Small pieces

Simple, yet profound life philosophy

The most outstanding fable master of the 20th century—Leo Lionni
A classic picture book spanning generations, celebrating its 50th anniversary

       The protagonist of the story (the orange little square) is called "Pezzettino."

       This name comes from the Italian word "Pezzettino," pronounced approximately "peh-dzeh-tee-noh," meaning a small piece, a fragment, or a small thing.

       Pezzettino has a worry: he lives in a world where everyone else is tall and big, everyone loves adventure, and everyone does great things. But he himself seems pitifully small. He thinks he must be a small piece of someone else.

       So, one day he decides to set off to find his own answer.

       Along the way, he meets companions who run, are strong, swim, and climb mountains. Every time he meets one, he asks, "Am I a small piece of you?" However, everyone who hears his question feels that they haven't lost a small piece of themselves.

       So, who does Pezzettino belong to?

       After a deeply moving journey, he finally understands that he doesn't belong to anyone else, but rather to himself. This beautiful picture book ends with joy and contentment, offering profound inspiration.

       The author, Leo Lionni, used collage techniques and colorful small squares to create this visually captivating fable, vividly capturing the deepest desires of children in the adult world.

       The book has no concrete characters, relying solely on simple color blocks and collages to tell a moving story. The narrative is concise yet profound, insightfully capturing human nature with deep meaning. What's even more remarkable is how Leo Lionni cleverly answers questions that everyone has pondered: "Who am I?" "Where do I belong?" "Why am I the only one who's different?" These questions allow every reader to interpret their relationship with themselves and others within the story.

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       This book is also the inspiration for the foreign language name of the Dakuai Culture children's book brand, "Pezzettino." May this wonderful work accompany readers young and old on every journey of self-discovery.