Where?

by Leo Lionni

From high up in a tree, to inside a shoe and outside of a mouse hole, Leo Lionni's signature illustration style and a toddler-friendly text ask a simple Where is the mouse on each page? One of four board books that celebrates the art and imagination of Leo Lionni, this book is a perfect introduction to an early learning concept for busy toddlers, as well as a wonderful stepping stone into the world of one of our best-loved children's book creators.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

16 pages, Board Book

First published September 12, 1983

About the author

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.

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 Little Yellow was the first of what is now a long list of children's picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this board book toddlers are encouraged to find the mice as they demonstrate concepts such as up/down, in/out etc.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little board book holds a 19-word story which has the young reader discovering where the mice are exploring. Cute illustrations.

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Red 4th

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This board book teaches prepositions by asking the reader where the mice are.

[Tatiana Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

coleção que fala de como se constroi uma história: o quê, como; quem? quando? onde? porquê? muito bonita a ilustração de colagem.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This board book is all about words that describe where something is. The answers aren't always intuitive, however, because the pictures are of familiar objects, and yet the answers require words that may not be as familiar to such young children.

[Deeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mice in these books are adorable!

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts with a simple question, which is then answered repeatedly. But we're left asking, "Why?" when all we get is an answer to "Where?" What drew the mouse to the bottle?

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lionni's loveable mice are in some interesting positional places. Good way for a toddler to learn several position words.