The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog

Mo Willems might be the best children’s book author I have ever read.  The way he can construct so much meaning out of a few words and rudimentary pictures is beyond me.  The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog had me laughing out loud in the library by page two.  I instantly created attitudes, personalities, and voices for the two characters in this book.  This is a simple story of a pigeon that finds a hot dog and wants nothing more than to eat it.  Upon trying to eat the hotdog a duckling walks over and explains that he or she had never had a hotdog before.  As the pigeon tries to eat the hotdog the duckling keeps asking annoying question like, “What do they taste like?”  Finally, the pigeon explodes with anger and has to figure out whether or not to share with the duckling. 

This story was so great because the reader can empathize with both characters.  Everyone has been in a situation where they had something they wanted to keep for themselves and everyone has wanted something others have had.  This is a great way to explain sharing with others. 

The pictures in this book are very simplistic yet they capture the emotions of the characters perfectly.  They transcend the text and bring the book to a higher sense of understanding.  There is nothing in the background which is very unique and brings the full attention of the reader to the characters actions. 

Mo Willems is a very popular author.  When I went to the library, the librarian was very surprised there were any books by him available to be checked out.  I was very excited to find out Mo Willems was a lead writer and animator for Sesame Street.  I loved that show growing up and was excited to make a personal connection to this author.  I am also excited he is going to be appearing at a public library near me and cannot wait to attend.