Review: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2003.  ISBN 0-7868-1988-X

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

When a bus driver takes a break, he asks readers not to let the pigeon drive the bus. Despite all the pigeon's begging and pleading through sweet, silly and angry emotions, pigeon does not get to drive the bus.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this fun and highly interactive story, readers get to answer the pigeon's begging and pleading to drive the bus. The bus driver's only instructions to readers was to watch things while he was gone and "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!". Readers do just that as they have the opportunity to interact with the pigeon throughout the story by answering back. Pigeon uses his charms, being polite and sharing why he thinks he should be able to drive the bus to convince readers, and even goes as far as pretending to be driving to show that his skills. After coming up with every excuse and being denied, the pigeon finally loses it and throws a tantrum by yelling at readers "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!" The drive returns, and the pigeon couldn't be more disappointed, until an 18-wheeler passes by and his dreams quickly change.

This blue and entertaining pigeon is drawn with simple, childlike lines. Despite its simplicity, the pigeon is very likable and easy to interact with. It is amazing how Mo Willems is able to capture every emotion that pigeon feels throughout the book by just changing a few details. Readers see movement, happiness, disappointment, sneakiness, anger and a full, blown out tantrum  when the pigeon jumps, yells, and throws himself on the ground. The range of emotions in his illustrations is relatable to readers with its likeness to what many children experience when they want something they are not allowed to have.

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From School Library Journal: “In a plain palette, with childishly elemental line drawings, Willems has captured the essence of unreasonableness in the very young.”

From Booklist: “Preschoolers will howl over the pigeon's dramatics, even as they recognize that he wheedles, blows up, and yearns to be powerful just like they do.”

From The New York Times: "For a child, it's a delirious formula: all of a sudden, you're in charge of a bus... Well executed and so smartly layered."

2009 Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame Title
2004 Caldecott Honor BookNew York Times BestsellerPublishers Weekly Bestseller
ALA Notable BookBooklist Editor’s ChoiceThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon BookSchool Library Journal Best BookNick Jr. Magazine Best BookKirkus Reviews Editor’s Choice
National Council for Teachers of English Notable Book
Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended
Amazon.com Best BookMiami Herald Best BookChild Magazine Best Book
Book Sense 76 selection
Borders Original Voices (June 03)
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book
Bank Street College of Education Best Book
Children’s Book of the Month Club Selection
Children’s Literature Assembly Notable Book

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other Mo Willems Pigeon books to read such as:

•                      Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! ISBN 0786837462

•                     Don't Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book!. ISBN 1423133102

Gather other Mo Willems books to read such as:

•                      Waiting Is Not Easy. ISBN 978-1423199571

•                      Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. ISBN 9780786818709

•                      Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. ISBN 0786852941

Lesson ideas:
Use to introduce how to use bold, uppercase letters for "yelling" in a piece
Use to introduce speck bubbles in writing
Other amazing lesson ideas are available on this Teacher Guide