Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

Author Leo Lionni
Look inside
The beloved Caldecott Honor Book and Christopher Award winner about two unlikely friends who see each other for who they are inside.

Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander, the real mouse, is chased away with brooms and imperiled by mousetraps. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse, too. In this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical one, Leo Lionni explores the magic of friendship.

Originally published in 1969, the Caldecott Honor-winning Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse is sure to enchant a whole new generation of readers.

"A delicate fantasy about friendship, illustrated with bold, sumptuous collages."--The New York Times
  • WINNER | 1969
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • WINNER | 1969
    Caldecott Honor Book
  • HONOR | 1969
    Caldecott Honor Book
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. View titles by Leo Lionni

About

The beloved Caldecott Honor Book and Christopher Award winner about two unlikely friends who see each other for who they are inside.

Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander, the real mouse, is chased away with brooms and imperiled by mousetraps. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse, too. In this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical one, Leo Lionni explores the magic of friendship.

Originally published in 1969, the Caldecott Honor-winning Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse is sure to enchant a whole new generation of readers.

"A delicate fantasy about friendship, illustrated with bold, sumptuous collages."--The New York Times

Awards

  • WINNER | 1969
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • WINNER | 1969
    Caldecott Honor Book
  • HONOR | 1969
    Caldecott Honor Book

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. View titles by Leo Lionni

National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more