Reading Adventure Packs- Upson Read: Leo Lionni

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 book is a perfect introduction to the concepts of time and seasons for busy toddlers, as well as a wonderful stepping stone into the world of one of our best-loved children's book creators.

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 imagination of Leo Lionni, this book 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.

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 Lionni, this book is a perfect introduction to identifying animals for busy toddlers, as well as a wonderful stepping stone into the world of one of our best-loved children's book creators.

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 the food runs out, it is Frederick, the dreamer and poet, whose endless store of supplies warms the hearts of his fellow mice, and feeds their spirits during the darkest winter days. Frederick's story will warm readers as well in this Caldecott Honor winning fable.

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.

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.

"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 friends turn against him. You think you are better than we are, they say. What Tico does with his golden feathers and the important lesson he learns is a fable that children will take to their hearts."

"Pezzettino lives in a world in which everyone is big and does daring and wonderful things. But he is small, just a little piece, which is the meaning of pezzettino in Italian. I must be a piece of somebody. I must belong to someone else, he thinks. How Pezzettino learns that he belongs to no one but himself is the joyous and satisfying conclusion to this beautiful mosaic style picture book."

Grabbed in the meadow and taken high into the sky, Nicholas the mouse's search for ripe red berries becomes a horrific adventure, but when the bird turns out to be an ally by helping him reach the high branches, Nicholas learns an important lesson

"As Geraldine, a little mouse, begins nibbling at a huge hunk of Parmesan cheese, she uncovers a big cheese statue of a mouse playing what seems to be a flute but on closer inspection is really its tail. That night Geraldine is woken by silver and gold sounds. This must be music! she says. And every night the cheese mouse fills Geraldine's hideaway with beautiful music. Then one day her hungry mice friends ask her to share her cheese with them. How Geraldine's new love of music enfuses her with a magic of her own provides a satisfying conclusion to this delightful tale. Called by The Horn Book Magazine a worthy successor to Frederick, this is the first time this fable of friendship and sharing has appeared in paperback."

"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 their masks with sharp teeth and tusks and scaring each other, but after a while, they begin believing that they really are ferocious animals. Leo Lionni's winsome mice cavort across big double-page spreads of oil paintings and tell a story about what is real and what is not that is just right for preschoolers. Reissued in hardcover in 2003, it now makes its debut in Dragonfly paperback. "

"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 close up like a box. But Theodore has no special talents of his own. When he discovers a mushroom that says Quirp, Theodore tells his friends that this is the only talking mushroom in the world, and that quirp means that he should be venerated above all animals. The word spreads, and Theodore is bestowed with a crown until the truth comes out. When his friends learn that they've been deceived, Theodore discovers that he does have a special talent running away very fast! This tall tale provides an excellent starting-point for discussions of honesty."

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. From the Hardcover edition.

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 leaves? Play hide-and-seek or dress-up? Talk on the telephone-until it's time to say good night?" Lionni's award-winning graphic art is at its best in this very simple board book that begs to be shared with a baby or toddler.