What do you think?
Rate this book
Mouse Seasons
The first new original Leo Lionni picture book in nearly 30 years, featuring the beloved mouse Frederick as he guides his fellow mice--and young listeners--through a joyous celebration of the seasons.
There is more than one way to prepare for a long winter, as Frederick tells his friends in the classic story. Gathering food and other supplies is important, but gathering the smells, sounds, and sights of a beautiful day to recall later are just as vital. How one little mouse cheers his entire community and prepares them for a full year ahead is a story that young children will love.
There is more than one way to prepare for a long winter, as Frederick tells his friends in the classic story. Gathering food and other supplies is important, but gathering the smells, sounds, and sights of a beautiful day to recall later are just as vital. How one little mouse cheers his entire community and prepares them for a full year ahead is a story that young children will love.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2021
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Leo Lionni
174 books457 followersLeo 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Read
April 10, 2024girllllllls this one is so cute
February 12, 2022
The poem that Frederick recites in the book of that name is now its own picture book, and it's lovely. I am grateful to Random House for keeping Leo Lionni's books in print and for creating new gems like this one. The collage work is perfect, as we would expect.
February 20, 2022
I've long adored the work of Leo Lionni and marveled at the wise simplicity of their messages. Although I still loved the artwork, created with digital collage and mixed media, and appreciated the message that life brings good and bad, beginnings and endings, warm and cold, I'm not sure that readers unfamiliar with the author/illustrator's previous picture book, Frederick, would understand that it is he who is explaining to other young mice how and why the seasons change. The idea of four field mice, Springmouse, Summermouse, Fallmouse, and Wintermouse, going about their tasks and changing the natural world is original and appealing and as good an explanation for seasonal changes as any other one. The images help youngsters appreciate each season while the text encourages them to think about what the world might be if there were fewer seasons or even an additional one. The use of rhyming text gives the text a melodic, soothing quality that comforts and reassures listeners. Kudos to the publisher for keeping this talented man's books in print. It would be such a loss for little ones today not to have his books to treasure.
May 15, 2022
This is another title in a trend to use aspects of a well known artist’s work to reintroduce a deceased author and illustrator’s work. This time it is the iconic work of the late Leo Lionni and his famous mice.
This is a well done title in brilliant colors depicting Lionni’s mice in the four different seasons with the mice set into illustrations done by Jan Gerardi. After a search I was pleased to finally see credit given for the additions to Lionni’s work. When reading this new type of publication this lover of picture books and their creators for a number of years doesn’t really see the work as a whole, but two art perspectives attempting to merge together. Young people will have no problem seeing the presentation as a whole concept, it is just when you have memory of Lionni’s original work.
All that said I enjoyed the presentation and found the four end papers featuring one of the seasons illustrated on each page a nice touch.
This is a well done title in brilliant colors depicting Lionni’s mice in the four different seasons with the mice set into illustrations done by Jan Gerardi. After a search I was pleased to finally see credit given for the additions to Lionni’s work. When reading this new type of publication this lover of picture books and their creators for a number of years doesn’t really see the work as a whole, but two art perspectives attempting to merge together. Young people will have no problem seeing the presentation as a whole concept, it is just when you have memory of Lionni’s original work.
All that said I enjoyed the presentation and found the four end papers featuring one of the seasons illustrated on each page a nice touch.
March 21, 2022
Four mice personify the four seasons.
Springmouse, Summermouse, Fallmouse, and Wintermouse create the four seasons. This book introduces young readers to the concept of seasons.
This is a posthumous work by the beloved author-illustrator Leo Lionni who died in 1999. The text is a poem from the book Frederick, and the illustrations were created by Jan Geradi in Leo Lionni's signature style, incorporating Leo Lionni's illustrations.
Leo Lionni was one of the most influential illustrators of my childhood, and I still love his collage artwork, so I was delighted to find this book.
Springmouse, Summermouse, Fallmouse, and Wintermouse create the four seasons. This book introduces young readers to the concept of seasons.
This is a posthumous work by the beloved author-illustrator Leo Lionni who died in 1999. The text is a poem from the book Frederick, and the illustrations were created by Jan Geradi in Leo Lionni's signature style, incorporating Leo Lionni's illustrations.
Leo Lionni was one of the most influential illustrators of my childhood, and I still love his collage artwork, so I was delighted to find this book.
April 29, 2024
Some of my favorite picture books aim to teach young people about life on earth -- what is what, and how it works. Seasons, for instance. Even though Frederick is (supposedly) a mouse, he brings a fresh perspective to us human readers... not only his fellow mice.
Riddle-like questions are answered with fanciful answers. For instance:
Who dims the daylight?
Who lights the moon?
Four little field mice who live in the sky.
Four little field mice... like you and I.
Yeah, yeah.... that last sentence would read more grammatically with "like you and me."
But I choose to give artistic license to author and illustrator Leo Lionni. In this FIVE STAR book, he is at his best.
Riddle-like questions are answered with fanciful answers. For instance:
Who dims the daylight?
