Dr. Toughlove’s December 2023 review is below. Happy Holidays!
The holiday season has officially arrived, so Dr. Toughlove thought you might like to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and a copy of the book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh”, written and illustrated by the incomparable Mo Willems. Mo Willems has written and illustrated dozens of children’s books, which have won numerous awards. He has also served as an Education Artist-In-Residence at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Truly one of the giants in the field of children’s literature.
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh” is Mo Willems’s most recent book, and is part of his Pigeon Book series. Using speech bubbles and a wonderful sense of humor, Willems has created the Pigeon character who is known for speaking his mind using his loud voice (we know his voice is loud because his words are written in large print with lots of exclamation points), his guile and his wit. Despite his persistence, things don’t turn out quite how he hopes. You’ll have to read the book to find out how and why.
Those of you who have read Dr.Toughlove’s Book Club columns in the past, know that she has great appreciation for well-illustrated books. Mo Willems’s illustrations compliment and in some cases take the place of words in this book. The excellent use of speech bubbles, colors, two-page illustrations, and variation in font size, capture kids’ (and adults’) attention.
If you happen to be reading “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh” to any budding actors or actresses, the speech bubbles and varied print provide a perfect opportunity for children to vary their volume and intonation to accurately express the written words. For the same reason, it makes a wonderful read aloud selection.
If you enjoy “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh”, Dr. Toughlove would suggest that you read the rest of the books in Mo Willems’s Pigeon series. While each one is unique, the Pigeon’s irascible, yet delightful personality entertains kids and adults alike. It’s a challenge to keep a straight face while reading any of the Pigeon Books.
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh” is appropriate for children aged 3-5, and is available at the Queen Anne’s County Library.