Tico and the Golden Wings

by Leo Lionni

Tico, a little bird born without wings, is one day granted his dearest wish. But the wings he gets are made of gold and his bird friends turn against him. “You think you are better than we are,” they say. What Tico does with his golden feathers—and the important lesson he learns—is a fable that children will take to their hearts.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Birds, Animals, Friendship, Fantasy, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

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

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a child, the German version of Leo Lionni's Tico and the Golden Wings (Tico und die goldenen Flügel) was a personal favourite which I repeatedly requested as a read-aloud (I have always loved birds and how Tico attains his golden wings and how he then disposes of them in a charitable manner and is again accepted by his jealous erstwhile friends, touched me deeply and appreciatively as a youngster of five or six).

That being said however, and as an adult rereading Tico and the Golden Wings (this time in English) for the first time since childhood, while much of the main storyline remains sweet and evocative (and kind of now reminds me of Oscar Wilde's morality fairy tale The Happy Prince, albeit with a more loving and optimistic ending), and that the accompanying illustrations do sing with descriptive, glorious colour and light, the fact that poor little Tico is immediately (after having been granted, having been given his golden-hued wings) rather viciously ostracised by his friends (who liked him well enough and lovingly cared for him when he was wingless, but immediately become lastingly envious and jealous when they notice his different golden wings), leaves a more than bitter taste in my mouth. For Tico in no way ever arrogant, he is in no way ever bragging or boasting about his newly attained golden wings (and he actually feels pretty much the same as he did before he received his wings, simply enjoying them as objects, as mechanisms of flight, whilst his supposed and so-called friends immediately become not only jealous, but fly away from him, absolutely and nastily shunning him).

And that salient fact is not really ever much remedied either because once Tico's feathers have all turned to the more common black of his friends (after he has donated, has given his golden feathers to those in need), while his friends now readily accept him, they really only do consider now accepting him because he again looks exactly like them, because his wings are no longer golden (yes, Tico himself does realise he is still not like his friends, that ones' personal experience makes everyone different, but I for one, as an adult, would definitely appreciate at bit of learning, a bit of a teachable moment for Tico's avian companions, who as it stands now, really never learn anything, are never even mildly chastised regarding their original nastiness towards Tico, and therefore certainly do NOT much if at all learn that shunning someone who looks different or who has external features that are different is unacceptable and in all ways blameworthy and anti-individualistic behaviour).

And thus, while I still massively enjoy especially the sweetly descriptive, golden and shining accompanying illustrations of Tico and the Golden Wings, I can really only now recommend the narrative, the story itself with the rather major and far reaching caveat that especially the behaviour of Tico's friends and the fact that they never learn a lesson and are not even seemingly required by Leo Lionni to learn a lesson, should most definitely be discussed. And I am sorry to say, but the end result of Tico only being accepted back into the fold once his feathers have turned the commonly accepted black also does also in my opinion smack quite a bit of collectivism and as such, also needs both discussion and debate, as individuality should always be the goal above and beyond being, acting, and yes looking the same as everyone (and as such, Tico and the Golden Wings is really not only problematic due to the fact that the avian friends who originally shunned Tico do not have to learn any type of moral, do not have to listen to any type of ethically presented, featured message, I for one, am also rather massively troubled with and by the fact that the author, that Leo Lionni, actually seems to promote and even much condone a rather or at least a potential uniformity of physical appearance, that looking the same is unfortunately seemingly preferable to variety and variability).

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start of this book is wonderful and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. The story instantly drew me in, a little bird born without wings and helped by friends dreams of having their own golden pair of wings. When a wishing bird appears the wish is granted. The friends don't want to know Tico now his wings are golden and he sets off and helps others by giving his golden feathers to those in need and a black one grows in it's place

Although the illustrations are lovely and the start of the story was a 5 star one for me, I really didn't like the fact that his friends didn't like him when he looked different and at the end when he looks just like them they accept him again. Not a nice message. What is this telling a child, you're friends will desert you if you have good fortune? You need to look the same as your friends? You need to be the same colour as your friends? Without this strange message, I think this story would be brilliant.

