Flea Story

by Leo Lionni

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Kids, Travel, Dogs

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

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

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This is a nice idea for a story, two speech bubbles come from a dogs back as two flees chat. One flee is happy in his dog fur home but the other longs to see the world beyond. The set off and explore by travelling through the world on different host animals.

This was a fun story, some of the illustrations are a bit rushed, some needed a bit more care. Some felt churned out.

Read on open library.

[Denise Hubbartt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leo Lionni is genius, but this is not his best. Don't let it prevent you from reading all his other 5-star works of art :)

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A flea travels from here to there.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Leo Lionni but any Lionni is better than many children's books. Two fleas travel around a dog's body then travel to other animals. The story basically introduces several kinds of animals and their different traits. I had never heard of this book before and had to pick it up. I bet kids will love this book as a read around and ill change my mind about this book. I think two yucky fleas arguing about being on a dog and traveling around to other animals will be terribly funny to them.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is pretty silly, which talks about the trials and tribulation of life but from the perspective of a flea. The main flea feels listless and upset, but the other flea friend is very positive and tries to get the other flea to see his side of things as together they move around, jumping from animal to animal. After traveling through the many animals, the one flea is adamant to get back home to the dog while the other travels through the air on the back of a great crow. A great tale about friendship, curiosity, and the grass not always being greener on the other side.

[Laurie Clary · Rating 3 out of 5]

One flew is sick and tired of living on a dog. He wants some adventure and to explore the world. The other flew is a "homebody" and loves his home on the big, fluffy, dog. What will they do? Will they ever come to an agreement about being an adventurous or a homebody? This book is super for character analysis, cause and effect, and learning about dialogue and the use of quotations marks when reading and writing.

[Heather Fix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations: 5
Story: 3 (the ending is a bit unsatisfying, even for kids)
I just re-read this with my son after not having read it since childhood. I remember loving it, but I was not blown away as an adult. I think children with dogs may enjoy it more.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s very simple but models how two people (or fleas) who like each other a lot but have different interests can both share their interest and explore it independently. We don’t have to do the same things to love each other.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cute concept, but Lionni's voice isn't my favorite. May appeal to kids with dogs.

[Kristen Dutkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly story about two fleas - nice for our insect theme but not in love with it.

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Red 3rd

[Hannah Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about two friends who happen to be fleas. The two travel around and
talk and compare their journeys, as friends do. The two are different, one wants more dangerous adventures, and so the decide to go their separate ways. This is an essential life lesson that Leo Lionni has shared.

At first sight I thought this was an odd book. Once my nine year old read it me, I fell in love with it because of her reaction. There are conversation boxes for each of the fleas while they express themselves.The illustrations have vibrant paint and cut outs are used with Lionni's graphic style that he revolutionized for his time. Awesome book!

[Mckenzie Quade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took on a serious story line but it did it in a more of a child-like way so children could understand it through a more simplistic point of view. It talked about two friends separating and going different directions in life. This happens so often, it is important for the students to know that they will not have the same friends forever. This book did a great job of showing how two fleas went their separate ways but said they might meet up again someday.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked seeing the interaction between the two fleas, how one was adventurous and the other was a little pessimistic. I also liked how Leo created different animals with the cutouts. I would probably recommend if you were already a fan of Leo Lionni.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...