Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Treasured Gifts for the Holidays
Here in one sumptuous collection are four timeless picture book classics by Leo Lionni: Frederick, Swimmy, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, and Fish Is Fish. In this volume, meet Frederick, the poet field mouse whose happy memories help his family endure through the darkest days of winter; Swimmy, the imaginative minnow who uses his small size in a big way; Alexander, the mouse who learns the magic of friendship; and a fish who discovers that life in a small pond isn’t so bad after all.
Lionni’s complete texts and illustrations are included along with an introduction from Eric Carle and a CD reading in this elegant, inviting gift edition.
When the late author and illustrator Leo Lionni was young, he answered the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with a thoroughly unique reply: "The bell of the trolley car." He continued taking the nontraditional approach to life, writing his first children's book at age 50. He went on to write dozens more books, four of which appear in their complete original form in this lovely treasury, with a special tribute by Eric Carle. The collection includes the enduring, endearing favorites Frederick, Fish Is Fish, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, and Swimmy, all with Lionni's playful watercolors and bold paper cutouts, three of which were named Caldecott Honor Books. To have a sampling of four Lionni's enchanting creations together in one book is truly a gift--you'll be as happy as we are that he didn't pursue the trolley-bell thing. A companion compact disc features a lively recording of each story. (Ages 4 to 8)
Review
“Frederick—the title character of this warm-hearted, graphically adventurous picture-book treasury—is a mouse. But he’s a dreamer as well and could be any thoughtful child you may happen to know.” —Parenting Magazine
“[Lionni] transforms each page into a drama of singular beauty, with the audience holding its breath as scene after scene unfolds across the stage. . . . the audience responds in joyous applause. And so will you.” —Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
“A childhood is simply not complete without the fables of Leo Lionni. . . . Here are four of his best.”—San Diego Union-Tribune
author spotlight "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."--Leo Lionni
Leo 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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"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. Others are blessed with a promising beginning, or perhaps with the vision of an ending (which means working backwards to a surprise opening). Others stem from a clearly articulated conflict situation. Sometimes, I must admit, the motivations of a book may be found in a sudden, unreasonable urge to draw a certain kind of crocodile. And it may even happen that in the dark of our minds there appears, out of nowhere, a constellation of words that has the bright, arrogant solidity of a title. Only last night I was jolted out of a near-slumber by the words the mouse that didn't exist. I am sure that, temporarily tucked away in my memory, they will eventually become the title of a story for which as yet I have no idea.
"To shape and sharpen the logic of a story, to tighten the flow of events, ultimately to define the idea in its totality, is much like a game of chess. In the light of overall strategy, each move is the result of doubts, proposals, and rejections, which inevitably bring to mind the successes or failures of previous experiences.
"Inspirational raptures may happen, but most books are shaped through hard, disciplined work. Creative work, to be sure, because its ingredients come from the sphere of the imaginary. But the manipulation of these ingredients requires much more than mere inclination or talent. It is an intricate process in which the idea slowly takes form, by trial and error, through detours and side roads, which, were it not for the guidance of professional rigor, would lead the author into an inextricable labyrinth of alternatives.
"And so, to the question 'How do you get your ideas?' I am tempted to answer, unromantic though it may sound, 'Hard work.' "
Leo Lionni has gained international renown for his paintings, graphic designs, illustrations, and sculpture, as well as for his books for children. He was born in Holland in 1910 of Dutch parents, and although his education did not include formal art courses (in fact, he has a doctorate in economics from the University of Genoa), he spent much of his free time as a child in Amsterdam's museums, teaching himself to draw.
Lionni's business training gradually receded into the background as his interest in art and design grew. Having settled in Milan soon after his marriage in 1931, he started off by writing about European architecture for a local magazine. It was there that he met the contacts who were to give him a start as a professional graphic designer. When he moved to America in 1939, Lionni was hired by a Philadelphia advertising agency as art director. Later he became design director for the Olivetti Corporation of America, and then art director for Fortune magazine. At the same time, his reputation as an artist flourished as he began to exhibit his paintings and drawings in galleries from New York to Japan.
Lionni launched his career as an author/illustrator of books for children in 1959. Originally developed from a story he had improvised for his grandchildren during a dull train ride, Little Blue and LittleYellow was the first of what is now a long list of children's picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.
This review is from: Frederick and His Friends: Four Favorite Fables (Treasured Gifts for the Holidays) (Hardcover)
This book has 4 great stories of Leo Lionni: Fredrick, Swimmy, Fish is Fish, & Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, and it comes with a audio CD of all these 4 stories. Also these stories have all original pictures without being ommitted. (Not like "Fredrick's Fables: A Leo Lionni Treasury of Favorite (16) Stories"-out of print) Therefore, you can read the way Lionni had drawn and written. If you like to enjoy Lionni's all pictures for each of the 4 stories, this is a great book to buy.
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This review is from: Frederick and His Friends: Four Favorite Fables (Treasured Gifts for the Holidays) (Hardcover)
This is one of my son's favorite books who is 4 (along with The little house & Arnold Lobel books). He originally got Frederick for his birthday from a friend of ours which he immediately fell in love with. He asked me to get him more of the frederick books. I looked up Leo Leonni and found out that he had several other books that won the caldecott medal/honor. Since it was more economical and easier to maintain to get 4 stories in 1 book, I bought this book. The weird thing is that my son wants me to read the 3 stories that won the caldecott honor/medal (he loves swimmy, frederick & alexander and the wound up mouse) but he doesn't care much for fish is fish. I guess the caldecott panel really know their stuff!? I got teary reading Alexander and the wound up mouse. It is a fable that is made very sweet & shows what friendship is about and that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
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This review is from: Frederick and His Friends: Four Favorite Fables (Treasured Gifts for the Holidays) (Hardcover)
I first encountered Leo Lionni's books was when my daughter was 8-month-old. I remember reading to her the story of "Frederick" and instantly fell in love with it. Now my daughter is 5, and we still read the story together. I am glad that this collection also includes the stories of "Swimmy" and "Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse"--another two of my daughter's favorites. "Fish is Fish" has very nice and imaginative illustrations, but the story is not as endearing as other three. Nonetheless, it's a must-have collection for its enduring stories are, I consider, the classic.
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