Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2003. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439686172

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The story begins with a bus driver asking the reader to watch his bus while he has to be away, and requests the reader to not let the pigeon drive the bus. The story continues with the pigeons various pleas and reasoning of why the reader should let him drive the bus. This continues until the bus driver returns.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This books grabs readers from the title page. The use of speech bubbles and first person dialogue makes the book very inviting. Mo Willems enables readers to answer the pigeon’s continual begging and tantrums by using familiar justifications such as, “What’s the big deal?” or “How ‘bout I give you five bucks?” The illustrations are mostly the pigeon with a background of soft colors, however, Willems can change the pigeon’s expression with a simple eyeball placement, wing position, or a few lines strategically placed.

This is not a book to be read without expression and enthusiasm. Readers must channel their inner child that is begging for something they really want to do.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
Booklist: "Preschoolers will howl over the pigeon's dramatics, even as they recognize that he wheedles, blows up, and yearns to be powerful just like they do."
School Library Journal: "A brilliantly simple book that is absolutely true to life."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Children can write a response similar in structure based on the last page of the book when the pigeon is daydreaming about driving a truck.
*Children can write a persuasive story with speech bubbles about something they really want to do.
*Other books to study character:
Willems, Mo. DON’T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE. ISBN 0786837462
Willems, Mo. THE PIGEON WANTS A PUPPY. ISBN 1423109600
*Other books to study simple dialogue with examining pictures:
Shannon, David. NO, DAVID! ISBN 0590930028
Shannon, David. DAVID GOES TO SCHOOL. ISBN 0590480871

SIDE NOTE:
I could go on and on about the things teachers can do with Mo Willems books. They are just marvelous! I have used them in my classroom for four years now and each year my children fall in love with them! Not only are they funny and very easy to relate to, but they have so many fantastic teaching points about them. Never have I come across an author that makes kindergartens so excited about books! I recommend each teacher and/or librarian to stock up on any and all of Mo Willems books!