Review of Picture Book #3: THE PIGEON HAS TO GO TO SCHOOL by Mo Willems

 

 The Pigeon HAS to go to School Review by Lucinda Zamora-Wiley

1.     Bibliography:

Willems, Mo. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School. Illustrated by Mo Willems. New York:

 Hyperion Books for Children, 2019. ISBN-13 : 978-1368046459

 

2.     Brief plot summary:

Willems’ iconic Pigeon begins this story by asking why he has to go to school when he already knows everything. Pigeon enumerates his dramatic and numerous concerns about going to school—everything from not being a morning pigeon, to worrying if the teacher even likes pigeons, to being terrified that his head “might pop off” if he learns so much “stuff!” In the end, Pigeon talks himself out of his irrational fear about school by realizing that school is a place, “with experts to help you. And books. And classrooms. And other birds to work and play with. Maybe a playground.” And the next thing you know…Pigeon is excitedly off and racing to catch the school bus because, “The pigeon has to go to school!”

 

3.     Critical analysis with specific literary considerations pertinent to each genre:

What Willems does best with his iconic Pigeon character is illustrate Pigeon’s vast array of emotions—young readers can look at Pigeon’s face and pick up on his sassy tone;  children love seeing Pigeon throw his tantrums over the injustice of having to go to school, only to watch him have a major epiphany: school really IS going to be safe and fun, a place where Pigeon (and all young students, for that matter) are going to want to be! The plot is enjoyable, and the conflict and its resolution are predictable, but satisfying. The theme is timeless and accessible to all…and it’s hard to offend any readers when your main character is grumpy pigeon who ends the story on a high note—with a contagiously positive attitude! What makes this children’s book so beloved (along with Willems’ other Pigeon favorites) is the author-illustrator has created a magical pairing of enjoyable storyline and hilarious images of Pigeon’s over-the-top responses to conflicts he might experience. In the end, children can always count on Pigeon to calm down and realize something important in his stories (and in life): it’s never as bad as it seems.

 

 4.     Awards won (if any) and review excerpt(s):

Mo Willems, author and illustrator, has been nominated for the Caldecott Medal three times and has been awarded the “Honor Book” designation for his children’s books three times. He is also a two-time winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal, as well as a five-time honoree for this same distinction. Renown for his consistent, excellent contributions to children’s literature, Publisher’s Weekly raves, “The Pigeon’s cockeyed defiance and Willems’ impeccable comedic timing are as fun and frisky as ever.” More praise comes from Booklist: “Pigeon’s been winning hearts since he first appeared with that bus, and best-selling, multi-multi-award-winning Willems is irresistible to kids and grown-ups alike!”

5.     Connections (related books, enrichment activities, children’s responses, etc.)

 ·       Great back-to-school activity: students will have an enjoyable class discussion about things that made them nervous about the first day of school and things that excited them, too.  Then, they will fill their School Bus (art and craft activity) with drawings of things they LOVE about school—things that no longer intimidate them, but make them excited. 

·       Word Identification—for pre-k readers, teachers can assist students with sight words on which they can focus. 

·       Advanced readers and writers can write a story about a time when they were afraid of something only to learn that their fears were unnecessary… 

·       Young readers can make a “Happy List” of activities that make them feel like a “Happy Pigeon”—reading a book with Mom and Dad, riding their bike, having pancakes for dinner, etc., OR they can make a “Love List” of all the activities at school that bring them joy. 

·      Extension Activity: Students can choose one of the many available Mo Willems PIGEON books to lead a read-aloud to a small group, practicing oral reading skills and to have fun with TONE. 

·       Young readers can listen to read-alouds of 5 Willems PIGEON books, and draw a picture of their favorite book and what they loved most about it.

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