Number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions (for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity). Other favorites include Big Frog Can't Fit In: A Pop-Out Book and City Dog, Country Frog illustrated by Jon J Muth. His acclaimed Elephant & Piggie early reader series received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009. For more information, visit www.pigeonpresents.com.
#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo
Willems has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions
(for DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!, KNUFFLE BUNNY: A
CAUTIONARY TALE, and KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO: A TALE OF MISTAKEN
IDENTITY) and his acclaimed Elephant and Piggie early reader series
received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009. He lives
with his wife and daughter in Western Massachusetts. For more
information, visit www.pigeonpresents.com.
After several rousing adventures, it's probably about time that
Elephant (aka Gerald) and Piggie start questioning the facts of
their existence-namely, that they are characters in a book, and
that books end. Not to worry-they don't get all the way to the
crisis-y part of such a postmodern existential dilemma; instead,
being Elephant and Piggie, they explore the mystery and wonder of
having an audience. Though Gerald is freaked when he realizes
someone is looking at them, Piggie fearlessly approaches the book's
horizon to see who it is; she discovers not only that it's a reader
but also that she and Gerald can make the reader say whatever they
want just by putting the text in a speech bubble. Piggie's making a
reader say "banana" is all that's needed to send the friends into
paroxysms of gasping laughter, until Piggie points out that Gerald
may want a turn before the book ends. Gerald once again panics, and
Piggie once again gathers information and formulates an idea that
will save them. As always, Willems' finger is firmly on the pulse
of today's kids and their culture, as he plays with the joyful,
performative aspects of seeking and sustaining attention, with
Gerald particularly antic in his exuberant reactions to each new
development. It's a good thing that Willems chooses to place his
characters on flat white backgrounds and limit the color palette to
their signal pink and grey, linking them to more muted shades of
those colors in their speech bubbles, since the physical comedy of
their actions would be too chaotic otherwise. Gerald and piggy are
so delirious with the possibility of sly manipulation of their
readers, not to mention so open with their need (Gerald's embodied
hysteria over finding out that the book will end closes with the
small fonted, droopy-postured plea "I just want to be read" that
even the smallest culture-mulchers will know how to intone). That
the readers will be happy to play along-heck, who ever needed a
fourth wall anyway? BCCB"
In their latest pairing, Elephant and Piggie are finally ready to
get meta. Realizing that their trademark blank background is, in
fact, a page, the duo has a blast convincing the reader to say
funny things out loud-until Piggie mentions that the book will soon
end. Cue Elephant's existential crisis: "WHEN WILL THE BOOK END!?!"
From there on, it's a cute-but never too heady-play on the physical
object that the reader is holding, including a bit where Piggie
appears to flip the pages forward to get a sense of how much time
they have left. Willems' satisfying (if self-serving) solution?
Read it again! Booklist"
Make room for another satisfying episode in the escapades of
lovable Elephant (aka Gerald) and Piggie. This time the best
buddies star in a witty metafictional romp replete with visual
gags, such as Piggie hanging from a speech bubble and Elephant
blocking the author's name on the title page. Willems revs up the
fun when the friends realize that someone is watching. Who can it
be? Cautious Gerald asks, "A monster?" while savvy Piggie answers,
"No. It is...a reader! A reader is reading us!" Mirth ensues as the
delightful creatures comprehend a newfound power: "If the reader
reads out loud," they can make the reader say words. Piggie decides
upon "Banana" and Gerald's sidesplitting laughter proves contagious
for all involved. But, when Gerald learns that books end, with
Piggie demonstrating by turning the bottom corner of the page to
see how many are left, he shouts, "This book is going too fast! I
have more to give!" Not to worry the ever-resourceful Piggie has
Gerald ask, "Will you please read us again?" Beginning readers will
grant Gerald's request, while grown-ups will marvel at Willems's
extraordinary ability to animate his personality-packed gray and
pink characters with the widest range of emotions, all drawn with
the simplest of line. SLJ"
Stalwart friends Piggie and Gerald the elephant push the
metafictive envelope in a big way when they realize that "someone
is looking at us." Is it a monster? worries Gerald. "No," replies
the squinting Piggie. "It is... / a reader! / A reader is reading
us!" How? wonders Gerald. Piggie drapes herself on a word bubble to
demonstrate: "We are in a book!" "THAT IS SO COOL!" Joy leads to a
little bit of clever practical joking-Piggie figures out how to
make the readers say "banana" out loud, and hilarity ensues-which
gives way to existential angst: "The book ends?!" exclaims an
appalled Gerald. Emergent readers just beginning to grapple
one-on-one with the rules of the printed codex will find the
friends' antics both funny and provocative: Just who is in control
here, anyway? As always, Willems displays his customary control of
both body language and pacing even as he challenges his readers to
engage with his characters and the physicality of their book. The
friends' solution to the book's imminent end? "Hello. Will you
please read us again?" You bet. Kirkus"
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