Will the Pigeon Graduate?

Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems

Does this release of this book signify that Mo Willem's daughter has recently graduated? Or is this just an attempt to jump on the "life events" bandwagon. The book is in the typical "pigeon" style. However, the content is different. Pigeon is not really trying to get something. Instead, he is worrying about his graduation and what will happen. At the end, he finally walks over the edge and realizes that he can fly. It is a nice metaphor for life and graduation, told in a "pigeon-style" children's book.

Waiting Is Not Easy!

Waiting Is Not Easy!-An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems

Piggie has something for Elephant, but Elephant does not want to wait. He goes through many states of distress and gets upset that it starts to get dark. Then they see what they were waiting for - the stars in the night. Sometimes there is no option but to wait.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie Book

Should I Share My Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems

Elephant spends so long debating how to share his ice cream that it melts away. Luckily Piggie comes to share her ice cream and they are both happy.

Happy Pig Day!-An Elephant and Piggie Book

Happy Pig Day!-An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems

Piggie is excited about pig day. He talks pig talk, dances pig dance and does lots of fun things with other pigs. Elephant feels left out because he cannot be a pig. Then the other pigs take off their masks to show that they are not pigs either. Now Elephant realizes that he can enjoy pig day just like the others. It is a very piggie book.

Time to Pee!

Time to Pee! by Mo Willems

The book continues to be a fun book for kids, even years after they have been potty trained. There are many little "easter eggs" included, such as the toy bus with a pigeon driving. Even the words are shown in a fun way. It is also a short, fun read.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

As the bus driver walks away, he asks the reader to watch things and "don't let the pigeon drive the bus". The pigeon appears and pleads with the reader for a chance to drive the bus. He doesn't get his way. The bus driver returns. In the end, the pigeon gets the idea of driving something else.

The book can be heavily interactive if desired. There is a "no response" for each of the Pigeon's intreaties. I can't help but include a few sound effects as I am reading it. Mo Willems came from a TV background, and this could easily be a visual short.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!

 The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems

Pigeon finds a hot dog. Right as he is about to eat it, duckling starts asking questions about it. Pigeon goes through his emotional breakdown (like in "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus") and then decides to share with duckling. It is a good book, but gets knocked for following the formula for the previous book a little too closely.

There Is a Bird on Your Head! (Elephant and Piggie)

There Is a Bird on Your Head! (Elephant and Piggie) by Mo Willems

A bird lands on elephants head. It later joins with another bird, builds a nest and raise little birds. Finally, elephant and piggie ask the birds to leave. They agree - and land on piggie's head. It is a fun, just a bit absurd story.

I Love My New Toy!-An Elephant and Piggie Book

I Love My New Toy!-An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems

Piggie gets a new toy. They are not sure how to play with it. Elephant throws it up in the air. It comes down and cracks open. They have a fight over he destruction of the toy. Then another friend identifies it as a "break and snap" toy. The tantrum was not needed. They are now able to have fun playing together. Elephant and Piggie books have the simple messages that work well. They also have the secret pigeon to identify.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

[July 2009] In this story, the main characters are color drawings that inhabit a world of black and white photographs. The images alone would make this a great book. However, the story is also great too. It has entertained many young children (as well as their parents) in our house. It provides many avenues for expressive reading and exhibits all of Mo Willems' wit and style.

Time to Pee

[From 2006] Our daughters love this book. Even though they have both already been potty trained, they still love this book. They have now become much better at washing their hands - and they have become more idependent in the bathroom (telling each other "Go for it dude") before going. It has worked much better than any of the other potty training books.

The book itself is interesting for both parents and kids. Mo Willems has also put in a few references to his other books (like the toy pigeon driving the bus and the dedication to Trixie.)

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

Trixie and Knufflebunny go on a plane ride to Holland - but KnuffleBunny gets left behind on the airplane. Trixie is a little more grown up now and is able to deal with it. Amazingly, however, she finds Knufflebunny sitting in the airplane on her return trip. As a kid behind them is crying, she willingly gives the kid Knufflebunny - to keep.

As with the other two Knufflebunny books, this is drawn with a hybrid of black and white photographs and color drawings. It works brilliantly and makes for another visual wonder. (And like most Mo Willems books, there is a pigeon to be found lurking in the pages - along with Elephant and Piggie)

This story is funny and shows growth of characters. We even related to the "discovery" of Knnufflebunny. (I had once lost my glasses on a bus. Later we boarded a bus, and found the glasses sitting right there next the seat we were.)

The story provides an original twist on growing up, rather than simply rehashing the original Knufflebunny book. Sure, the bunny is lost again, but this time, Trixie has the power to control her experience and even use this experience to help others.

We Are In A Book

This is easily the funniest of the Elephant and Piggie series. (And just to make sure you don't forget, there are a few pages filled with He He Ha Ha's.) Elephant and Piggie realize that they are in a book and are being read. Similar to The Monster at the End of this Book, the characters interact with the reader. The drawings help to accentuate this "relationship" between the reader and characters.

The start also continues an inside joke started at the end of the book. This is one that will be rad over and over again, and require plenty of belly laughs.

Mediocre Kids' books (Good Night Walk, Building, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, Uptown, A Perfect Name)

A Good Night Walk by Elisha Cooper
Building by Elisha Cooper 
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems 
Uptown by Bryan Collier 
A Perfect Name by Charlene Costanza and LeUyen Pham

(There were some Amazon image links, but they stopped supporting them. So much for "permanent" on the web.)

Nothing really happens in Good Night Walk. He walks around town and walks back. In Building, we do see the construction of a building. Unfortunately, the drawings don't mesh well with the story. In both, his drawings are more abstract doodles, while the content is fairly concrete. The contrast just doesn't work.

I've loved most Mo Willems book. They typically have a wit that appeals to adults and children, together with an interesting story and drawings. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, unfortunately, falls flat. In the story, one Mole Rat likes to where clothes. Everyone teases him. Eventually they tell the Mole Rat patriarch. He decides he likes clothes, so a lot of Mole Rats start wearing clothes. That's about all there is to it. There are occasional sparks of potential humor in the drawings, but nothing that really interesting. Try something like Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) instead.

Uptown is a simple trip through the New York's Harlem neighborhood. If you live in, or are really intrigued by Harlem, you may find it interesting. Otherwise, there is no story to it.

In A Perfect Name, some animals attempt to give their baby a name. That's about it.