Reviews (21)

My heart drops when i see this book !
This is one of my favorite childhoold books. I fell in love with swimmy & Fredrick. I really love Leo Lionni's books. I still have copies of all his book and have purchased these books for my little brothers.The art is beautiful, and really makes the book that much better. You cannot go wrong buying this book for any child.

Swimmy
I have used this book for many years to promote the ability of the "little guys" to join together and gain strength to challenge "the big guy."It's a great story.

There is strength in numbers
Despite fear and loneliness, Swimmy discovers the marvels of his world under the sea and encourages his friends to band together so that they may enjoy the wonders as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Fishes    2. Animals - Marine Life    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Preschool    6. Fiction    7. Fishes    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Fishes   

Reviews (8)

Charming as always
I have been a Fredrick fan since childhood and still read it today when I get stressed, so always looking to have my kids find the same connection with the Lionni works.Got this and 2 of them were bored, but my 4 year old was different.She listened intently and has for months been making diffent associations on how things mix or work together for an end "just like little blue and little yellow".Perhaps she is the most like me, poor thing!It is in the same vein as the others but less obvious, which is not neccessarily a bad thing.Encouraging thought and imagination requires careful writing and too many modern stories spoonfeed the moral.I accept and encourage my 4 yr olds interpretations!

What a great book!
To an adult, this book doesn't seem like anything all that special.It's about colored dots.The story is sweet, though, and easy for young children to appreciate.My multi-age 3-5 year old classroom loved it (I used it with our science unit on colors). It's great for talking about color (blue and yellow make green) and about appreciating differences (race).
My most memorable book
Ask me what my favorite book was when I was growing up and that answer is going to be Little Blue and Little Yellow. Sure, there were other books that I'd read over and over again, or sit in the library with a stack of em on a Friday afternoon after school, but none was like Little Blue and Little Yellow.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Preschool    3. Color    4. Concepts - Colors    5. Concepts - General    6. Fiction    7. Friendship    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / General   

Reviews (22)

Peace and Thanks to Frederick the Mouse
I read this while biking at the gym last night, and happy as I was to find a children's book of this magnitude at a gym, I am happier having read it no matter.
the importance of beauty
This was my favorite book as a child, and I still keep a copy on my bookshelf. It is my earliest memory of any kind of poetry, and still sticks with me. Frederick taught me that it is important to see the beauty all around you and to soak it up and process it into some kind of art. Of course I didn't put it into those words when I was young but I had an idea of what it meant and it made me want to write and paint.
Stage one of future Disappointment
I read this book prior to bringing it home to my son to ensure it espoused the values I would want him carry forward in life.To suggest to a young child that Blue Sky and Sunshine will carry you through challenged times is simply setting them up for disappointment.While the rest of the family was showing strong character and work ethic Frederick was a lazy day dreamer that made no contribution.If he had worked along side his family in preparation for winter they would have had more fuel for their bodies and straw to keep them warm.Essentially he became a burden on his family and could only share mystic thoughts of yesteryear while his siblings and parents starved themselves during the dead of winter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Classics    6. Fiction    7. Mice    8. Stories    9. Early learning / early learning concepts    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Editorial Review

Every animal has a color of its own. "Parrots are green, elephants are gray, pigs are pink." But chameleons change color wherever they go. "On lemons they are yellow. In the heather they are purple." One chameleon is not pleased with his changeable appearance. He thinks, "If I remain on a leaf, I shall be green forever, and so I too will have a color of my own." Of course, what he doesn't take into account is the changes wrought by autumn, and soon the green chameleon is yellow, then red, and then tumbled to the ground for the long black winter night. It isn't until he befriends another older, wiser chameleon that our hero begins to find inner peace, even as his outer surface is transformed again and again.Read more

Reviews (10)

A First Rate Children's Book
My daughter is not quite a year, and she laughed at the colorful pictures.
A Color of his Own
A Color of his Own is a delightful book, not only for young children but for adults as well. The little chameleon notices that all the other animals have their own color, but he changes colors depending on his enviroment.He struggles with wanting to be like everybody else and he eventually finds a friend (another chameleon) to be his buddy and go everywhere with him.The colors of the illustrations are vibrant and the text is engaging to the reader. A joy to read!

