Author study

Leo LionniCreated by Christina Rainey

Leo Lionni is the well known author/illustrator of over 40 picture books. He lived in Tuscany, Italy until he died in 1999 at the age of 89. His first picture book was “Little Blue and Little Yellow.”

BiographyHe was born in Holland in 1910.He taught himself to draw by spending a

lot of time in museums in Amsterdam. He married in 1931 and lived in Milan. He began his career by writing for a

magazine about architecture. He then moved to America and became

art director for a “Fortune” magazine.At this time, he began to show his work

in art exhibits in New York and Japan. Leo Lionni is known internationally for

his paintings, illustrations, sculptures, and his children’s books.

Leo Lionni:Books for Children

Fun fact:

Leo Lionni never

collaborated with

anyone to create his

stories.

He wrote and

illustrated every single

one.

Some critics say that Leo Lionni doesn’t stick to one style.

He said that he lets the story mold his creations and it just so happens that they differ from book to book.

His Inspiration:

When he was young, he visited the museums quite a bit.

He enjoyed looking at art created by Rembrant and contemporary artists like Kandinsky.

Rembrant- Image from ABC Gallery

Kandinsky- Image from Art Experience

His Art•Leo Lionni was probably one of the first authors/illustrators to use collage in his books. •He most likely influenced many other authors including Ezra Jack Keats and Eric Carle.

Where He Got His IdeasOn the phone one

day, he doodled a lizard. This lizard soon became Cornelius, the walking crocodile.

A mouse he saw in his garden soon become Frederick, who collected thoughts and ideas.

While on vacation, he saw a school of minnows, which soon became Swimmy.

A Few Books by Leo LionniThe Alphabet TreeThe Biggest House in the WorldA Busy YearA Color of His OwnCorneliusAn Extraordinary EggFish is FishFrederick and His FriendsThe Greentail MouseIt’s MineLet’s PlayLet’s Make RabbitsLittle Blue and Little YellowMatthew’s DreamTico and the Golden Wings

Caldecott Honor Awards•Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse•Frederick•Swimmy•Inch by Inch

Compare Leo Lionni to Fables

A fable is a short story in which the characters usually learn a lesson.

They often feature animals , plants, or inanimate objects as the main characters.

The characters usually have human problems.

They provide opportunities to laugh at these human problems.

Can you think of a character who learns a lesson?

Can you think of a story that features an animal, plant, or inanimate object?

Did you laugh at a characters problem? Which one?

Quote:“My characters

are humans in disguise and their little problems and situations are human problems, human situations.” (1972)

Which Leo Lionni story can you think of that has human problems and situations?

Leo Lionni: Lesson Plan Objective: Children will be able to compare and contrast books by Leo

Lionni and Aesop’s fables. They will learn to look for motifs, lessons learned, characters, art choice, and plots.

Grade level: 1-3 Standards addressed: NJCCCS 3.1, 3.2, Required Materials: As many Leo Lionni books as possible,

compare/contrast story map, a story book of Aesop’s fables. This lesson plan is intended to be a joint effort on the part of the LMS and

the classroom teacher. Anticipatory Set: I begin this author study unit by reading as many Leo

Lionni books and Aesop’s fables as time allows, over a two week period. The classroom teacher and I will have decided which books I will read in the library. Each time we discuss the characters, setting, main characters, problem, solution, moral, art, etc. We will record all on a chart.

Procedures: 1. Choose a Leo Lionni book and an fable from Aesop that you can compare/contrast as a class activity. Record similarities between the two as a class.

Lesson plan: continued 2. After the class activity, give children plenty of chances to look through

the books, discuss their favorites, discuss characters with partners, and enjoy the stories again in the listening center.

Practice:1. Day one: With a partner, have them choose two stories to compare/contrast. Have them sit knee to knee and ask questions to help them get started comparing the two stories that they chose.

Ask questions about the setting of each story, the characters, the moral, etc.

Day two: have the groups fill in the story map/ Venn Diagram to show comparisons.

Day three: draw pictures of their favorite parts of each story. If time allows let the children complete the pictures using watercolors. It lets them experience some of what Leo Lionni has done in his process to create children books. (This can be done with the help of the Art teacher also).

Day four: share with the group their comparison maps and pictures. Leo Lionni is the author that has been chosen for the first grade author

study in Mahwah. This lesson can be applied to different grade levels.

ReferencesLionni, L. Between worlds: the autobiography of Leo

Lionni. 1997. New York: Knopf.Heller, S. (May/June 2000.) Tribute. 54(3).Hoffman, M., & Samuels, E. Authors and Illustrators of

Children’s books: Writings on their lives and works. 1972. New York: R.R. Bowker Co.

Retrieved on June 18, 2008, from Random House: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/

Retrieved on June 20, 2008, from Leo Lionni: a resource guide: http://www.mermaidtheatre.ns.ca/onTour/leoLionni/Leo_Lionni_SG/index.htm