ReadMeThisBook

Category: Books- Toddler through Preschool

  • Read Me This Book: “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”

    David loves saying “No!”

    “NO” to a vegetable.
    “NO” to bedtime.
    “NO” to sharing.

    But I do encourage him to say “NO” everytime I turn a page in the book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”.

    BOOK SUMMARY

    A bus driver introduces himself, and then asks the reader for help.
    “Remember,” he says, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus, OK?”

    As soon as the bus driver is off the page, a Pigeon pops up and begins to ask repeatedly if he can drive the bus.
    What follows are hilarious stages in a primary school, Kubler-Ross-like meltdown:
    -the Pigeon tries to bargain,
    -the Pigeon tries guilt,
    -the Pigeon begs for fairness,
    -and in an epic two-page tantrum, the Pigeon shows ANGER!

    (NOTE: This is my David’s favorite page)

    AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR


    Mo Willems is a legend in the Picture Book Universe….a Pied Piper, a myth-maker, an American Hans Christian Andersen (without being grim).

    He is a children’s book   author/illustrator (over 70 books), an animator, and a voice actor with his origins beginning in Sesame Street (winning six Emmy’s for his writing).

    Several of his books have received Caldecott Honors: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!   (2004), Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale   (2005) and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity    (2008)

    His website (Hidden Pigeon Company) includes links to the Pigeon and Knuffle-Bunny series animations and read aloud recordings as well as links to his other book series (Elephant and Piggie, Unlimited Squirrel, Cat the Cat).

    During Covid (2020), Willems was the Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence. He kept students engaged with his Lunch Doodles.

    He recently gave the Commencement Address at Colby College where he read aloud his book “Me”. (Listen carefully to hear a child echo the lines of the story as Willems reads!)

    IDEAL AUDIENCE

    The suggested ages are 2-5 years, but this and the other Pigeon books can be enjoyed by all ages.
    The interactive nature of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” makes it great fun as a read-aloud with toddlers. After all, book is designed as a conversation:
    -the bus driver asking for help,
    -the Pigeon asking the reader (with his one very expressive eye) for permission,
    -and the reader saying “No!”

    ADDITIONAL READ -ALOUD INFORMATION

    Pigeons are persistent. City dwellers can attest to their ability to avoid any deterrent.
    Toddlers are persistent, too. Perhaps that character trait is part of the appeal for my David.
    The Pigeon book has been a gateway to even more Pigeon books. There are 17 books to date; we now own six. David will study the back cover of each to see which ones he needs to add to his collection…and he knows where they are in the local bookstore!

  • OLIVIA by Ian Falconer

    “Read me this one, Grandma,” asks Sloane, holding up her copy of Olivia. She turns the opening pages fingering the small illustrations before we even get to the story.

    SUMMARY:

    Olivia is the title character, a six-year old pig with a sophisticated appreciation for Edgar Degas paintings and an exhausting ability to “wear someone out.” Olivia is “good at a lot of things” including her ability to:

    • sing (40 VERY LOUD SONGS),
    • keep her younger brother, Ian, in line,
    • build sandcastles that rival the Empire State Building.

      BUT, Olivia does not want to take a nap.

      In the book, Olivia demonstrates how to negotiate a number of bedtime books with her mother:

    “Only five books today, Mommy,” she says.
    “No, Olivia, just one.”
    “How about four?”
    “Two.”
    “Three.”
    “Oh, all right, three. But that’s it.”

    In my short grand-parenting experience, we never read “just one” because Sloane negotiates …just like Olivia.

    AUDIENCE:

    Olivia is ideal for both pre-school listeners (3-5 years) and their adult readers. The sly humor makes even repeated readings enjoyable. Children may agree with Olivia’s assessment of modern art (“a mess”). Adults may be surprised when Olivia finally falls asleep, she dreams of the opera diva, Maria Callas.

    WHY OLIVIA? Olivia is the 2004 Caldecott winning picture book by author and illustrator Ian Falconer (who passed away in 2023). The book is frequently featured as one of the top 100 picture books for children and has been a NYTimes #1 best seller.
    This picture book is also an ideal entry for this blog about children driving the book choice(s) for a bedtime read-aloud.

    READ-ALOUD SUGGESTIONS:


    When reading Olivia, there are many opportunities to pause and spend time discussing the pictures. For example, Olivia “has to try on everything” on a two-page spread of clothing choices, with everything from evening gowns to underwear. Sloane insists we stop and name each piece of clothing; she admires Olivia’s extensive wardrobe.
    We spend several minutes discussing the clothes on these pages.

    ILLUSTRATIONS:


    The 34-page book features simple black and white drawings with bright red accents. Sloane particularly calls attention to the flaming red lipstick Olivia wears, and that her brother Ian poorly imitates!
    Other illustrations include credited works by Jackson Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm #30 and Edgar Degas’ Ballet Rehearsal. Falconer may be also recognized as the illustrator for several New Yorker magazine covers.

    OTHER BOOKS: Olivia Helps with Christmas, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses, Olivia and the Missing Toy, Olivia Saves the Circus. Board books also available.

    The qualities of confidence and creativity are what any parent or grandparent try to instill in a young girl. The character Olivia has these qualities in abundance.

    Let Olivia be her guide!