Read on open library.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is about a wingless bird whose friends have to care for him because he can't fend for himself. What nice friends!
Or are they?
When Tico's dreams come true in the form of a lovely pair of golden wings, Tico's friends reveal themselves for who they really are: Jerks. Now that he doesn't depend on them, now that his wings are shiny and beautiful, now that he has found happiness in flight, the friends decide Tico is uppity and feels superior to them, despite him having neither said nor implied any such belief. As a result, they abandon him, leaving him confused.
Tico's friends are serious jerks.
However, this offers Tico the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson: When you come into good fortune, share it with those who are less fortunate. That does not include former friends who will no longer speak to you. It does, however, include hardworking individuals who are doing the best they can and just need a leg up...like the puppeteer and the lost fisherman.
Yay, good lessons! You get a star!
Even better (for Tico, not for me. I am a petty, vengeful person), Tico learns the lesson of forgiveness (a second star!) because every time he gives away a golden feather to help someone in need, the feather is replaced by a normal feather and soon, his wings are black just like the wings of all the other birds. In the end, he goes home and is accepted by all his jerk friends who exclaim, "Oh goody! You look just like us so now we can be friends again!" and he is excited that all he ever needed to have friends was either a disability to make others feel superior and useful in relation OR conformity to make others feel like they belong. In his heart of hearts, however, he is pleased to know that everyone is different, even if they look the same. He keeps this secret to himself for fear of losing his newly re-found jerk friends.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I liked Tico and the fact that he kept giving away his golden feathers, even when he understood that it made his wings turn into regular feathers.

However, Tico's friends were awful. Yes, they helped him when he was perceived as 'less' than them because he couldn't fly. They, rather than being happy for him when he got wings, they abandoned him for having 'better' wings than they did. With friends like that...

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

more like Tico and the FAKE FRIENDS

very sweet story with beautiful illustrations but I ain't like the way Tico's friends flipped on him like that

[Sara Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Modern fantasy
Age: 4 and up
Summary: Tico is a bird who is born with no wings. His friends take care of him, and bring him food. One day, a wishing bird tells Tico that he has one wish. Tico chooses a pair of golden wings. Instantly the golden wings appear, and Tico begins to fly. Tico's friends are upset when they see his fancy golden wings, they think he is showing off. Tico's friends leave him all alone. he begins to fly around meeting people. He discovers that his feathers are magic, and he begins to give them away to those in need. As he gives his golden feathers away, black feathers appear in their place. Soon, Tico is all black and returns to his home. His friends are glad to see that his wings changed to black, and they stay with Tico.
Reflection: I like the positive messages in this story, although I did wish that Tico's friends would have accepted him even with the golden wings.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe that the art and the main message are meant to be lovely, and that young readers can discuss whether the other black birds are true 'friends' or not... and that when all aspects of the story are considered, the book is worth recommending. The 'Dragonfly' edition has interesting discussion questions. For example, Dragonfly asks us to consider more deeply the idea that *everyone* has memories, dreams, ambitions, fears... that are different from others... the 'friends' are not a set of clones, but are individuals themselves.

On the other hand, what would a parent say if a child took the lesson from this to heart and gave away all of his possessions except for a rice bowl? Maybe there's a reason this is set in a place that looks like India; I don't think it would truly fly in the US, or even in England, Ireland or Denmark, the homes of Dickens, Wilde, and Andersen respectively.

[Mahsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

!تيكو پرنده بال طلا " داستان محبوب كودكي من"
انتشارات بهنوش، سال ١٣٦٤
ظاهرا متاسفانه مجدد تجديد چاپ نشده.
جزو اولين كتابهاي زندگي كه خودم موفق به خوندنش شدم. و بي نهايت خوندم... كلمه به كلمه رو سالها حفظ بودم و هنوز هم خيلي از اشعار كتاب رو بخاطر دارم.
هنوز نوار كاست داستان رو هم نگه داشته ام!

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit like the Rainbow Fish, but with its own issues.

This one's got kind of a mixed message. So there's a bird with no wings, and then he wishes that he had golden wings. And a magic bird comes and gives him wings that are made of gold. Before, his friends had been feeding him and taking care of him because he didn't have any wings, and now that he has gold wings they abandon him because they assume that he thinks he's better than him. And then he's dejected and goes and finds somebody who has a problem because his children are sick and he doesn't have any money to get any medicine, and he gives him a golden feather and he is able to get medicine with it. When he gives it away, he gets a black feather in exchange. So he gives away all his golden feathers and when he gets back to his friends, his friends accept him again because he's just like they are. But he says to himself that he knows that he's not just like they are because he has different memories and different dreams.

