Leo Lionni

Ranked #5,266 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #192,874 overall | Donates to ASPCA

Leo Lionni - Author & Illustrator

Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 highly acclaimed children's books. He received the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was a four-time Caldecott Honor Winner--for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Leo Lionni died in October of 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 89.

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 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 Little Yellow was the first of what is now a long list of children's picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.

[via Random House]

Classic Leo Lionni Stories on DVD

Most of the above videos are on this disc.

Swimmy... and More Classic Leo Lionni Stories (Scholastic Video Collection)

Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 06/02/2012)Buy Now

SWIMMY: Swimmy meets a group of small fish who are scared to swim in the ocean. Can Swimmy think up with a plan to help the fish? FREDERICK: While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick sits on the stone wall. When the dreary weather comes and the food runs out, it's Frederick who saves the day. FISH IS FISH: When Fish's friend, the tadpole, becomes a frog and leaves the pond to explore the world, Fish decides that maybe he doesn't have to remain in the pond either. What will Fish do? IT'S MINE: Three selfish frogs bicker all day long. It's mine! It's mine! It's mine! But a bad storm and a big brown toad help them realize that sharing is much more fun. CORNELIUS: Unlike other crocodiles, Cornelius walks upright, does tricks and sees things no other crocodile can. What will Cornelius' crocodile friends think? DVD Features BONUS STORIES: "Each Peach, Pear, Plum" By Janet and Allan Ahlberg, "Hush Little Baby" By Aliki Brandenberg, "Let's Give Kitty a Bath"

Frederick by Leo Lionni

Frederick

Amazon Price: $9.78 (as of 06/02/2012)Buy Now

While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick seems to daydream the summer away. When dreary winter comes, it is Frederick the poet-mouse who warms his friends and cheers them with his words.

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Swimmy by Leo Lionni

Swimmy (Knopf Children's Paperbacks)

Amazon Price: $2.53 (as of 06/02/2012)Buy Now

Swimmy, the imaginative minnow who uses his small size in a big way.

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Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Inch by Inch

Amazon Price: $3.22 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Inch by Inch tells the tale of a tiny green inchworm who can measure anything, from a robin's tail to a toucan's beak. But when a nightingale demands that the inchworm measure its song, the clever worm calls on its skill to creatively save his life.

Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni

Fish Is Fish

Amazon Price: $8.56 (as of 06/02/2012)Buy Now

A fish who discovers that life in a small pond isn't so bad after all.

More books by Leo Lionni

Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

The charming story of a chameleon searching for his more...1 point

Matthew's Dream by Leo Lionni

Matthew's Dream by Leo Lionni

A visit to an art museum inspires a young mouse to more...1 point

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse: (Caldecott Honor Book) by Leo Lionni

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse: (Caldecott Honor Book) by Leo Lionni

Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander more...1 point

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Little blue and little yellow share wonderful adventures.One more...0 points

It's Mine! by Leo Lionni

It's Mine! by Leo Lionni

Caldecott Medalist Leo Lionni's classic tale about more...0 points

An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni

An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni

Now in Dragonfly comes the tale of three colorful frogs. more...0 points

Pezzettino by Leo Lionni

Pezzettino by Leo Lionni

Little Pezzettino is so small he is convinced he m more...0 points

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

The wordbug teaches the letters on the alphabet tree, more...0 points

Let's Play by Leo Lionni

Let's Play by Leo Lionni

Here is a Leo Lionni book for the very youngest! & more...0 points

Tico and the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni

Tico and the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni

All Tico the wingless bird wants is a pair of gold more...0 points

Tillie and the Wall by Leo Lionni

Tillie and the Wall by Leo Lionni

Illus. in full color. "Lionni's inquisitive, clever more...0 points

The Greentail Mouse by Leo Lionni

The Greentail Mouse by Leo Lionni

Originally published in 1973, this is an offbeat f more...0 points

Let's Make Rabbits by Leo Lionni

Let's Make Rabbits by Leo Lionni

"Let's, make rabbits," says the scissors more...0 points

Geraldine, The Music Mouse by Leo Lionni

Geraldine, The Music Mouse by Leo Lionni

A beloved Lionni mouse discovers the magic of musi more...0 points

Nicolas, Where Have You Been? by Leo Lionni

Nicolas, Where Have You Been? by Leo Lionni

When the young mouse Nicolas sets out across the great more...0 points

Which is your favorite Leo Lionni book?

  • Yourshowman Dec 8, 2010 @ 9:04 am | delete
    Nice lens.
  • haikuwedding Nov 17, 2010 @ 1:32 am | delete
    Leo Lionni is also our family's favorite author/illustrator. So excited to see his name in SquidLit. Great lens! It's hard to choose a favorite for we love them all. If I have to, I will pick Frederick but my kids love Alexander & the wind-up mouse(Fish is fish, Inch by inch & Color of his own are great reads too.)
  • kab Sep 6, 2009 @ 8:22 pm | delete
    I love Fish is Fish
  • mysticmama Sep 6, 2009 @ 1:57 pm | delete
    Never heard of him before, but now want some of these books for my grand daughter!
  • tandemonimom Sep 5, 2009 @ 1:02 pm | delete
    Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse - great book! I love Leo Lionni!

Postscript of utmost importance

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