Thursday 25 July 2013

Picture Book Review - The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! - Mo Willems (Author & Illustrator)

Picture Book Review - The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! - Mo Willems (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for - Toddlers/Younger Children



I'm on a bit of a Mo Willems run at the moment, trying to read as much as I can, because he's so damn good. This is the second Pigeon book I've reviewed in quick succession, and for Mo Willems fans, there's more to come yet.

Our favourite angry pigeon returns, delighting in telling us that he has found a hot dog. Just as he is about to eat it, we see a small duckling appear, asking questions about what the pigeon has found and what it tastes like. The (very clever) duckling slowly winds the pigeon up more and more, until he gives in and lets the duckling try the hot dog. In the end they share it all, although the duckling would have liked some mustard.

Oh, how I love watching the pigeon get more and more irate. He's so wonderfully grumpy and selfish, and only the brains of a very clever and cute little duckling could wear him down and make him part with his hot dog. There's a wonderful image where the pigeon is waxing lyrical about his love of hot dogs and their flavour, where the duckling makes notes on a pad with an oversized pencil that creased me up, and it's down to Mo Willems illustrations again that the humour of the story is so strong. They're such simple pencil images, but so effective in getting the characters' emotions across.

Whilst it's not quite as wacky a concept as a pigeon driving a bus, it's still a great little story. It's a nice little lesson on sharing, of course, but really it's very, very funny, and both grown ups and children will laugh.

More please!

9/10

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