Who lights the moon?
Four little field mice who live in the sky.
Four little field mice... like you and I.
Yeah, yeah.... that last sentence would read more grammatically with "like you and me."
But I choose to give artistic license to author and illustrator Leo Lionni. In this FIVE STAR book, he is at his best.
March 1, 2022
The first new original Leo Lionni picture book in nearly 30 years, featuring the beloved mouse Frederick as he guides his fellow mice--and young listeners--through a joyous celebration of the seasons.
There is more than one way to prepare for a long winter, as Frederick tells his friends in the classic story. Gathering food and other supplies is important, but gathering the smells, sounds, and sights of a beautiful day to recall later are just as vital. How one little mouse cheers his entire community and prepares them for a full year ahead is a story that young children will love. (less)Two mice talk about where the seasons come from.
There is more than one way to prepare for a long winter, as Frederick tells his friends in the classic story. Gathering food and other supplies is important, but gathering the smells, sounds, and sights of a beautiful day to recall later are just as vital. How one little mouse cheers his entire community and prepares them for a full year ahead is a story that young children will love. (less)Two mice talk about where the seasons come from.
March 31, 2022
It's Leo Lionni, so it's wonderful! Even the end pages match the story. (I love details like that). "Who grows the four-leaf clovers in June? Who dims the daylight? Who lights the moon?" "Aren't we lucky the seasons are four? Think of a year with one less...or one more!" What a wonderful conversation starter with older kids. It makes me think of Bartholomew Cubbins and the Oobleck. I am not ready for oobleck season :P This rhyming text with picturesque language is such a pleasure to read and short enough to keep the kids interest. The illustrations are lovely as well.
March 27, 2022
Cute and colourful, but not a very useful explanation of the seasons. Note a very positive outlook on certain weather events either. "Who spoils the weather? Who makes it nice?" Implies rain and wind aren't weather and that only sunny days are nice. Not the message I'm trying to share. Also those seem to be shamrock not clovers :(
May 12, 2022
The late great author illustrator Leo Lionni's legacy is drwn upon for this new Lionni title. Using the poem about seasons from his book Frederick, this new book shows the four seasons and the four mice responsible for each one. Using minimal text and rhymed verse, the book should be very accessible for young readers. It would be a good book to share aloud with any audience.
September 5, 2021
No one can go wrong with a little bit of Lionni in their life! A group of mice are here to illustrate the sweet (and sometimes a little sour) things about each season that make all four such a memorable experience as they continually shift. Mouse Seasons is a book suited for every season!
April 25, 2022
Posthumously published, we now have Frederick's book as a full-length book. I read this with Mister and discovered that he has no clue what the 4 seasons are. A very strange conversation came after that.
May 25, 2022
Oh my gosh the artwork in this book is adorable! And I love that the seasons are created by four little field mice who live in the sky - a Springmouse who makes flowers etc… etc…
Really cute.
It also rhymes.
Really cute.
It also rhymes.
May 30, 2022
Lovely illustrations. Posthumous.
As a Christian, I think it would be beautiful if it pointed to God as the answer to “who makes the seasons and makes the stars shine in the sky.”
Instead it points to four field mice in the sky. 🤷🏻♀️
As a Christian, I think it would be beautiful if it pointed to God as the answer to “who makes the seasons and makes the stars shine in the sky.”
Instead it points to four field mice in the sky. 🤷🏻♀️
August 3, 2022
The poem Frederick recites in his self titled book is now a picture book in its own right. Simple highlights of each season are accompanied by Lionni style illustrations. For Lionni fans, mouse or 4 seasons storytime.
February 18, 2022
Cute, but I think this would work better as a board book.
February 19, 2022
Loved it!
February 19, 2022
Loved it. Just loved it.
March 3, 2022
I really love Leo Lionni's paper cut illustrations and mice but it doesn't feel complete.
March 4, 2022
A simple, beautifully illustrated book about the seasons! We all loved it (we being me and my 8&9 year old boys). Love Leo Lionni’s books so much!
March 12, 2022
Great book to read when learning about the seasons. Not as "wordy" as Leo Lionni's other work.
March 24, 2022
Leo Lionni died in 1999 but how wonderful that his words & artwork live on in this updated 1967 picture book!
April 11, 2022
Loved the mixed media used to illustrate the book. The mice were so adorable. Sweet book for a bedtime read.
April 20, 2022
Underwhelming. I would like the questions more as open-ended topics for discussion.
April 26, 2022
God-like weather-mice control the seasons in this odd book for little ones.
May 3, 2022
Fabulous illustrations (five stars), but not the best flow—kinda short and jerky.
May 28, 2022
Leoni embodies the seasons as four mice, beginning with questions a child might have: "Who scatters the snowflakes?" I adore his illustrations, as ever. What a bundle of charm!
September 1, 2022
This could make a good picture book describing seasons for story time.
September 3, 2022
A Leo Lionni classic featuring his famous mice who apparently create the seasons.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews