Leo Lionni :Timeless Children’s
Literature
Lionni’s Books
Alexander and the Windup Mouse
is a story about wanting to be loved
and accepted by others but realizing
that you should appreciate the friendships
you already have
Nicolas Where have you been?, is a story
about making friends and helping each
other out to solve problems instead of
through conflict and competition.
Tico and the Golden Wings, is a story of a
bird who learns that being different does-
n’t matter. As long as you live unselfishly
your problems will work themselves out.
Frederick, is a story of a group of
mice who discover that each of
them can contribute to their family in all
different ways.
The biggest House in the World, is a story
of a snail who learns that what you want
may be too much to “carry” literally. So he
learns to appreciate the world around
him.  4 time winner of the
Inch by Inch, is a story of an
inchworm who is asked to use 
his body to measure different part of
different animals.
Fish is Fish, is a story of a fish ,
curious about the world outside his
pond after he is told about if by his
frog friend
Please visit this site to learn more about this wonderful author
The Quality of Lionni’s Literature
Leo Lionni’s children’s literature extends beyond the story at hand and truly implements very subtle
but very effective engines to which allow children of very young academic careers (recommended 2nd to 3rd
grade) to start to expand their minds by thinking abstractly. He poses questions and situations which cause the
readers to take on the perspective of another. For instance, In his book, Fish is Fish, Lionni has his reader consider
why the fish is imagining all other animals looking like fish. Of course because the fish cannot leave the pond and
only knows what fish look like; but to a young child’s mind, figuring that out takes some thinking “outside the box.”
Parents and Teachers, we strongly recommend the use of Lionni’s literature in the development of you children and
students’ creative thought and language arts development because not too many authors have the ability to engage
a child’s interest in a story and at the same time incorporate such useful complex thought for children their age.
About Lionni
Leo Lionni was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1910. Lionni taught himself to draw while
growing up. He received a PhD in economics from the University of Geona. He was mar-
ried in 1931 and began his writing career for a magazine, writing about European Archi-
tecture. Lionni began writing children’s books in 1959. His first book was Little Blue and
Little Yellow. Through his career he has written and illustrated many books and received,
most notably, the Caldecott Award four times as well as the American Institute of Graphic
Arts Gold Medal in 1984. He has also gained international renown for his paintings,
graphic designs, illustrations, sculptures and his children’s books. Lionni past away in
October of 1990 at the age of 89. His legacy lives on through these wonderful book, which
have stood the test of time and continue to provide children with high quality, enjoyable
books to read and learn from.
time to time, from the "From
endless flow of our mental im-
agery, there emerges unexpect-
edly something that, vague
though it may be, seems to
carry the promise of a form, a
meaning,
and, more
important,
an irresisti-
Caldecott Award ble poetic
Winner of the Ameri- charge."--
can Institute of Leo Lionni
Graphic Arts Gold
Medal
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/