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

We’re really trying to up the reading ante in our house. We have dabbled in books until now, but at 8 months, we’re trying to foster a deep love of reading in our baby boy. I’ll share some of those tricks with you later. But as we’ve been putting time and effort into reading, I keep coming across books I just love. 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!

I liked this book so much, I have every one in the series (so far. I think. I better!). And, I am the proud possessor of a stuffed likeness of the Pigeon himself! I bought this little guy after dragging my DH to the bookstore, forcing him to sit in the children’s section while I read the entire book aloud to practice my “read-aloud” for my students the next day! Yes, he is very long-suffering. He said I have a “pigeon voice” I talk in when I’m trying to get my way! We also talk fondly about hot dog parties on our house.
I used this book as a teaching tool in the 7th and 8th grade… it can be very illustrative of how persuasive writing works. And believe me, if you read it aloud in the right tone, you will have 12 and 13-year olds rolling on the floor laughing, and coming into class daily, begging for you to read the Pigeon book again and again!
Want to follow Mo Willem’s blog? facebook?
Have you read the Pigeon books? Which one is your favorite?

One Year of Blogging | A Year with Mom & Dad

Wednesday 16th of March 2011

[...] book reviews [...]

One Year of Blogging | A Year with Mom & Dad

Wednesday 16th of March 2011

[...] book reviews [...]

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