It's kind of frustrating because it's almost like it says that it's important to be the same as everyone else, but it's also saying that you're going to have to deal with people who don't like you because you're different. It's not saying that his friends are right, per se, and there are people in this world like that. The nice things that he does for other people reward him by changing his outward appearance to a form that others will accept. It's so bizarre. It's like he has to earn the ability to fit in. It's difficult to tell whether it's saying that fitting in is good or not. It's hard to understand this book.

Message: Either help others less fortunate than you, or people won't accept you unless you fit in.

For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tico tells his own story; he was born without wings and a magical pearlescent bird granted his wish for golden wings. Tico's friends, seeing his golden wings and thinking he feels superior to them (they're actually just insecure), abandon him. Tico's golden wings are valuable and as he flies about seeing people in need, he wants to help them. He gives his wings one by one to the needy until all his feathers are black. Returning to his friends, Tico is welcomed back because now he is just like the other birds in appearance. Only Tico realizes that he is still different- they all are different, "each for his own memories, and his own invisible dreams."

First off, the art is lovely! Tico's wings are actually shimmering gold on the pages! I like that it was Tico's uniqueness that allowed him to serve those around him. Everyone has gifts and talents that enable them to do particular good for others. What I didn't like is that though Tico developed and grew through his experience, he returned to his old friends. Why would you want to surround yourself with people who don't believe in you or want you to shine in your own beauty? I feel that the story sends the mixed message that it's good to serve others, it's good to dream, but not at the expense of exclusion from friends. This story is a fable and I sense the layers of meaning and ways of interpreting it. It strikes at the heart and soul of the reader. I am sure this will be something I think about often.

[Than S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead.

I see people bothered by Tico’s “friends” and how they reject him and later embrace him when he looks like them.

To be honest I didn’t like it either. But after thinking about it and talking with my kids, I think that part of the story adds so much complexity and interesting themes to the story. It tap into something deeper than most children’s stories.

At the beginning his friends are actually very generous giving him berries and fruit when he had no wings to get them. When they reject him because they mistakenly feel he thinks himself better than them, it comes as a shock. His friends had shown him friendship and generosity, but later misunderstanding, rejection, and isolation.

Then Tico all alone gives generously all his golden feathers. He returns to his friends, and now that he looks like them, they embrace him. Was Tico returning to abusive, shallow friends? Perhaps. But he contemplates that though he looks like them he knows he is very different from them. He has grown in ways they might not ever know.

Tico learns that people can be generous and loving, but also petty and cruel. He could either turn away from them perhaps to more solitude, or accept their company for what it is, love them for the good qualities, bare their shortcomings, and show them compassion just as he had the humans.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a bird named Tico and his special golden wings. At first, Tico didn't have wings to fly away with his friends and explore the world. When he wished for wings, he was granted with golden wings. Due to his different wings, his friends alienated Tico, making him sad. This led to Tico going on a trip around the world, helping others in need by giving them one of his feathers. Every time Tico gave away a feather, a new black feather grew back. Slowly, he started losing his golden feathers. The story ends with Tico helping one final person, returning home to be with his friends. As a child, I enjoyed the story because of the illustrations. As an adult, I still enjoyed the illustrations, but I noticed other things. For one, Tico's friends only accept him when he has the same color wings as them. This doesn't teach kids that it's ok to be a unique individual. I also noticed that Tico helped people who needed money, showing readers that the only way to help those in need is by giving them money. This would be appropriate for a read-aloud for younger readers because of the maturity of the narration and the images that accompany it. Although there are different perspectives you could take on this book, I am on the fence about using it in my classroom.

[K.J. Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a small child, this book was in my elementary school library. I checked it out every week. Through it I learned the art of sharing, which wasn't hard for me. I've always been someone who enjoys sharing. So I guess I simply related to Tico and his big heart.

Years later after finally rediscovering the name of the book I went through a lot of trouble to get a copy of the same edition as the one I loved. There's even a childhood reading ritual that goes with it! =^-^= I'll teach it to you if you have a small child to read it to.

