Leo Lionni

1. Leo Lionni Author/Illustrator Study

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

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