I have a confession to make- when I saw that this book was on the list of Caldecott Winners and Honors, I was elated. I love this book. I found it hilarious, simple, and Mo Willems' website is chock full of teaching ideas and activities to go along with the story. I picked up this book in a Barnes and Noble years ago, and was reduced to tears. I love the little pigeon, as he reminded me at the time, of every child in my care at my job at a local preschool. The illustrations are simple, but perfect in every detail. The pigeon's mannerisms, expressions and turns of phrase are very much like any child you'd meet in a kindergarten classroom. I love this book because it reminds me of my years working in preschool as I went through college, and how hilarious children can be.
This book is probably the crown jewel, in my opinion of the books in Mo Willems' repertoire. It is the book that launched the Pigeon series and the reason that all the following books are so popular (Check out The Pigeon Wants a Puppy and the Pigeon Wants a Hotdog for further reading.) His Knuffle Bunny books are just as fantastic, though I don't enjoy them much personally because it's hard for me to relate to the parenting side of it. I love all of Mo Willems' books (Leonardo the Terrible Monster is another great one for the classroom), but this book was my first love.
From my first reading of this book, I was surprised at how such a simple book, with such intentionally rudimentary pictures could have such an impact on me. This is a book that children love to read because you interact with the characters and the characters are so very familiar because they are just like children. I appreciate every part of this book, and was glad to see a such a small, easy book become such a success.
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