Leo Lionni

Author/Illustrator Study

Who was he?• Leo Lionni was born in Holland in 1919.• He came to the USA in 1939 with his wife

and two young sons.• He taught himself to draw as a child by

copying the work of masters.• He is the author and illustrator of more

than 30 children’s books.• Most of his life was spent in New York but

he moved to Italy in 1962.

Who was he continued…• Leo loved nature!• His room became a miniature zoo and

botany laboratory filled with jars containing live insects; aquariums containing minnows, tadpoles, snails, and shrimp; and cages with mice and birds. Best of all were his terrariums where he could create tiny environments for snakes, toads, salamanders, and frogs.

• He passed away in 1999, in Tuscany, Italy at the age of 89.

What did he do?• Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated over 30

different children’s books.• The first children’s book he created was

called little blue and little yellow. He created this book while riding on a train with his grandchildren!

• All of Leo Lionni’s book are fables. A fable is a story told through animals that talk like human beings and teach the reader a lesson.

How did Leo create his work?

• “Leo Lionni drew his inspiration for the artwork in his books from the creatures that surrounded him as a child such as his pet frogs and mice.” (mermaidtheatre.ns.ca)

• He created his illustrations through painting, collage and metallic ink.

Our class plans!• We will look at several of Leo Lionni’s

books, discuss his illustrations and read the text.

• You will get to create some of your own books!

• We will even be making puppets and doing a play!

• Let’s get started by digging deeper into our author/illustrator’s life by exploring the following web address: www.randomhouse.com

Sources Used…•www.randomhouse.com •www.mermaidtheatre.ns.ca•www.googleimages.com