New Releases by Mo Willems

Mo Willems, a #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator, delivers a personal, philosophical, and pragmatic look at the art of writing for children. From the creator of The Pigeon, Elephant & Piggie, Knuffle Bunny, and other beloved children''s characters comes a collection of essays chronicling Mo Willems'' early life through his award-winning career in children''s television, theater, art, and books. Willems delivers an in-depth study of his writing process, explores his philosophy on writing for children, and dissects one of his picture books--cover to cover--to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. Essays include art, photos, and memorabilia from Willems'' sketchbooks and personal archives. Comprised of over twenty-five essays--some writing about stories, others stories about writing--Willems breaks down approaches to the art of storytelling, offers surprising insights and helpful tactics, and answers his most frequently asked question, "Where do you get your ideas?" From Willems'' foundational years working at Sesame Street to his groundbreaking debut picture book Don''t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! to his expansion into exhibits, comedy shows, musicals, and theater, readers go behind the pages and discover how a persistent sketchbook doodle launched a billion "NOs!"

The Pigeon has the hat. And the hot dog cake! He is ready for the presents! But . . . do YOU think The Pigeon can handle his BIG bird-day surprise!?! Get ready for a very special birthday celebration from three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems.

From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes this class-ic graduation book. The Pigeon had better graduate! He did the work! He paid attention to the little details! He overcame some BIG obstacles! The Pigeon's got this . . . Or does he? Do YOU think The Pigeon will graduate? Grab your caps, don your gowns, and raise your hands for The Pigeon's biggest adventure yet in this uplifting, hilarious, and inspirational graduation picture book from three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems. It's a PhD* in fun! (*Pigeon-y hilarious Diatribe)

From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes a new holiday classic. It's the most wonderful time of the year-for driving a sleigh! 'Tis also the season-for driving a sleigh! Oh, and joy to the-driving a sleigh! The Pigeon has made a list and checked it once. Can his holiday dream come true? Or will The Pigeon be left out in the cold? You'll share some HO-HO-HOs and HA-HA-HAs finding out in three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems' ninth Pigeon book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! Praise for Mo Willems: "If there's a living creator of children's books who stands a chance of occupying a cultural position akin to a Dr Suess or a Charles M. Schulz, it's Mr Willems" - The New York Times

Pigeon deals with the anxieties of going to school for the first time. (Ages 3 to 5)

Mo Willems As a child Mo grew up during the 1970s, so he always looked kind of goofy. One time in his school''s art class, Mo''s teacher told him to stop drawing cartoons all the time. She said big, boring drawings of fruit in a bowl that made people''s eyes glaze over were A-R-T, but funny cartoons that made people laugh weren''t. She was wrong. Mo had great truble speling when he was a kidd. As an adult Mo once met a man in Egypt who had built a huge sand temple about his life (which mostly consisted of images of him constructing a huge sand temple about his life). He dreamt of creating a one-to-one scale model of the desert. Mo drove a motorcyle in New York for about five years without a single accident. Then he realized he was lucky not to have an accident, so he bought a used Volvo. If Mo had known how cool having a wife and daughter was, he would have got them sooner. As an artist At age eighteen, Mo moved temporarily to London to pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comic. He quickly established himself and somehow managed to get a spot in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before returning to America to become a film student. At New York University he discovered animation and quickly became entranced by the ability to make movies without having to beg a crew to help him. Here he discovered the work of Ronald Searle and the UPA animation studio, both of which influenced his deceptively simple, graphic drawing style. After graduating from college, he travelled around the world for a year, returning with ridiculous sideburns. A quick shave later, he returned to New York and became an animator and writer for TV, most notably for Sesame Street (where he won six Emmys for his writing). He then wrote for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Mo''s first foray into children''s books was the innovative Don''t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, which appeared on many "best book" lists and won a prestigious American Prize, the Caldecott Honor, in 2004. He has encouraged thousands of children to yell "NOOOOOO!" in libraries. Mo hopes to devote an increasing percentage of his time writing and illustrating children''s books. Things you didn''t know about Mo Willems His shoe size. Mo once walked all the way across France with his dad (don''t ask him why). Mo used to record a weekly Postcard from Brooklyn for BBC radio (kind of like Alistair Cooke''s Letters From America only less good). Mo finds rain depressing. It''s always raining when Mo goes on vacation. Mo''s arch-enemy is PRINT-TOR, the evil spirit of vengeance that makes printing on any computer a near impossibility. Mo doesn''t like sweets, but eats bags and bags of candy when he takes long drives. Mo reads really long, really boring books about history and everybody laughs at him, but he doesn''t care what they say (much). Did you ever see that really great movie about a pig called Babe? Mo wasn''t in that movie. Mo gets very bored very..

