The Biggest House in the World - by Leo Lionni (Paperback)

About the Book

A snail's father advises him to keep his house small and tells him what happened to a snail that grew a large and spectacular shell.

Book Synopsis

The beloved fable about loving your home from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni.

A young snail dreams of having the biggest house--or shell--in the world. Then one day, his wise father tells him the story of another snail with the same dream. He grew and grew, adding bright colors and beautiful designs, until he found that his house came at a terrible cost. The young snail decides that a small, easy-to-carry shell might be best for a life of adventure and exploration.

From the Back Cover

In a fable within a fable, a wise snail convinces his son that a small, easy to carry shell might be better than the biggest house in the world for a life of adventure and exploration.

Review Quotes

"This honor-winning book elicits special praise from the art critic." --The Horn Book Magazine

"The translucent color of the pictures and the simplicity of the text make a perfect combination." --Book World.

About the Author

Leo Lionni, an internationally known designer, illustrator, and graphic artist, was born in Holland and lived in Italy until he came to the United States in 1939. He was the recipient of the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was honored posthumously in 2007 with the Society of Illustrators' Lifetime Achievement Award. His picture books are distinguished by their enduring moral themes, graphic simplicity and brilliant use of collage, and include four Caldecott Honor Books: Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Hailed as "a master of the simple fable" by the Chicago Tribune, he died in 1999 at the age of 89.