GENRE 1: Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems

Bibliography
Willems, Mo. 2008. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9781423109600

Plot Summary
In the latest book in the Pigeon series, Pigeon declares his desire for a puppy. He begins by giving his reasons for wanting a puppy, then pleads for one, and slowly escalates into a full blow temper tantrum when it appears that he may not get what he wants. When Pigeon’s dream of owning a puppy is realized, he discovers that the slobber, teeth, and wet nose that come with a puppy may not make it such a desirable pet after all. Pigeon eventually gives up on the puppy idea and moves on to another animal he thinks might make a better pet.

Critical Analysis
Willem’s drawings and narrative tell a story that will resonate with many pre-school children. Pigeon speaks to the reader from page one, thus allowing the reader to interact with the character as he begs, pleads, throws tantrums, and eventually changes him mind about his true desire. Pigeon’s various emotions are conveyed through the use of different size fonts, facial expressions, and body language. Willem’s minimalist drawings allow the reader to focus on Pigeon and his various emotions throughout the book. Children will definitely see themselves in Pigeon as he pouts, mutters, and overreacts his way through the story.

Review Excerpt(s)
From Publisher’s Weekly: “The core thrill of this series has always been offering kids the chance to experience pleading from the parental point of view-and exercise the awesome power to say no.”

From School Library Journal: “Willems's hilariously expressive illustrations and engaging text are cinematic in their interplay.”


Connections
· Parents can use this book to have children create a “pros” and “cons” list for bringing a puppy into the family
· Students can write about a time that they received something they desired only to find that it didn’t quite meet their expectations.
· Students can continue the story and predict what they think might happen with the new animal that Pigeon desires at the end of the story.