Adorable book!!
I got this for my son because I had read good reviews about it.Well, it is one of the best books for children.It teaches to be yourself and love yourself.The chameleon wants to be just one color, but of course it isn't possible.In the end he makes a friend with another chameleon who teaches him to accept himself.I recommend this book for all who have children.I think too many people grow up not feeling good about themselves and this book is a good teaching tool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chameleons    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Preschool    4. Color    5. Concepts - Colors    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Colors   

Reviews (7)

Fun to read out loud!
This is a great book if you have small children.They love it because it's fun to read out loud and it isn't so long that you get out of breath. This is a must have that I enjoy reading over and over again and my little ones never get tired of it.

Still a Classic
I loved this book as a child, and now my daughter loves it, too.A really good lesson; we don't always get what we want in life, and sometimes that's for the best.Beautiful illustrations.

Self concensus at work
An email friend used the term "self consensus" to describe the process by which we start with a known person- ourselves- and move in small steps away from that to construct our image of another person we know via email. This book is a good illustration of that idea.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Fishes    2. Animals - Frogs & Toads    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Classics    7. Fiction    8. Fishes    9. Frogs    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Social Issues - Friendship    13. Social Issues - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Fishes   

Reviews (4)

Lionni has Inched his way to Success
Once upon a time there was a cute, little, green inch worm hanging out on a piece of grass.One day, a robin came up to eat him, but the inch worm talked the robin into letting him measure the robin's tail.Being such a useful worm, the robin did not eat him, but took him to other birds so that they could have something measured by the smart inch worm.Finally, a nightingale told the worm to measure his song or he would eat the little inch worm.Using his little worm brain, the inch worm began measuring the song until he had inched away to safety.
5 Childrens Books.
One of my favorite 5 bookes was Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni. The reason is, is that the worm in the story is very clever and thinks his way out of a sticky situation. That is what I like about authors like Leo Lionni. They can always come up with a great little story that influences so many children in such a positive way.

Inching Along!
This Caldecott Honor Book is easy listening for the early child and the young child as a new schoolyear begins.An industrious inch worm is the main character.He engages himself with measuring a variety of birds andlastly outwits the hungry nightingale using his measuring savvy. Read more

Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Caterpillars    3. Children's 4-8    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Preschool    6. Concepts - Counting    7. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    8. Fiction    9. Worms    10. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Counting   

Reviews (3)

A Christological Fable
On the surface, this is a simple and sweet tale of three frogs who learn how to share.But as a student of theology and of literature, I must share my insights into this amazing children's book.On a deeper level, this is a Christological parable and a history of salvation through Jesus Christ.Although I admittedly know nothing about Leo Lionni's personal beliefs,I am sure that this is the intended meaning in this fable.The richness and beauty of its symbolism could hardly be an accident!
A story about sharing.
Bicker Bicker Bicker.That's what these three frogs do all day long.It's mine, it's mine, it's mine!Tragedy strikes and an old toad saves the day.The three frogs seem to grow up without even realizing it!An ideal read-aloud.

This book is very appropriate for young readers.
I enjoy this book very much.The characters are human-like in nature which gives the book charm.Lionni captures the essence of siblings in the cute frog characters.The moral is easy to understand and something toremember for all ages, not just children.A definate must have. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Frogs    6. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    7. Selfishness    8. Sharing    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Reviews (2)

Simply amazing
I just recently checked out Frederick from the library with my three-year-old son. So tonight at the mall, when I saw this book at the bookstore, I was very interested in reading it.
Leo Lionni's Pezzettino is Sweet
Pezzettono is a lovely story about ones worth and acceptance. My son loves it. He chose it as his favorite book of second grade. He made a diorama to celebrate its message of self-discovery. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Identity    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    9. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance   

Reviews (4)

Not my favortie
OK for a very young child or baby. The pictures are not overly captivating and do not demonstrated the story clear enough to teach with out further explanation. I was a little dissapointed when we read it the first time.

A Parental Favorite
The collage art is charming. The text is simple and inexplicably seet. My husband and I both enjoy reading it to our son (now 19 months).

NOT TIRED ENOUGH FOR BED?

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Subjects:  1. Amusements    2. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Concepts - General    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Lionni, Leo    9. Mice    10. Play    11. Sports & Recreation - General    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (13)

So sweet
My son's grandma recently brought this book home from the library and we fell in love with it. It is a sweet and magical story about friendship. It was written in 1969 so I am glad to hear they have reissued it. My son is 3 and just loves it.The illustrations and text are lovely and simple.