So yes, as far as children's books go this one's a keeper. For me at least.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this the companion book to "The Rainbow Fish" or what? The story is very similar. This one is a little better because he gives his wings to needy people, not the animals who are teasing him. Plus, the author makes a point that it is okay to be different. Still.........Tico does end up befriending the birds who ostracized him, minus his golden wings.

[Aneesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

With friends like these...

[Magila · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I am a big Lionni fan, but this one wasn't that fantastic to me. I loved the message of giving, but found the message of belonging a bit two-sided.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations, but I wish Tico had found new, better friends.

[annalee ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked this up until the end. I like how Tico gave away his golden feathers to help those less fortunate than him—because he understood, more than anyone, what it was like to rely on other people for charity—but the only reason his friends “accepted” him back into the group was because he gave away his feathers. They were angry that he wanted golden feathers in the first place because they somehow thought that made him better than them, even though he was literally wingless?? Why wouldn’t they be happy that he’s able to fly now instead of being jealous? I don’t like the message that you have to give up the blessings you’ve been given to put yourself on an even playing field with your peers.

That said, the art was beautiful and up until the very disappointing ending, I enjoyed seeing Tico’s generosity.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a tough book to read to a toddler, but fantastic for a kid who can sit through the paragraphs. Its a wonderful story about a blackbird who wishes for golden wings. His friends refuse to hang out with him because they think that he thinks that he is better than them because he is different. He sees a man in need and plucks a golden feather to give to him. In its place a black feather fills in. So Tico finds ways to give his golden feathers away to those in need and goes back to be with his friends. But inside, he knows that every bird is different and there is value in that. A very lovely story.

[Dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

As someone with a disability, this book hurt. Tico has no wings and longs to fly. When he is magically given them, they look different than his friends’ so they want nothing to do with him and are mean to him. Once his wings look like theirs, they accept him “you look like us”.
They took care of him when he had no wings but when get got some that looked different they turned on him. What a horrible way to treat someone.

[Michelle Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another reviewer observed that the tensions and complexity to this storyline are part of it's depth- I agree. I especially love the way Tico responds to his friends' rejection with his own questions...his confusion and surprise echo the readers'. It is unexpected and compelling. I also enjoy the last illustration of Tico with his eyes open while all his friends' eyes are closed. It really is such a simple but surprising and profound little story. And the illustrations are exquisite.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

During teacher training today we read this and out together a lesson plan for it. Guess what? It was FUN and engaging. Never would have guessed that book for first graders could offer such a deep lesson. Can't wait to read five books a week and develop enriching lesson plans for my fourth graders. Gonna be a rough year, but worth it.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I discovered where THE RAINBOW FISH got its inspiration. Like that famous book series, there are some mixed messages here. The good message is that when you have plenty, it is right to share with the less fortunate. The bad message is that it's okay and even wise to bully and exclude those who are different. Lionni's books always give me something to ponder!

[Chance Adam]

A plain bird named Tico who embarks on a transformative journey to find his inner beauty and uniqueness with the help of magical golden wings. In the classroom, you can have students to create a collage that represents Tico's transformation throughout the story. They can use drawings, cutouts from magazines, or any other art materials they prefer.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tico when given his golden wings unselfishly uses the golden feathers to help others in need, and feels joy in his sacrifices. One of my favorites since childhood and one that I read to my students who respond to his kindness and the impact it had on the lives of those he helped!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some deep stuff going on with the message here, in ways that can be judged positively or negatively, but honestly I was just disappointed that the cover wings are metallic gold whereas the interior ones are just a yellow color.

[Janna Oakfellow-Pushee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book made in 1964, it still rings true today: kindness, serving one's fellow as best as able, and more are all wrapped into this simple tale about a bird born with no wings, who is one day granted their dearest wish.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tico can't fly like all his friends, until his wish is granted and he gets beautiful, golden wings. But this doesn't help him belong to the group as he hoped, it alienates him even more until he finds a way to use his golden feathers to help others.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, but like The Rainbowfish, I find it problematic that Tico is not accepted because he is different and only is so when he becomes like the other birds, when he assimilates.

[Orion Kopf · Rating 2 out of 5]

My mom is not so sure about the moral of this story. A bit like Rainbow Fish...give away the best of yourself so you are identical to the jerks you thought were your friends.