Mo Willems (www.pigeonpresents.com), a number one New
York Times best-selling author and illustrator, 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).
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was also an inaugural
inductee into the Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame. Other
favorites include Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and City
Dog, Country Frog, illustrated by Jon J Muth.
Mo began his career on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards.
Elephant and Piggie remain in the storytelling mode of We Are In A
Book! (2010). After showing up with a bandaged proboscis, Elephant
proceeds to tell the "long crazy story" of how it happened. Memory
bubbles let us follow along: first Elephant lifted Hippo with his
trunk ("Why?" asks Piggie. "Because!" Elephant answers). But that
is not what broke his trunk, and neither is the addition of Rhino
and Hippo's sister and Hippo's sister's piano. As usual, Willems'
use of pastel colors and vast white backdrops work minimalist
wonders, making this another fine outing of this most dependable of
series. Booklist"
Gerald the Elephant recounts to Piggie the crazy story of how he
broke his trunk. When he was playing with Hippo, he had the idea to
lift him with his trunk. As Gerald tells Piggie, "a hippo on your
trunk is heavy." But there is more to it. Rhino shows up and he
wants a turn, so Gerald lifts them both onto his trunk, and so on,
until he has lifted Hippo, Rhino, and Hippo's big sister and her
piano on his trunk. As readers expect, there is more to the story
of Gerald's bandaged trunk than first imagined. Willems's now
classic and predictable formula, complete with an uncluttered
background, large-type word balloons, and expressive characters, is
as effective as ever. The style may now be familiar, but the
"Elephant & Piggie" stories remain fresh, amusing, and relevant to
readers, who will sit on the edge of their seats as they eagerly
anticipate the surprising turn of events. A winning addition to the
series. SLJ"
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