Celebrate 50 Years of Heartfelt Children’s Literature with Leo Lionni!
When you see Leo Lionni’s name on a picture book, you know you’re in for a magical storytime treat! Lionni, author and illustrator of FOUR Caldecott Honor Books, was commended in 2007 with the Society of Illustrators’ Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous). Random House Children’s Books is honored to have Lionni on our list, and we will forever celebrate his masterful storytelling. Enjoy these four new paperback editions and a few of his most beloved backlist titles. Visit Leo Lionni’s author page to learn more about his incredible career.
Download these Leo Lionni resources for classroom storytime activities:
The World of Leo Lionni
Dragonfly Books Featuring Leo Lionni
New Paperback Editions!
Little Blue and Little Yellow By Leo Lionni
Ages 3–7
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year
With few words, lots of white space, and splotches of color, this picture book tells of two friends who share wonderful adventures until the day they can’t find each other. When Little Blue and Little Yellow finally meet again, they hug each other joyously—and turn green! How they recapture their identities provides an ending that delights preschoolers, while teaching them that mixing blue and yellow makes green. This was Leo Lionni’s first children’s book.
Frederick By Leo Lionni
Ages 3–7
A Caldecott Honor Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year
A Library of Congress Children’s Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Winter is coming, and all the mice are gathering food . . . except Frederick. But when the days grow short and the snow begins to fall, it’s Frederick’s stories that warm the hearts and spirits of his fellow field mice.
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse By Leo Lionni
Ages 3–7
A Caldecott Honor Book
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
A Christopher Award Winner
A New York Times Outstanding Children’s Book of the Year
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, who wishes he could be a wind-up mouse, too.
Swimmy By Leo Lionni
Ages 3–7
A Caldecott Honor Book
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
A Christopher Award Winner
A New York Times Outstanding Children’s Book of the Year
Deep in the sea lives a happy school of 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 teamwork—they can overcome any danger.
Beloved Backlist Titles
