Cornelius

by Leo Lionni

Illus. in full color. Unlike other crocodiles, Cornelius walks upright, sees things, and does tricks no other crocodile can. His friends aren't impressed—or are they?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Fantasy, Classics

34 pages, Hardcover

First published February 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

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cornelius is different to the other crocodiles and can walk on two legs. He also likes to learn new tricks. The illustrations are fun, cut out patterns in a collage. This looks like a fun book to read with a small child. Who couldn't resist such a smiley croc? The end felt a little abrupt, this could have been longer but it was a nice entertaining read.

Read on open library.

[Derrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I liked the illustrations.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike his fellow crocodiles, Cornelius likes to walk upright on just his two hind feet. When the other crocodiles fail to appreciate his unique perspective, Cornelius leaves the river in search of new horizons. After he learns some new tricks from a monkey, Cornelius returns to the river and teaches his new skills to the other crocodiles. This represents a different plot than the one we started with, and Cornelius's original conflict is never resolved. Interesting collage illustrations.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this up to the last page and the story just stopped bluntly. I need a few more pages.

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 3 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: چه فایده‌ای دارد؟

[Jeff Fortney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read any Leo Lionni children's books before. This one, with a crocodile walking on two legs, caught my eye. I was glad I got this one. It is the story of Cornelius, a crocodile that starts walking upright just as soon as his egg hatches. The tells all his croc friend that he can see things no one else (crocodile-wise) has never seen - over bushes, fish from above the water. They are not impressed. He keeps telling them about the cool things this vantage point brings and he gets indifference. Angered, he leaves and meets a monkey that shows him even more tricks...which he masters too. He shows his old friends his new tricks and gets more indifference. BUT...as he leaves in a huff, he turns around and catches his friends trying to emulate his skills. Life on his riverbank will never be the same.
This is a fun book that is trying to pass along the message of keep displaying those talents. Even if you are initially ignored, people notice and want to follow success.
The illustrations are done in a collage style that is very fun to look at..colorful and inventive.
It may be a little tough for beginning reader to read on their own, but they will love the story.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this on DVD as part of a Leo Lionni 5 story compilation that included the story Swimmy, Frederick, Fish is Fish and It's Mine.

In this tale a young baby alligator is born and right away he walks to the beat of his own drummer. He decides to walk upright as opposed to crawl on his stomach. Despite the benefits his parents do not show any enthusiasm about his abilities. He meets a monkey one day and instead of eating the monkey the young alligator decides to take a lesson in standing on his head and hanging from his tail. He is extremely pleased with his new abilities and rushes home to show his folks. Upon seeing this they initially show no signs of pleasure, however when Cornelius turns around he sees his parents desperately making an effort to stand on their heads.

This DVD would be great to show kids as a supplement to the book. It would help kids bolster their ability to follow a text. I would recommend this for elementary kids grades K-3. This story really works as a great way to bolster individuality and self esteem in young kids.

[Mama’s Hysa Book Club · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Cornelius is a proud alligator who stomps off in a huff. Yes, he can provide new perspective and he could teach new talents, but instead he just seems to want to be a proud show-off.

[Matin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cornelius is a crocodile that was born knowing how to walk upright. The other crocodiles were really rude to Cornelius when he would show them his special gift. Cornerious leaves the group of crocodiles to learn other tricks so he could come back and impress them. When he returns, none of the other crocodiles seem to care about his new tricks and continue to be rude to him. As Cornelius is leaving the group because his feelings were hurt, he looks back to see that the other crocodiles are trying to do the tricks that he was doing. They secretly admired him but didn't want to show or tell him this. This would be a good book to read in my classroom because it shows kids the importance of treating others kindly. It could also be a book that could help some kids understand the pain of jealousy, and how if someone is treating you poorly, it could be because they are jealous. It could be something that is totally out of your hands

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

KS1 Cute, funny. Crocodile born differently, has a differently perspective on life compared to the other crocodile, so he has different experiences.


The way I made sense of it is that he is a pioneer ahead of his time, like Jimi Hendrix and people only catch onto things later.

The crocodiles weren't encouraging but tried to copy him, which makes me think they were jealous and insecure. Also, the other crocodiles made no effort to see things from his point of view.

[Jacob Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful fable that is not too moralistic! Cornelius, the alligator, hatched out of the egg standing on two feet! From that point on, he was interested in trying things that no other alligator could possibly see the use for. Perhaps, the act of learning and taking risks is the purpose itself! And just maybe, we can inspire others when we think outside of the box!

[Miss Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cornelius is nothing like the rest of the alligators, his brothers and sisters. He's different right from the beginning and he's confident in his differences. Because he's different he has a different perspective and learns some new skills that eventually everyone else would like to learn too.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cornelius is nothing like the rest of the alligators, his brothers and sisters. He's different right from the beginning and he's confident in his differences. Because he's different he has a different perspective and learns some new skills that eventually everyone else would like to learn too.

[Allyson Goose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories about people or animals who are misfits, find their place in a different place, and then go back to change their original closed-minded community. My preschooler and kindergartener also liked it. Right after the first reading, my preschooler asked for me to read it again.

[annalee ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was a bit abrupt; I kind of wish there was a resolution to the conflict of Cornelius being different (or maybe a confrontation with the other alligators who were, I’m assuming, jealous of him?).

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely you can do it - and do it the way you want to do it - story. Clever and fun. SMART 2018

[Wetdryvac · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK.

[Christopher Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiction (Fable)
Primary Grades (2-3)
I LOVE Leo Lionni books! This book made me smile throughout and has wonderful illustrations.

[Bill Householder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book.

[Freddie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set goals, work hard, don't be afraid to think differently. Be yourself and don't worry too much about what other people think.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cornelius is another fable-type story from Leo Lionni. The story is pretty straightforward. The illustrations are fairly amusing but not as cute as Lionni's mouse books.

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red 1st

[Naomi towns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that book I like when he stand on his head hes up side down.

[Tatiana Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

toca na diferença e como ela pode ser complementar e boa para os outros. diferença.

[Y.Poston]

interesting exploration of learning new things

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book with a message by a favorite author: Be yourself

[Karla Lohaus-Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a little peer pressure goes a long way!

[Rick Christiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haha, good job

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fable about not being ashamed of your natural gifts and hard work.

[Caroline K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is lacking in quality and flow. I was left with many questions... why did Cornelius want to go back to the mean crocodiles right after learning a new trick? Why did he leave angry again the second time? Why was he returning to the Monkey? What actually changed in the end? And why is the ending so abrupt? Etc. While there are various possible answers to these questions, the meaning is ambiguous and could have been communicated with greater clarity and skill.

The illustrations are fine, but not enough to redeem the story/lack of direction and development.