Inch by Inch

Leo Lionni is one of my favorite storytellers and artists. In Inch by Inch, a small green inchworm survives in a world of hungry birds by making himself useful — he can measure anything — a robin's tail, a flamingo's neck, a whole hummingbird. Then a nightingale threatens to eat him unless he can measure her song. Lionni's 1960 classic is as beautiful and brilliant as ever, its collage illustrations — a mix of cut and torn paper, colored pencil, and crayon — crisp and striking against open white space. This board book edition is perfect for the littlest readers (0–3), yet the story is wonderful for older kids too, making it an excellent choice for families reading with a younger and older sibling.