Mouse Days: A Book of Seasons

by Leo Lionni

Exuberant mice skate in the snow, jump out of Easter eggs, parachute with autumn leaves, and enjoy other whimsical activities to introduce the months and the seasons and how they change

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

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

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The artwork/illustrations in this children's book
are IMO really beautiful.

The text matches the artwork. The text by itself
is appropriate not really exceptional.

The composition and colors in this artwork are very
good almost great.


I am just amazed that a book with such beautiful
artwork is not better known. Particularly since it is
by such a well known author.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collin & Reagan both enjoy this book. They like to think about who has a birthday each month.