradually receded into the background as his interest in art and design grew. Having settled in Milan soon after his marriage in 1931, he started off by writing about European architecture for a local magazine.
It was there that he met the contacts who were to give him a start as a professional graphic designer. When he moved to America in 1939, Lionni was hired by a Philadelphia advertising agency as art director.
Later he became design director for the Olivetti Corporation of America, and then art director for Fortune magazine. At the same time, his reputation as an artist flourished as he began to exhibit his paintings and drawings in galleries from New York to Japan.
Lionni launched his career as an author/illustrator of books for children in 1959. Originally developed from a story he had improvised for his grandchildren during a dull train ride, Little Blue and LittleYellow was the first of what is now a long list of children’s picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.
Leo Lionni is just the best! I used his books all the time when I taught Kindergarten and First grade. My favorite book has to be Fish is Fish. My son likes that one now!
Alexander has been my sons’ absolute favorite. It just clicked with them. But I like Inch by Inch. Such a clever little inch worm 🙂
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse is my sons favorite by Leo Lionni!! He and I had a blast making crafts for that book! Such a fun time:) Thank you for sharing:)
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse just never gets old. It’s such a sweet story 😀