Most Popular Books by Leo Lionni

The gorgeous, Caldecott Honor-winning tale of a very clever fish by beloved picture book creator Leo Lionni. 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 team work—they can overcome any danger. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Honor, this beloved tale of a brave little fish has been a favorite to generations of readers.

Frederick the field mouse stores up something special for the long cold winter.

From beloved Caldecott winning picture book creator Leo Lionni, this charming tale of sticking together and imagination shows how powerful friendship can be. Two best friends, a minnow and a tadpole, are practically inseparable until the tadpole grows legs and decides to explore the world beyond the pond. When the tadpole, now a frog, returns to tell his friend of the extraordinary things he’s seen, the minnow, now a fish, tries to follow in his footsteps, but quickly finds that land is not what he expected. Friendship truly saves the day in this imaginative tale of a fish out of water.

Leo Lionni’s Caldecott Honor–winning story is now available as a Step 3 Step into Reading book—perfect for children who are ready to read on their own. Winter is coming, and all the mice are gathering food . . . except for 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. Lionni’s enduringly popular tale makes a winning addition to the Step into Reading line, letting young children enjoy this classic all by themselves.

This egg-splosive tale of mistaken identity from Caldecott winner Leo Lionni is perfect for springtime reading and frog fans everywhere! For three frogs, an ordinary day on Pebble Island becomes extraordinary when one of them discovers a beautiful white egg. Although they've never seen a chicken egg, they're sure that's what this is. So, when the egg hatches and out crawls a long, green, scaly, four-legged creature, they naturally call it . . . a chicken! Leo Lionni's colorful animal fable—one of his simplest and funniest—features a hilarious case of mistaken identity that's an utter delight. "An eggstraordinary treat from a master storyteller."—SLJ "Just the thing to lighten up a picture-book hour."—Kirkus

A charming exploration of the seasons with some of Caldecott-winner Leo Lionni's beloved mice. In January, two mice, Willie and Winnie, make a new friend: a tree. The tree tells them her name is Woody, and the mice promise to visit her all year round. As the months tick by, Willie and Winnie watch Woody soak up the rain, bloom buds into flowers and leaves, and bear fruit. By the end of the year, Willie and Winnie know they've made a forever friend who has taught them all about the seasons. Originally published in 1992, this board book classic from Caldecott Award winner Leo Lionni is the perfect read year-round.

The gorgeous, Caldecott Honor-winning tale of a very clever fish by beloved picture book creator Leo Lionni. 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 team work—they can overcome any danger. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Honor, this beloved tale of a brave little fish has been a favorite to generations of readers. To celebrate Swimmy's fiftieth anniversary, we are issuing a handsome special edition hardcover that includes a bonus poster.

This was the first of four Caldecott Honor Books by Leo Lionni. Published in 1960 and virtually out of print in hardcover for decades, Knopf acquired the hardcover rights from the original publisher just in time to showcase Lionni's 100th anniversary celebration in 2010 and the book's 50th anniversary. The bold graphics and beautiful cutout paper collages of colorful birds, foliage, and the clever green inch worm are as fresh and appealing as ever, and should appeal to a whole new audience in this accessible board book format.

The classic story about searching for somewhere to belong, from four-time Caldecott honor winner Leo Lionni. 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.

The beloved fable about being yourself from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni. Unlike other crocodiles, Cornelius walks upright, sees things, and does tricks no other crocodile can. His friends aren't impressed. "So what?" they say when he demonstrates standing on his head or hanging from his tail. At first, Cornelius is disappointed, but things aren't always what they seem, and life on the riverbeach is about to undergo some big changes. Children will draw inspiration from this tale of a crocodile who marches to his own drummer.

From a ringing telephone to a pair of eyeglasses to a wedge of cheese, Leo Lionni's signature illustration style and a toddler-friendly text ask a simple question: What is the object on this page? One of four board books that celebrates the art and imagination of Leo Lionni, this is a perfect introduction to an early learning concept for busy toddlers, as well as a wonderful stepping stone into the world of one of our best-loved children's book creators.

This Leo Lionni board book introduces babies and toddlers to his iconic characters as well as 100 essential first words! Perfect for learning and for play, here are 100 essential first words to introduce young readers to the world of Leo Lionni in a casebound board book with sturdy pages. Along with Lionni’s signature bold art style you will see some familiar and classic characters throughout like Frederick the Mouse and Swimmy. From colors to fruits and vegetables, and so much more, there's something fun to learn and discover on every page!

The beloved fable about loving your home from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni. A young snail dreams of having the biggest house—or shell—in the world. Then one day, his wise father tells him the story of another snail with the same dream. He grew and grew, adding bright colors and beautiful designs, until he found that his house came at a terrible cost. The young snail decides that a small, easy-to-carry shell might be best for a life of adventure and exploration.

The beloved Caldecott Honor Book and Christopher Award winner about two unlikely friends who see each other for who they are inside. Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander, the real mouse, is chased away with brooms and imperiled by mousetraps. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse, too. In this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical one, Leo Lionni explores the magic of friendship. Originally published in 1969, the Caldecott Honor-winning Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse is sure to enchant a whole new generation of readers. "A delicate fantasy about friendship, illustrated with bold, sumptuous collages."--The New York Times

The beloved farming fable from four-time Caldecott Honor winner Leo Lionni! While a farmer tends his field of wheat, six hungry crows watch and wait in a nearby tree. When the wheat ripens, the farmer builds a scarecrow to frighten them off, but these ingenious crows are not so easily scared. Bringing this original fable to life with brilliant collages, Leo Lionni deftly draws parallels between animal and human behavior that children can readily appreciate. And once again he shows us that compromise can work magic.

The beloved fable about being yourself, from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni, is now available in a board book format! Cornelius isn't like other crocodiles. He likes to walk upright and do tricks that no other crocodile can! But his friends are not impressed. "So what?" they say when he demonstrates standing on his head or hanging from his tail. Cornelius is a bit disappointed at first...but things aren't always what they seem. And life on the riverbeach is about to undergo some big changes. Children will see themselves in Cornelius while reading this tale of a crocodile who marches to the beat of his own drum.

A timeless fable about unity and breaking down barriers, from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni. All her life Tillie the mouse has wondered what lies on the other side of the wall. Imagining all sorts of fantastic possibilities, she digs a tunnel to get to the other side, where she discovers . . . other mice, just like her! Together, Tillie and her friends work to bring down the wall and unite mouse-kind. Written just before the fall of the Berlin wall, this seemingly simple fable has a powerful message for all children—and all people.

Four time Caldecott Honor winner Leo Lionni's beloved tale about three young frogs learning to work together. Three selfish frogs live together on an island in the middle of Rainbow Pond. All day long they bicker: 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. With characteristic clarity, simplicity and exuberance, Leo Lionni makes it possible for kids to see themselves through the antics of others who share our world.

A picture book which teaches children tolerance through the mixing of colours.