Books That Make Me Laugh – Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

This first feature is to share my ultimate makes-me-laugh book: Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems. I don’t know how many of you have been introduced to the snarky Pigeon, but you need to meet him! When I first discovered this book several years back at a Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop training session, I wondered how I’d ever lived without the Pigeon.

Willems has created a feisty little bird who has an answer for everything. In Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, you, the reader, are assigned the task of getting the pigeon to bed on time. But never underestimate a pigeon when sleep is on the line! In spare drawings devoid of background but rich with facial expression, Willems brings to life the “kid” inside every pigeon. The pigeon has every reason for staying up later than his bedtime. My personal favorite is when he cheer leads for a later bedtime. And in the end – you find out who wins – you or the pigeon!

Reading this story reminds me of myself as a child and the endless requests for water, suddenly “remembering” I need to brush my teeth (again), or claiming I had to go to the bathroom, so I could sneak my book in and sit by the tub and read another chapter of Ramona or Nancy Drew. I think the Pigeon will resonate with each one of you!