In 2003, Mo Willems, former Sesame Street writer turned his attention to writing and illustrating picture books and library shelves have not been the same since. The forty something writer/illustrator is a former stand-up comic and a six time Emmy winner. When pigeon drove into our hearts, it was all over.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus was selected as a Caldecott Honor book and Willem was on his way. Now readers have seven stories featuring Pigeon and his pals to enjoy. The text of each title is made almost entirely out words and thought bubbles between the characters. A rather inventive approach for the time it initially hit bookstore shelves. At that time, comic books where designed for much older readers, but here is a crazy pigeon getting into trouble doing ordinary things like riding buses and eating hot dogs. Children, booksellers, and librarians fell instantly in love.
Willems next introduced us to Knuffle Bunny where Trixie and her Daddy's trip to the laundromat turns disastrous when Kuffle Bunny goes missing. A lesson to parents everywhere of what might go wrong when Dad is left in charge!
If Willems wasn't already busting down the traditional rules of children's literature, he did when he introduced children to Elephant & Piggie. Again he used the conversational text, but this time, the book was created in the style of a traditional beginning reader. He uses the basic word lists expertly to allow early readers to "speak" for the character. Elephant & Piggie are the best of friends. Much like Lobel's Frog and Toad one of the pair is rather laid back while the other is creative and high strung. According to Willems Gerald the Elephant "is a cautious and sometimes pessimistic elephant. But his best friend, Piggie, often makes him see things in a whole new way." Piggie on the other hand "is elephant's best friend. She's always doing impulsive things that make Gerald smile." These books have changed the face of readers for a whole generation.
Storytime with Gerald & Piggie is great fun especially if you have two readers. Whether it's two adults of two children, a pair who can really ham it up, pardon the pun, Piggie, will keep children rolling on the floor. A neat multimedia component to storytime or just for fun, check out Willem's website. The Elephant & Piggie Dance Game is great fun. Also, you can print new coloring pages each month and play other games.
Keep watching for what's from Willems. With more than 40 books to his credit, he doesn't appear to be putting the brakes on this bus anytime soon.
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