Leo Lionni

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Leo Lionni's Latest Book

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  • Bibliography:
    48 Books
  • First Book:
    January 1960
  • Latest Book:
    May 2025
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Book List in Order: 48 titles

  • Inch by Inch

    • / General Fiction
    • Buy Buy

    A small green inchworm is proud of his skill at measuring anything -- a robin’s tail, a flamingo’s neck, a toucan’s beak. Then one day a nightingale threatens to eat him if he cannot measure his song. Children will enjoy the clever inchworm’s...

  • Swimmy

    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 tea...

  • Frederick

    While the other field mice work to gather grain and nuts for winter, Frederick sits on a sunny rock by himself. “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days,” he tells them. Another day he gathers “colors,” and then “words.” And when ...

  • Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

    • / General Fiction
    • Buy Buy

    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, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse too. In this gentle fable ...

  • The Greentail Mouse

    • / General Fiction
    • Buy Buy

    Originally published in 1973, this is the offbeat fable of a city mouse who visits his peaceful country cousins and tells them about Mardi Gras in the city. The country mice are inspired to have their own Mardi Gras. And at first, it is fun wearing t...

  • The Biggest House in the World

    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 th...

  • Fish Is Fish

    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 tadpo...

  • Geraldine, The Music Mouse

    The cheerful celebration of art, music, and cheese from beloved four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni.While nibbling at a huge hunk of parmesan cheese, Geraldine uncovers a cheese statue of a mouse playing what seems to be a flute but on closer...

  • Mouse Days



  • Frederick's Fables

    Illustrated on every page, this sumptuous anthology contains thirteen of Lionni's most popular animal fables, including three Caldecott Honor books--Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, Swimmy, and Frederick. Reissue....

  • The Alphabet Tree

    When a fierce wind threatens to blow all the little letters out of the alphabet tree, they must band together in words -- and then sentences -- to create a message that's even stronger than the wind: peace on earth. With their newfound knowledge, the...

  • A Busy Year

    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 ro...

  • Mr. Mcmouse

  • Cornelius

    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 w...

  • Matthew's Dream

    A cleverly told and beautifully illustrated tale of self-discovery from four-time Caldecott Honor winner Leo Lionni.

    Matthew the mouse lives in a dreary corner of a dusty attic. But a trip to the museum helps him to see his surroundings in a n...

  • On My Beach There Are Many Pebbles

    Take a look. And another. And another. Are those ordinary pebbles you see, lying on an ordinary beach? Or are they hearts and gift-wrapped packages, numbers, letters, and the faces of friends? Take a look. And another.

    ...

  • It's Mine!

    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...

  • A Color of His Own

    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...

  • An Extraordinary Egg

    It's an extraordinary day on Pebble Island for three frogs when one of them discovers a beautiful white egg. They've never seen a chicken egg before, but they're sure that's what this must be. So when the egg hatches and out crawls a long green, scal...



  • Tico and the Golden Wings

    A classic fable encouraging generosity and individuality, from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni.

    Tico, a little bird born without wings, is one day granted his dearest wish. But the wings he gets are made of gold and his bird friend...

  • Frederick and His Friends: Four Favorite Fables

    Four of Caldecott-winner Leo Lionni's most beloved tales, together in one book with an introduction from Eric Carle!

    Here in one sumptuous collection are four timeless picture book classics by Leo Lionni: Frederick, Swimmy, Alexander and the W...

  • Leo Lionni's Little Mice Tales

  • Let's Play

    A playful board book from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni book for the very youngest readers!

    “What shall we do today?” two mice ask each other. “Read a book? Pick flowers? Go swimming? Play ball? Climb a tree or gather leav...

  • Little Mice Tales

    Leo Lionni’s signature mice are the stars of this boxed-set edition of four picture book classics. Not one word or illustration has been deleted from this collection, which includes Frederick, a Caldecott Honor Book about a poet field mouse whose h...

  • Nadar?n

  • Pezzettino

    A classic fable about the search for identity, from Caldecott Honor winning picture book creator Leo Lionni.

    Pezzettino lives in a world in which everyone is big and does daring and wonderful things. But he is small, just a “little piece,”...

  • Nicolas, Where Have You Been?

    When the young mouse Nicolas sets out across the great meadow alone in search of ripe red berries, he is grabbed up by the claws of a huge bird and carried high into the sky. But that is only the beginning of Nicolas's adventure. How he gets the berr...

  • Theodore and the Talking Mushroom

    From four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni, this classic fable is a quirky conversation-starter about honesty.

    Theodore, a little mouse, lives with a lizard that can grow a new tail, a frog that can swim underwater, and a turtle that can...

