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tea_tales_tomes's review
5.0
Mo Willems is obviously a magician! How do they know exactly what kids love in books?! This silly, little tale has become a bedtime favourite and I often find the boys cuddled up with the book in the early mornings as well.
mags_5037's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jatgood's review
5.0
Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus! is such a simple concept. This is where Willems shines as a creator - taking a simple concept and a small cast of characters and bringing them to a life in a way that is fun and interactive.
The bus driver is going on a break and asks: “Can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Pigeon enters and asks, pleads, whines, pouts, bribes - wanting so desperately to drive the bus. “I have dreams you know!” Pigeon exclaims. Finally, he has a full blown tantrum. Soon after, the bus driver returns and drives away in the bus leaving a dejected Pigeon standing on the wayside - that is until a big red truck goes rolling by. Dreams of driving the bus are now dreams of driving the big truck.
In my mind I can hear kids shouting back “NO!’ to the Pigeon. After watching the video of Mo Williams reading part of Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus, my inkling of how children would react was confirmed. They are eager to do their jobs and keep Pigeon out of the driver’s seat.
The illustrations of this book are simple with a 60’s retro flare. They are simple charcoal lines filled in with soft pastel colors. It is amazing the range of facial expressions that Willems draws out of such a simply illustrated character. Sometimes Pigeon is wide-eyed and hopeful, at other times he is heavy-lidded and peeved, at his worst he is red-eyed and wild with exasperation and rage. Kids will love acting out this struggle with Pigeon.
The bus driver is going on a break and asks: “Can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Pigeon enters and asks, pleads, whines, pouts, bribes - wanting so desperately to drive the bus. “I have dreams you know!” Pigeon exclaims. Finally, he has a full blown tantrum. Soon after, the bus driver returns and drives away in the bus leaving a dejected Pigeon standing on the wayside - that is until a big red truck goes rolling by. Dreams of driving the bus are now dreams of driving the big truck.
In my mind I can hear kids shouting back “NO!’ to the Pigeon. After watching the video of Mo Williams reading part of Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus, my inkling of how children would react was confirmed. They are eager to do their jobs and keep Pigeon out of the driver’s seat.
The illustrations of this book are simple with a 60’s retro flare. They are simple charcoal lines filled in with soft pastel colors. It is amazing the range of facial expressions that Willems draws out of such a simply illustrated character. Sometimes Pigeon is wide-eyed and hopeful, at other times he is heavy-lidded and peeved, at his worst he is red-eyed and wild with exasperation and rage. Kids will love acting out this struggle with Pigeon.
jbarr5's review
5.0
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Willems_ Mo
Audio descriptions about a children's book about bus driver and he wants them to watch the bus with warning of NOT letting pigeon drive the bus.
Pigeon tries to pay them and tells them he'll be their best friend, all kinds of things to pursuade them to drive the bus. Next big red truck shows up and the pigeon prays he can drive it.
Other works by the author are lighlighted at the end.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.
Audio descriptions about a children's book about bus driver and he wants them to watch the bus with warning of NOT letting pigeon drive the bus.
Pigeon tries to pay them and tells them he'll be their best friend, all kinds of things to pursuade them to drive the bus. Next big red truck shows up and the pigeon prays he can drive it.
Other works by the author are lighlighted at the end.
I received this review book from The Kensington Books and this is my honest opinion.
cimorene1558's review
5.0
I'll never love pigeon quite as much as elephant and piggie, but he's pretty great all the same, and this is his best outing!
teddi's review
5.0
My 3 year old has asked me to read this book at least 30 times since we checked it out of the library a few days ago. It has quickly become a favorite of hers. I think the interactivity of the book is what she really loves. A bus driver asks her to watch his bus and says "don't let the pigeon drive the bus". Throughout the book, the pigeon tries to convince the audience to let him drive the bus to which my daughter continues to answer no.
The illustrations are simple, but effective. My daughter points out how the pigeon is feeling throughout the book. Each time we read it she points out something new and at the point when the pigeon gets really frustrated that he can't drive the bus, she identifies with his reaction and says "that's what I did yesterday". This allows us to talk about her own frustrations and what we can do when she gets that frustrated.
The illustrations are simple, but effective. My daughter points out how the pigeon is feeling throughout the book. Each time we read it she points out something new and at the point when the pigeon gets really frustrated that he can't drive the bus, she identifies with his reaction and says "that's what I did yesterday". This allows us to talk about her own frustrations and what we can do when she gets that frustrated.
kelleemoye's review
5.0
Read to Trent 5/21/14
Reread 9/4/11
I love that the pigeon is talking to the reader making us another character.
This book cracked me up!
7/13/19: At Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! At the Kennedy Center
Reread 9/4/11
I love that the pigeon is talking to the reader making us another character.
This book cracked me up!
7/13/19: At Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! At the Kennedy Center
misguidedghvst's review
5.0
googled the gender of this pigeon btw bc i didn’t wanna misgender the pigeon and apparently the pigeon is genderless good for them also i want to get a tattoo of them which is like a little insane of me to say also this needs to be like required reading in schools this is so good i wanna analyze this like why does the pigeon wanna drive the bus so badly? why does no one make a pigeon size bus for the pigeon to drive? i cousin herb real? does this pigeon have anger issues?
situationnormal's review
3.0
Read October 2017
I could see this one being fun for story time--short and funny, and with just enough drama. Not one of my favorites, but I enjoyed reading it.
I could see this one being fun for story time--short and funny, and with just enough drama. Not one of my favorites, but I enjoyed reading it.
regina_reads21's review
3.0
I like the idea, that the pigeon talks to the reader, but I just don't think this is as good as everyone else does.