Book Review: DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS by Mo Willems

Book Review Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2003. ISBN: 078681988X

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This is a clever picture book wherein Mo Willems gives young readers a chance to both see themselves as they are, and assume an authority role as well. The book opens with a bus driver walking away from his bus and asking the reader to not let the pigeon drive it. The ensuing story shows the pigeon's myriad entreaties, arguments, and tantrums as he pleads with the reader to let him drive the bus. It is cleverly written and illustrated, enticing the reader to take an active part in the story.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The storyline of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is simple, but very inviting to young readers because it mirrors their own behaviors and actions. What child can’t relate to pleading for something she wants, or throwing a tantrum when the pleas don’t work? The pigeon does both of those things, as well as cajoling, exaggerating, lying, and sulking.

The illustrations, also by Mo Willems, are simple with bold outlines and muted colors. A few strokes create the pigeon and all of its subsequent moods. Mr. Willems even omits text at points and lets the pigeon’s illustrations tell the story on their own. This works particularly well with not only young children, but also students learning English as another language.

My students from first to third grade, who are almost all native Korean speakers, love Mo Willems, in part because he is so easy for them to understand. He uses simple vocabulary and his illustrations can stand alone as well. They also relate directly to the pigeon’s yearning to drive the bus and being denied.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review THE HORN BOOK: "Clean, sparely designed pages focus attention on the simply drawn but wildly expressive (and emotive) pigeon, and there’s a particularly funny page-turn when a well-mannered double-page spread with eight vignettes of the pleading pigeon gives way to a full-bleed, full-blown temper tantrum..."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A brilliantly simple book that is absolutely true to life . . . The genius of this book is that the very young will actually recognize themselves in it."

Starred Review BOOKLIST: "A winning debut . . . preschoolers will howl over the pigeon's dramatics."

 

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book is a good book to use in discussing feelings and empowerment with young children.

*Other books by Mo Willems also address situations that young children will relate to and use as a way to express how they feel.

*Other books that empower young children, or are written in a manner that children relate to:

Shannon, David. NO, DAVID! ISBN 0590930028

Viorst, Judith. ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE HORRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY ISBN: 0689711735

Falconer, Ian. OLIVIA ISBN: 0689829531