  • Let's Make Rabbits

    "Let's, make rabbits," says the scissors to the pencil, and, before the reader's eyes, two rabbits appear--one drawn by the pencil, the other cut from brightly patterned paper by the scissors. When the rabbits are hungry, the scissors andthe pencil p...



  • Colors, Numbers, Letters

    Leo Lionni's playful mice present the three most basic early-learning concepts in one irresistible board book. Cheerful collage mice prance across the pages as they identify the colors of the rainbow. They make math fun by counting each other. And th...

  • Six Crows

    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 ...

  • Little Blue and Little Yellow

    Leo Lionni’s first picture book has at last found its perfect format in this sturdy board book for the very youngest child. Little Blue and Little Yellow are best friends, but one day they can’t find each other. When they finally do, they giv...

  • What?

    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 i...

  • When?

    From sunup to sundown, winter through fall, Leo Lionni's signature illustration style and a toddler-friendly text ask a simple question: WHEN is time of day/season? One of four board books that celebrates the art and imagination of Leo Lionni, this b...

  • Where?

    From high up in a tree, to inside a shoe and outside of a mouse hole, Leo Lionni's signature illustration style and a toddler-friendly text ask a simple question: WHERE is the mouse on each page? One of four board books that celebrates the art and im...

  • Who?

    From squirrels to turtles to prickly porcupines, Leo Lionni's signature illustration style and a toddler-friendly text ask a simple question: WHO is the animal on each page? One of four board books that celebrates the art and imagination of Leo Lionn...

  • Geraldine Music Mouse

    The cheerful celebration of art, music, and cheese from beloved four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni. While nibbling at a huge hunk of parmesan cheese, Geraldine uncovers a cheese statue of a mouse playing what seems to be a flute but on cl...

  • A Little Book About ABCs

    A new board book for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni--inspired by his bestselling books and perfect for baby showers and anyone looking for an alphabet book to help teach the little ones in their lives the ABCs! Discover alligators, beautiful butt...

  • A Little Book About Spring

    A new board book for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni--inspired by his bestselling books and perfect for baby showers and springtime reading! Spring is a time of budding trees, chirping birds, and croaking frogs. Discover these and more wonders of ...



  • A Little Book About Colors

    A new board book for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni--inspired by his bestselling classics! Discover a world full of color in this delightful board book inspired by the works of legendary children's book author and illustrator Leo Lionni. With...

  • A Little Book About 123s

    A board book about numbers for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni--inspired by his bestselling classics!

    Learn about the magic of numbers in this playful board book inspired by the works of legendary children''s book author-illustrator Leo Lionni...

  • A Little Book About Opposites

    A new board book about opposites for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni--inspired by his bestselling books!

    Up, down (and fast, slow) are simple concepts every child should know. Now little ones can learn about opposites with this playful board b...

  • Where Are Swimmy's Friends?

    For the very first time—a Leo Lionni's Friends lift-the-flap book! This new board book, about a little fish named Swimmy and his underwater friends, is inspired by Swimmy, one of Leo Lionni's bestselling books!Now kids can help Swimmy find his f...

  • A Little Book About Winter

    A new seasonal board book for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni—inspired by his bestselling books! A great gift that's perfect for winter reading!Little ones love winter! Cuddle up and share the magic of the season with this bright and engaging bo...

  • Inch by Inch: A Lift-the-Flap Book

    A new lift-the-flap board book inspired by Inch by Inch, one of Leo Lionni's bestselling books!Now kids can help a little inchworm measure his friends by lifting fun flaps to find a flamingo, a toucan, a hummingbird, and more! This bright and engagin...

  • Mouse Seasons

    The first new original Leo Lionni picture book in nearly 30 years, featuring the beloved mouse Frederick as he guides his fellow mice—and young listeners—through a joyous celebration of the seasons.There is more than one way to prepare for ...

  • A Little Book About Food

    From the beloved children's book author of the bestselling classic Swimmy comes a board book for the youngest fans! With sturdy pages and colorful collage-style artwork, this food-themed board book is perfect for kids ages zero to three.Little ones l...

  • A Color of His Own with Color Wheel

    The colorful chameleon celebrates its 50th anniversary with an interactive board book edition!Elephants are gray, pigs are pink, and parrots are green. Only the chameleon has no color of his own. He is purple like the heather, yellow like a lemon, ev...

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Leo Lionni has published 48 books.

The next book by Leo Lionni, A Color of His Own with Color Wheel, will be published in May 2025.

The first book by Leo Lionni, Inch by Inch, was published in January 1960.

No. Leo Lionni does not write books in series.
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