Learning self value through selflessness.
It is a timeless story of learning self value through selflessness and the joy that can be created from an act of selflessness.It is a sweet story that can teach children about these positive traits and remind adults not to forget about them in a very stress-driven world.My children love hearing this book read over and over again.And it is a delight to me to keep rereading it.

Deserves all the praise it has gotten
This is a brilliant book, with a perfect heartwarming story surrounded by imaginative and beautiful illustrations.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    7. Mice    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Social Situations - Friendship    10. Toys    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Reviews (6)

Jessica the know-it-all
Jessica declares they've discovered a chicken egg.She helps the youngster find her mother and Jessica is astonished when the mother calls her baby an alligator. Simply loveable and laughable. An excellent read-aloud.See Lionni's imagery of Rodin's Thinker when Jessica visits her quiet place.

An EXTRAORDINARY book for children!
"An Extraordinary Egg" is a beginning reader picture book about three sister frogs that live on an island. One of the frogs, Jessica, finds an egg in some stones and brings it home. The three sister frogs believe it is a chicken egg, even though none of them has ever seen a chicken. The egg hatches, and it is an alligator but the frogs still think it is a chicken. They all become good friends, and "the chicken" even saves Jessica's life one day when she falls into the water. Soon though, the chicken's mother and the "chicken" are fatefully reunited. Jessica goes back and tells her sisters that it was very funny that the chicken's mother should call it "my sweet alligator." After all, their chicken couldn't have been an alligator!
EGG-ACTLY WHAT CHILDREN ENJOY
It's that time of year again when many are looking forward to Easter and Easter Egg Hunts.But, what if someone found a really unusual egg, and to make it even more unique there's not a chicken inside but an alligator?Read more

Subjects:  1. Alligators    2. Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Fiction    6. Friendship    7. Frogs    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Short Stories    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Social Situations - Friendship    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (5)

We must work together!
This book touches beyond the basics of letters forming words, and those words making sentences.More importantly, it shows us that all things must work together to obtain harmony.This book is an excellent example of teamwork, and without it, these letters and words could not have done or accomplished anything on their own.What an example to teach our youth of America.I highly recommend this book for everyone.

The Alphabet Tree
The Alphabet Tree is a wonderful spring board book to help emergent readers understand the importance of putting letters together to create words.I have used this book as an addition to other ABC books at the beginning of the school year for 1st grade children. They were excited and immediatly suggested ways that they could make words.Our classroom now has our own "Alphabet Tree" that the children put together. This is an excellent teaching tool.

The Alphabet Tree
I first discovered this book 30 years ago as a student teacher. I was thrilled to discover that it is back in print. Leo Lionni demonstrates for the young learner that letters make words and words make sentences. This book is especially useful in a classroom where phonemic spelling is encouraged. I recommend The Alphabet Tree to every Kindergarten teacher. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Concepts - Alphabet    6. Concepts - Words    7. Juvenile Literature    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

When award-winning author and illustrator Leo Lionni was young, he answered the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with a thoroughly unique reply: "The bell of the trolley car." He continued taking the nontraditional approach to life, writing his first children's book at age 50.Since then, he has written 39 more books, 16 of which appear (partially illustrated) in this lovely treasury, which includes a personal introduction by the author. The collection features such enduring, endearing favorites as Read more

Reviews (2)

A must for your collection!
This compilation of stories is completely delightful. They warm your heart and put a smile on your face. My husband used to read them to me when I was SO pregnant I could not sleep. And now we continue to read them to ourwonderful daughter Lucy. I get this book as a present for all my pregnantfriends. It is a must for your collection.

