Little Blue and Little Yellow

Little Blue and Little Yellow
written and illustrated by Leo Lionni. 1959. New York: Harper Collins. 40 p.(0785757597)

Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/

Media: mixed media, cut paper and paint

Awards and Honors: none

Audience: toddlers, pre-k, kindergartners

Annotation:

Little Blue and Little Yellow are best friends. During an exciting day playing together, a mix-up happens and their parents are left confused. 

Personal Reaction:  

    One of my favorite picture books as a child was Leo Lionni's "Little Blue and Little Yellow". When I was young, I really loved the scenes with Little Blue and Little Yellow playing together. I also remember as a child being incredibly excited by mixing colors of paint together to make a new color. It was like magic to me, so of course I loved when Little Blue and Little Yellow hug each other and turn green!

    I continue to enjoy this book as an adult. There's really something to be said for the effective simplicity of the illustrations. The book was first published in 1959, but Lionni's bright and bold torn paper illustrations still look fresh and exciting over 50 years later. It's a wonderful story for young children; there's a simple, yet compelling storyline and the conflict is gentle and happily resolved at the end of the book.

    Incidentally, while I was writing this post, I realized that I didn't know very much about Lionni beyond his books. I did a little reading about him, and found out that he had a fascinating life. He was actually a well known and respected fine artist early in his career, had a PhD in economics and was an ad man and art director in the United States- all before he started writing and illustrating books for children!