Mo Willems is the author of groundbreaking picture books, including; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (Caldecott Honor winner 2004); Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Caldecott Honor winner 2003); Don't Let the Pigeon Stay up Late!; The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!; Time to Say "Please"!; Leonardo, the Terrible Monster; Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct. He also wrote Today I will Fly! and My Friend Is Sad, the first books in this series. In his previous life, Mo was a six-time Emmy Award-winning writer and animator for Sesame Streetand the creator of Cartoon Network's Sheep in the BigCity. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.
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Beginning readers familiar with Willems's books will recognize his
distinctive humor and illustrative style in these stories. When
Piggie receives her first invitation to a party, she asks Gerald to
join her and relies on his advice because he "knows" parties in
order to prepare for the big event. The elephant, however, has a
tendency to overanalyze, so he prepares them both for any
contingency a fancy/pool/costume party. Piggie's expressive
features show her questions about their attire, but the friends set
off bedecked in flippers, masks, top hat, pearl earrings, cowboy
hat, and evening dress. Imagine her surprise when they find all the
other guests as lavishly overdressed as they are. In the second
title, Gerald learns that there are worse things than a bird on
your head, namely, two love birds, a nest, and three hatchlings.
With the help of Piggie, he is finally able to ask them to move,
but, as the final page reveals, they have become her problem. Both
books use speech bubbles gray ones for Gerald, pink for Piggie to
tell the entire story. This feature is a nice touch that
facilitates paired/choral readings. The conversation between the
friends flows smoothly and allows beginning readers to practice
expression as they read. These appealing titles will tickle the
funny bones of children and are sure to become favorites. SLJ"
From easy reader and chapter book series to epic fantasies,
favorite characters, settings and story lines reemerge in new
additions. Young readers will welcome the return of Mo Willems's
pessimistic pachyderm and spirited pig. In There Is a Bird on Your
Head! Gerald the elephant despairs over a family of birds that
nests atop his cranium, while Piggie is delighted. And in I Am
Invited to a Party! party expert Gerald helps Piggie prepare for
all possibilities, as they get dressed for a fancy party, pool
party and costume party-all at the same time. PW"
It helps to have a best friend when you run into trouble, whether
it's the what-to-wear-to-a-party kind or the wildlife-on-your-head
variety. Like the first two entries in this beginning reader series
(My Friend Is Sad and Today I Will Fly!, rev. 5/07), each of these
books features a simple story told entirely through speech balloons
and Willems's emotive pig and elephant characters. The animated
illustrations will help new readers decode tone and meaning while
the spare dialogue enhances the pictures' slapstick humor.
High-spirited Piggie has never been to a party; when she receives
her first invitation, neurotic Gerald takes charge of their attire.
"I know parties," he claims, but Piggie and young readers may have
doubts about that when Gerald insists they dress for "a fancy pool
costume party." In the end, Gerald proves to be savvier than he and
Piggie look. In the second book, two "love birds" make a nest on
Gerald's head. Cause enough for panic, but when their three eggs
hatch (in record gestation time), hysteria ensues. Luckily, Piggie
has a good head on her shoulders. The minimalism of both the text
and the uncluttered pictures focuses readers' attention and moves
the stories forward. Party on, Elephant & Piggie! Horn Book"
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