Gerald the elephant and Snake fear that Piggie and Brian Bat will have so much fun together they will no longer need their best friends.

That Is Not a Good Idea! is a hilarious, interactive picture book from bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems, the creator of books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the Knuffle Bunny series, the Elephant and Piggie series, Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, and many other new classics. Inspired by the evil villains and innocent damsels of silent movies, Willems tells the tale of a hungry fox who invites a plump goose to dinner. As with the beloved Pigeon books, kids will be calling out the signature refrain and begging for repeated readings. The funny details in the full-color illustrations by three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems will bring nonstop laughter to story time.

Elephant wants to go for a drive, but as Piggie thinks of one thing after another that they will have to take along, they come to realize that they lack the most important thing of all.

This spin on the traditional tale has dinosaurs who visit Norway as the main characters.

The pigeon gets very angry when he sees the duckling getting a cookie just by asking for it. The pigeon complains about how it's not fair, but will he get a cookie, too?

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In Listen to My Trumpet! Piggie can't wait to play her new instrument for Gerald! But is she ready to listen to his reaction?

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Should I Share My Ice Cream? Gerald has a big decision to make. But will he make it in time? Using vocabulary that is perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning specialist), Mo Willems has crafted a funny story about the challenges of doing the right thing. Fans of the Geisel Award-winning duo will eagerly eat it up!

A trip to the laundromat leads to a momentous occasion when Trixie, too young to speak words, realizes that something important is missing and struggles to explain the problem to her father.

Gerald the elephant tells his best friend Piggie a long, crazy story about how he broke his trunk.

While traveling with her family to Holland to visit her grandparents, Trixie once again loses her beloved Knuffle Bunny.

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In We Are in a Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends? Using vocabulary perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning specialist), Mo Willems has crafted a mind-bending story that is even more interactive than previous Elephant & Piggie adventures. Fans of the Geisel Award-winning duo won't be able to put this book down--literally!

In spring, when City Dog runs free in the country for the first time, he spots Country Frog sitting on a rock, waiting for a friend. “You’ll do,” Frog says, and together they play Country Frog games. In summer, they meet again and play City Dog games. Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog’s rock. In winter, things change for City Dog and Country Frog. Come spring, friendship blooms again, a little different this time. Mo Willems’ spare, poignant text and Jon J. Muth’s expressive watercolors team up to tell a story that will resonate with readers of all ages.

A cute duckling is bothering the pigeon over a hot dog!! Who will win this battle?

Gerald the elephant discovers that there is something worse than a bird on your head-- two birds on your head! Piggie will try to help her best friend.

He really, really, REALLY wants one. He'll take really good care of it! What's the matter--don't you want him to be happy?

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Piggie can't wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?

Her daddy in tow, Trixie hurries to school to show off her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny. But an awful surprise awaits her: someone else has the exact same bunny!

Two-time Caldecott Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author Willems introduces a lovable new character--a dinosaur who plays with kids and bakes cookies. Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie is determined to prove dinosaurs are extinct, but what will happen to Edwina if anyone believes him?

In this hilarious, interactive bedtime read in Mo Willems' award-winning Pigeon series, it's getting late and the bus driver is going to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. Will you do him a favour while he is gone - don't let the pigeon stay up late! But the pigeon is wide awake: he isn't even tired - in fact he's in the mood for a hot-dog party! So will YOU let him stay up late?

In Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the pigeon dreamed of driving the titular bus. In this board book, readers will see him deliriously emoting at the thought of driving a plane, a train, a car, and more, all in his uproariously over-the-top style.

No matter how hard he pleads and begs, the pigeon is not supposed to drive the bus while the driver is away, but pigeon tries every persuasive trick a young child knows to get you to say "Yes."

Amanda and her alligator have lots of fun together, but when Amanda's grandfather buys her a panda, Alligator must learn to make new friends.