Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Once, I was babysitting a friend’s 3 year old daughter and she was pretending to read my magazines.  As she was reading the New Yorker upside down I asked her, “Who is your favorite author”?  And she said, “Mo Willems”.  For years I thought she had made the silly name up until I had a kid and discover Mo Willems.  And yes, I agree with the three year old… he is great!

Author / Illustrator: Mo Willems
Publisher: Hyperion Books (2007)
Prices: Hardcover - $12.99
Reading level: 2 to 6 years old 
Interest level: Lower to Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 9.2 x 9.2 inches, 40 pages 
ISBN: 078681988X 
Genres: Children’s Picture Books

Subjects:
Bus drivers – fiction
Pigeons
Caldecott Honors
Animals - fiction

Annotation:
A bus driver needs to take a break.  Can the reader prevent a pigeon from driving the bus?

Summary:
A bus driver takes a break from his route and asks the reader to make sure that the pigeon does not drive the bus.  After that, the pigeon appears and whines and pleads and throws a temper tantrum begging to drive the bus.  At the end of the book the bus driver comes back from his break and the pigeon sits down, sad that he did not get to drive the bus.

Evaluation:
I think all of the pigeon books are amazing.  This, the first book in the series, was a breath of fresh air in the children’s book market. The illustrations are so much fun.  Mr. Willems crayon edged pigeon is so endearing.  When he is frustrated, or throwing a tantrum I know that I can relate and I think my daughter can too.  My favorite thing about this book is the way it asks the reader to be involved.  I mean, my daughter will yell and scream and argue and try and get the pigeon to stay away from the stearing wheel.  Such a fun book and a fun series!

Similar Titles or Authors:
The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog by Mo Willems
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Websites:
http://www.pigeonpresents.com

http://www.mowillems.com/

Awards & Recognition:
An Indie Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame Book
Caldecott Honor Book, 2004
NYT Bestseller
ALA Notable Book

Professional Reviews:
Booklist

Horn Books

All images (c) Mo Willems