Tico and the Golden Wings

Author Leo Lionni
Illustrated by Leo Lionni
A classic fable encouraging generosity and individuality, from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni.

Tico, a little bird born without wings, is one day granted his dearest wish. But the wings he gets are made of gold and his bird friends turn against him. “You think you are better than we are,” they say. What Tico does with his golden feathers—and the important lesson he learns—is a fable that children will take to their hearts.
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
  • WINNER
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • WINNER
    Society of Illustrators Citation of Merit
“A lovely, satisfying parable of beauty and generosity . . . richly evocative of Far Eastern Art.” —The New York Times

“The beauty of this book lies . . . in its luxury, its aesthetic, its gorgeous densely colored patterns of trees and ushes, and the birds themselves.” —The Boston Globe

“Children will take the hopes and wishes of the little bird born without wings to their hearts. . . . A lovely book, and one that cannot but leave a lasting impression.” —The Saturday Review

“Truly a beautiful book.” —McCalls

About

A classic fable encouraging generosity and individuality, from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni.

Tico, a little bird born without wings, is one day granted his dearest wish. But the wings he gets are made of gold and his bird friends turn against him. “You think you are better than we are,” they say. What Tico does with his golden feathers—and the important lesson he learns—is a fable that children will take to their hearts.

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

Awards

  • WINNER
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • WINNER
    Society of Illustrators Citation of Merit

Praise

“A lovely, satisfying parable of beauty and generosity . . . richly evocative of Far Eastern Art.” —The New York Times

“The beauty of this book lies . . . in its luxury, its aesthetic, its gorgeous densely colored patterns of trees and ushes, and the birds themselves.” —The Boston Globe

“Children will take the hopes and wishes of the little bird born without wings to their hearts. . . . A lovely book, and one that cannot but leave a lasting impression.” —The Saturday Review

“Truly a beautiful book.” —McCalls

Books for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Every May we celebrate the rich history and culture of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Browse a curated selection of fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators that we think your students will love. Find our collection of titles here: Elementary School

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more