Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Author: Mo Willems
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children Year of Publication: 2003 Genre: Children’s picture book Horn Book review rating: 1 |
Summary: This children’s picture book is about a bus driver who has to leave and asks the readers to not let the pigeon drive the bus. The pigeon is very persuasive and persistent on wanting to drive the bus.
Summary of Professional Reviews: The Horn book guide online gave this book a rating of 1. They really enjoyed the “clean, sparely designed pages focus attention on the simply drawn but wildly expressive pigeon.” They also commented how it “encourages audience interaction.” This book will allow young readers to enjoy telling just as the bus driver told the the pigeon “No!” according to the reviews on CLCD. Along with the high reviews and ratings, this book won the Caldecott Medal.
Review by Madie Henderson: The concept of allowing your audience to feel like a part of this book really makes this read even better. With a fresh idea of using a pigeon wanting to drive a bus, Mo Willems manages to create an entertaining children’s book. I really like how he illustrates the pigeon persuading us to allow him to drive the bus. I found it hilarious when the pigeon says “I bet your mom would let me.” Mo Willems is an author with a special talent of making children’s book that would entertain all readers.
This book would be useful when teaching… Teachers could use this book for emerging readers. It has very minimal words on each page and is very easy to follow through the various illustrations. Also, throughout the book, some phrases and words repeat allowing the young reader to become familiar with the more difficult words. This book also allows the children to participate during the story by telling the pigeon “No, you can not to drive the bus!” Another idea is to teach the children what is appropriate in the terms of safety. Discuss with the students why adults drive and not children, or animals.
Summary of Professional Reviews: The Horn book guide online gave this book a rating of 1. They really enjoyed the “clean, sparely designed pages focus attention on the simply drawn but wildly expressive pigeon.” They also commented how it “encourages audience interaction.” This book will allow young readers to enjoy telling just as the bus driver told the the pigeon “No!” according to the reviews on CLCD. Along with the high reviews and ratings, this book won the Caldecott Medal.
Review by Madie Henderson: The concept of allowing your audience to feel like a part of this book really makes this read even better. With a fresh idea of using a pigeon wanting to drive a bus, Mo Willems manages to create an entertaining children’s book. I really like how he illustrates the pigeon persuading us to allow him to drive the bus. I found it hilarious when the pigeon says “I bet your mom would let me.” Mo Willems is an author with a special talent of making children’s book that would entertain all readers.
This book would be useful when teaching… Teachers could use this book for emerging readers. It has very minimal words on each page and is very easy to follow through the various illustrations. Also, throughout the book, some phrases and words repeat allowing the young reader to become familiar with the more difficult words. This book also allows the children to participate during the story by telling the pigeon “No, you can not to drive the bus!” Another idea is to teach the children what is appropriate in the terms of safety. Discuss with the students why adults drive and not children, or animals.