Leo LionniResource & Idea Kit

Ben Franklin Elementary School1st Grade

Reading, Writing, Creating: An author study of Leo LionniA special program for Ben Franklin First Graders generously funded by the Lawrence Township Education Foundation

Meet The Author

Leo Lionni BooksIllustration techniques

Activities

Useful Links

Leo Lionni Index

Leo LionniLeo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 highly acclaimed children's books. He received the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was a four-time Caldecott Honor Winner--for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Leo Lionni died in October of 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 89.

"Of all the questions I have been asked as an author of children's books, the most frequent one, without doubt, has been 'How do you get your ideas?' Most people seem to think that getting an idea is both mysterious and simple. Mysterious, because inspiration must come from a particular state of grace with which only the most gifted souls are blessed. Simple, because ideas are expected to drop into one's mind in words and pictures, ready to be transcribed and copied in the form of a book, complete with endpapers and cover. The word get expresses these expectations well. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

"It is true that, from time to time, from the endless flow of our mental imagery, there emerges unexpectedly something that, vague though it may be, seems to carry the promise of a form, a meaning, and, more important, an irresistible poetic charge. The sense of instant recognition with which we pull this image into the full light of our consciousness is the initial impulse of all creative acts. But, though it is important, it produces no more than the germ of an idea. Each book, at the birth of its creative history, has such a moment. Some are fortunate enough to have, from the outset, a strongly identified hero, one with an inescapable destiny.

Some of the Books of Leo Lionni

Full List of All Books

Colored Pencils Crayons Glass Painting

Newspaper Pastels Oil & Water Paint

Paint Pen & Ink Wallpaper

Some of the Illustration Techniques we will learn about

Student Activities Make Your Own Mo

use

Swimmy Activities

Frederick Activities

Book Reviews

Discussion Topics

Make Your Own Mouse You’ll Need:

Scissors Glue Stick Hole Punch Gray, Brown and

White Construction Paper

Crayons and Markers

Body & Ear Templates

Directions→

Traceable Templates →

Read our Book ReviewsAll the first graders at Ben Franklin School have been learning about Leo Lionni. He has written and illustrated many books. He has won many awards for his writing and illustrations. Many of his books have small creatures as the main character (like mice and lizards). His first book- Little Blue and Little Yellow- came from a story he made up to entertain his grandchildren on a train ride!

Everyone in our class has had a chance to review a Leo Lionni book. We are experts on these stories. Read about the main characters, settings, problems and solutions in these reviews. Check out if we recommend the book.

We hope you enjoy our work!

My Favorite Leo Lionni BookBook Reviewed____________________Reviewed by______________________Good Very Good Great

This book was about_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Book Cover Creator: Design a Cover online for a Leo Lionni Book http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/

2. Random House: The Books of Leo Lionnihttp://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/books.html

3. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotiahttp://www.mermaidtheatre.ns.ca/

4. State of New Jersey Theatrehttp://www.statetheatrenj.org/index.cfm

5. Read, Think, Writehttp://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=968

Useful Links