Pezzettino

Leo Lionni (1975), 32 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Pezzettino (Italian for little piece) is small compared to all other things. He is convinced he belongs elsewhere, a missing piece to someone bigger and stronger. He tries repeatedly … asking everyone (the Strong-one, the Swimming-one, the One on-the-mountain) if they are missing a piece? But, the answer is always the same; they respond incredulously … how could I be strong, swim, or climb mountains if I had a piece missing? Poor Pezzettino, he is unsure of who he is and where he belongs. But, all that changes when one day he sets sail for the Island of Wham where Pezzettino discovers a truth ... that he belongs to no one else, but himself! Celebrated children’s author and illustrator, Leo Lionni created a timeless classic sure to be enjoyed for future generations. Pezzettino, is a tremendously uplifting tale with an inspirational moral – to thine own self be true!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Shape by David Goodman, If by Sarah Perry, One by Kathryn Otoshi, The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Other books by this author: An Extraordinary Egg, It’s Mine!, Inch by Inch (Caldecott Honor), Swimmy (Caldecott Honor), and Frederick (Caldecott Honor)