Leo Lionni

Lionni left his job as a successful magazine editor in 1959 to pursue a career in children's books. Lionni ended up producing more than 40 popular children's books before his death in 1999. I couldn't find many decent images of his work on the on the internet but I'm going to put some of these books on my christmas list..

I think his illustrations are charming and seem very modern considering many were drawn more than 40 years ago.
I'm noticing a theme in my attractions towards illustrations containing animal themes. The stories seem more humorous and magical when animals are used, they can express characteristics that wouldn't seem as interesting through a human character such as Eric Carle's "Grouchy Ladybug' and Judith Kerr's friendly tiger who befriends a girl in "a Tiger Came To Tea'.