ABOUT THIS BOOK

Theodore, a little mouse, lives with a lizard that can grow a new tail, a frog that can swim under water, and a turtle that can close up like a box. But Theodore has no special talent—all he can do is run. When he discovers a mushroom that says “Quirp,” Theodore tells his friends that this is the only talking mushroom in the world, and that “quirp” means that he should be venerated above all animals. The word spreads, and Theodore is bestowed with a crown—until the truth comes out. When his friends learn that they’ve been deceived, Theodore discovers that he does have a special talent—running away very fast! First published in 1971, this fable about the dangers of lying to get self-esteem has not been available in any edition since 1980.

Leo Lionni was born in 1910 and died in 1999. He won four Caldecott Honors for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Alexander the Wind-Up Mouse, and Swimmy. In 2007, he was honored with the Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award.