I Gather Sun Rays---"Frederick" by Leo Lionni

As the summer turns to fall and all the squirrels in our yard are busy hiding seeds and goodies for the winter ahead, I think of Frederick.  Frederick is a mouse in a picture story created by Leo Lionni. The other mice in his story are working hard to store up food for the winter and when they ask Frederick why he is not helping, he answers, "I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days."  He also gathers colors and words and when the food supplies run low and the winter days stretch out long, Frederick pulls from his supplies words and images and colors to help the mice through the winter.

One of the reviewers of the book said, "When we are in dire need, it is our dreams of happier times which sustain us....A story about the glory of the human spirit." (Bruno Bettelheim)

title page

Leo Lionni was born May 5, 1910 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He died October 11, 1999, at his home near Radda in the Chianti district of Italy. He was 89.

Mr. Lionni was an artist, magazine art director, graphic designer, children's book illustrator and author. But he earned worldwide popularity as the author and illustrator of more than 30 children's books, many of which were translated into numerous languages.

He turned to creating children's books at 50, and, even after he began to suffer from Parkinson's disease 15 years before he died, he was extraordinarily productive.

Frederick got his own stamp!

German language edition

More books by Leo Lionni

board book edition