Wonderful classics mangled by missing pictures -- avoid!
Lionni's original books are breathtaking classics -- wonderful stories that carefully pace each line with gorgeous succulent visuals. But this 'treasury' chops out more than half the original pictures, omitting favorite images, destroying the page-turning pace and in some cases the stories no longer even make sense. This 'treasury' is no bargain -- you'd be better off with one or two of the original unabridged masterpieces. I yearned to see the beautiful 2-page art of "a forest of seaweeds growing from sugar-candy rocks" in _Swimmy_ but was sad to find it missing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's stories, American    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Collections by Author    6. Fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    8. Short stories    9. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Anthologies   

Reviews (2)

An inspiring read for ages two and up
Although the subject matter of this book initially appeared to be for an older child, it is clear that the text and illustrations appeal as strongly to the younger set.Ever since learning of Matthew the Mouse'sdetermination to become a painter (in contravention of his parents desiresthat he become a M.D.) my two-year-old son (also named Matthew) has beenwielding his paintbrush often and furiously.The illustrations areaesthetically pleasing and clarify the text perfectly.The text, whilesimple in form, provides excellent vocabulary builders (e.g., use of"embrace" rather than "hug") and also gives the readerthe chance to discuss with the child many ideas and activities that takeplace inside and outside the home. All in all a wonderful find; a storythat truly respects a child's right to follow his or her own dreams.

Very vivid pictures - excellent for all children
I have read this book to my son since he was born (he is now 3 months old).He loves it - coos and kicks his legs throughout the entire book.Very vivid colorful pictures and a great story.Can't wait to get more books from Lionni. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    3. Artists    4. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    9. Mice    10. Museums    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Editorial Review

Four classic Leo Lionni mouse fables are collected in one handsome box set, just the right size for small hands. Lionni’s familiar torn-paper collages with their gorgeous earthy colors will become immediate favorites for a whole new generation of readers. Caldecott Honor book Read more

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Classics    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Lionni, Leo    7. Mice    8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Reviews (3)

Great pictures, great fable
Two warnings: 1) the snail in the fable part of the story dies for lack of food, which could be a little too sad for very little kids; and 2) on one of the pages there is lots of text describing the pictures on the next page, and the next page has no text at all because the illustration takes up all the room.You have to memorize the last part of the text on the one page and then go ahead and turn the page and then recite it to your child-- it gets easier by the tenth or eleventh time.:)
Gorgeous Snails
What unique characters Lionni chooses!My boys loved the pastel colored illustrations of the snails and their "houses."We also get to see an example of oral tradition:the title fable is really a story within a story.When one little snail expresses his wish to build a really big house, an older snail tells him the story about the consequences of having such an enormity for a house.Later, much older, the little snail is asked why his house is so small, and he answers by telling the tale.Not terribly exciting, but enjoyable; and the illustrations are, as usual, gorgeous, especially that amazing and huge snail house.

The Biggest House in the World
This is another great story from Leo Lionni!In this book, a snail wishes that his house would be the biggest house in the world, but he finds out that there are consequences to having the biggest house.The moral of thestory is "be careful what you wish for, it might come true."Agreat read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    6. Snails    7. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    8. Early learning / early learning concepts    9. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / Other   

Reviews (3)

This is not the original story
This is a shorter, much simplified version of the original story that was published by Pantheon books in 1983.I'm not sure what the point was in making a simplified version, since the complete story of Cornelius was my son's favorite when he was 3 years old.I'd skip this version and go with the original.

There are better ones
The theme is not new and the flow is less than ideal.

A story about a crocodile not afraid to be unique.
A wonderful book to share with students preschool to 3rd grade.This book shares the insight of a different approach to life as a crocodile, and that being unique is O.K. and fun.A great story for all classrooms, especially classrooms with diverse cultures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Crocodiles    6. Fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Other    8. Social Issues - General    9. Social Situations - General    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Reptiles & Amphibians   

Reviews (1)

A Really, Really Good Book!
It's amazing how one can forget how really good a child's book can be written, until you read a truly great book.Leo Lionni is a great writer of children's books and this is a great book.You too, could be the mouse who dreams beyond the wall and discovers what is on the other side. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. Mice    6. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Editorial Review

When the late author and illustrator Leo Lionni was young, he answeredthe question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with a thoroughlyunique reply: "The bell of the trolley car." He continued taking thenontraditional approach to life, writing his first children's book at age 50. Hewent on to write dozens more books, four of which appear in their completeoriginal form in this lovely treasury, with a special tribute by Eric Carle. Thecollection includes the enduring, endearing favorites Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's stories    4. Children's stories, American    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    9. Short stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Fishes    2. Animals - Marine Life    3. Children's 4-8    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Fiction    6. Fishes    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Spanish language materials    11. Spanish: Kindergarten