The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
By William Joyce
The Story
A book-loving man's whole life is scattered by a tornado, leaving him stranded in a gray, joyless place — until a single colorful book leads him to a library that needs him as much as he needs it.
Why It's Special
For the kid who already treats books like treasured friends, this is a story that makes that feeling visible on the page.
- Big idea: Stories carry us through loss and give color back to a world that's gone gray.
- Vibes: Wistful, painterly, and quietly hopeful, with a sense of wonder around every page turn.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories about the magic of books and reading
- respond well to quiet, reflective storytelling
- are working on understanding loss and finding hope after hard changes
- love richly detailed, painterly illustrations
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What happened to Morris Lessmore's world after the tornado came through?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Morris felt when he found himself somewhere gray and dreary?
- Imagination: What do you think was inside the one colorful book he found?
- Real-life connection: Has a favorite book ever made you feel better on a hard day?
- Big ideas: Why do you think the library needed Morris just as much as he needed it?
