Bibliography Willems, Mo. 2006. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9780786837465 Plot Summary On his way to brush his teeth, the bus driver (from previous Pigeon books), dressed in his pajamas, asks the reader for a favor, “Don’t let the pigeon stay up late!” Of course, the pigeon has other ideas. In his usual cheeky manner he comes up with excuse after excuse, imploring the reader to let him stay up late with everything from, “Y’know we never get to talk anymore. Tell me about your day…” to “I’ll go to bed early tomorrow night instead!” Eventually the pigeon’s fatigue starts to show as he tries, and fails, to hide his yawns and drooping eyelids. After protesting bedtime for quite some time, the pigeon finally succumbs to his exhaustion and begins to snore. The bus driver returns and thanks the reader for their help. Critical Analysis Pigeon books are always a hit with children (and adults) because, honestly, who can resist that cheeky pigeon?!? The pigeon’s character is so relatable to children. In this particular story, we see him resisting bedtime with excuses and distractions that are familiar to young children and their caregivers. Willems writes in a way that creates a dialogue between the reader and the pigeon. The pigeon speaks directly to the reader, yet the text is simple enough for even young children to follow along. Willems' writing is simple, yet sophisticated, and always humorous. It definitely creates a story that is enjoyable to read. The plot of this story is simple: we know the pigeon is tired and we know he will eventually fall asleep. Even though it is predictable in that manner, the excuses the pigeon comes up with are inventive and diverse, leaving the reader guessing what his next excuse will be. Willems’ illustrations enhance the story with their use of simple colors and sparse, calm backgrounds. Yet the defined, bold lines Willems uses to create the pigeon clearly display his emotions and attitude. The reader can easily interpret and “read” the pictures and tell that the pigeon is tired, upset, frustrated, manipulative, etc. The font Willems uses also enhances the story by staying simple, so as to not distract from the wonderful illustrations. Overall this is a book that I would recommend for any child’s library. It is funny, smart, and involves the reader in telling the story. The illustrations highlight all of its emotion and create a character children will come to love. This is a must-have picture book! Response This book is one of my all-time favorites! Actually, any Mo Willems story goes on that list. The way he creates a character children and adults can connect with and relate to is incredible. Pigeon is simple enough that children understand him, yet sophisticated enough that he can make adults laugh, as well. This is a story that my child requests at bedtime on a regular basis (then uses the excuses himself to no avail). I love how it lends itself to reading aloud and modeling fluency, as well as creating an opportunity to discuss voice and expression. The character is relatable, the story is funny, and the illustrations are fantastic, what’s not to love?! Honors A New York Times Best Seller Publishers Weekly Bestseller Book Sense Bestseller A Nick Jr. Magazine Best Book NAPPA Gold Medal Award winner Parenting Magazine Best Book Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2007 Book Sense 76 Pick Children’s Book of the Month Club Main Selection Junior Library Guild Selection Reviews “The black-crayon lines speak volumes, as the pigeon's body language and the positioning of his ever-expressive eye humorously convey each nuance of the text. Children will be charmed by this bedtime treat, which will have them laughing out loud at the pigeon-and at themselves.”-- School Library Journal “Readers will easily recognize themselves in the pigeon, even as they will delight in sending him to bed—the fact that he sleeps with a stuffed knuffle bunny will add to the intertextual fun. If this offering necessarily lacks the freshness of the original, its wholehearted sense of fun more than makes up for any hint of formula.”--Kirkus Reviews “Willems uses voice bubbles and emphatic lettering to suggest the Pigeon's tone of voice, and his solid-color backgrounds progressively dim from soft pink to lavender to a relaxing gray-blue and warm violet, enhancing the growing sense of drowsiness. At last, the hyperactive Pigeon succumbs to slumber, but sleep-resistant and savvy readers will likely plead to read this again.”--Publisher’s Weekly Connections
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AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
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