Inch by inch

PreS-Gr 1-Leo Lionni's 1961 Caldecott Honor Book (HarperCollins, pap. 1995) has finally been brought to the screen in this lively animated film. As the story begins, the inchworm wiggles through some grass blades; the visual depth is remarkable. In order to avoid being eaten, the little worm measures a robin's tail, a flamingo's neck, and more. The hummingbird is particularly breathtaking in the way its iridescent wings are shown rapidly flapping. In the end, the intrepid hero faces the dilemma of how to measure a nightingale's song, but finds an imaginative solution to the problem. Lionni's illustrations are lovely, and the story teaches measurement in a fun way. Ron McLarty narrates with just the right touch of whimsy, and lively orchestral music plays in the background. A good choice for the preschool crowd.-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Lionni's mixed-media compositions illustrate the story of a little inchworm who measures the neck of a flamingo, beak of a toucan, etc. Sensing danger from the nightingale, he quietly inches himself out of sight. The lovely colors, sharp definition of cutouts against white space, rhythm of the composition, and simplicity of the whole make for a handsome book. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.