Picture Book Month Day 2

To continue our celebration of Picture Book Month  I'd like to jump from yesterday's classic author to one of the stars of today, Mo Willems.  Mo Willems began his career as an animator and writer on Sesame Street and won 6 writing Emmy's for his work there.  His first children's book was published in 2003 and he has quickly risen to the top of his genre.  The New York Times Book Review referred to Willems as "the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."  He has won 3 Caldecott Honor medals for illustration and has been awarded the Theodore Geisel Medal for most distinguished American book for beginning readers in 2008 and 2009 and an honor medal in 2011. This makes him the only author to win twice and the only to receive 3 awards. Below are a few of my favorites.

His first children's book was Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, which won a Caldecott Honor in 2003.  What is amazing about his work is that he can convey so much humor, emotion and story with so few words and artwork.  In this favorite, children are encouraged to interact with the book character as he pleads with the reader to let him drive the bus.  Children love this one at storytime.  I think they appreciate the fact that they are the ones who get to say "No!" They get to imitate a parent reigning in a rambunctious child - the pigeon.  Lots of fun!  You'll want to read all of the Pigeon books!

Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale was published in 2005 and also won a Caledecott Honor.  Little Trixie heads out to the laudramat with her Dad, but on the way home she realizes she has lost her beloved toy bunny.  Since the toddler doesn't talk, "Trixie bawled. She went boneless. She did everything she could to show how unhappy she was," to let her father know what happened.  When the bunny is found in the laundry, the book ends with Trixie's first words, "Knuffle Bunny."  Children will relate to the fear of losing a security item and sympathize with Trixie's efforts to communicate with her dad.  Parents will enjoy the illustratations which consist of Willem's brightly colored drawings superimposed over sepia-toned photographs.

In 2008, Mo Willems won his first Theodore Geisel Award for this early reader from 2007.  Although not the first "Elephant and Piggie" book, it is one of my favorites.  I am amazed at how funny a book with such few words can be.  The books are written in comic book style with the character's words apearing in word bubbles.  In this story, Elephant learns that there is only one thing worse that a bird on your head - two birds on your head! These two friends are a great way to get children reading! 

So. like Pigeon and his hotdog "Enjoy! Go ahead!"

For lots of fun games and more visit :  http://www.mowillems.com/