Saturday 10 August 2013

Picture Book Review - I Am Invited To A Party (Elephant & Piggie) – Mo Willems (Author & Illustrator)

Picture Book Review - I Am Invited To A Party (Elephant & Piggie) – Mo Willems (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for – Toddlers/Younger Readers



If you've read any of my previous reviews of Mo Willems’ work, you’ll know just how highly recommended he comes.  I’ve waxed lyrical about how much you need to check out books in both the Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie series’, and I’m afraid I’m about to wax lyrically a bit more.

Piggie is invited to a party, and wants to take Gerald as her guest. After all, he knows parties. Concerned that the party could have a particular theme, Piggie and Gerald change outfit several times, adding one on top of the other, because after all, they must be ready. Luckily, everyone else at the party has had the same idea.

I can’t quite put down into words just how brilliant this particular Elephant & Piggie book is. I mean, they’re all brilliant, but this one is brilliant. The declaration by Gerald that he ‘knows parties’ (and Piggie’s backup up of this fact to the reader), and the twist at the end where all the other guests have also dressed up for several different themes (which of course look ludicrous on top of each other) is hilarious. I’ve not quite made my way through all the Elephant & Piggie books yet, but at the moment this is the essential one.

Once again, the simple illustrations are marvellously done, adding to the humour found in the words, and I can’t imagine anything but adult and child giggling away to each other as they read. I’ve just finished a picture book of my own, and Mo Willems’ influence is clear.

The guy is a master.


10/10

Picture Book Review - The Duckling Gets A Cookie?! - Mo Willems (Author & Illustrator)

Picture Book Review – The Duckling Gets A Cookie?! – Mo Willems (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for – Toddlers/Younger Readers



I love Mo Willems. I really, really do. It doesn’t seem possible for him to write anything that isn’t, at the very least, superb. More often than not it’s brilliant, and he’s managed it once again with The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!.

When the Duckling asks for and receives a cookie, the Pigeon is outraged. Especially as he loves cookies. Especially ones with nuts. As he is quick to point out, he asks for things all the time but never receives them. It’s not fair at all, but in the middle of the ranting and raving, the Duckling tells him that he asked for it so that he could give it to the Pigeon. Finally happy, the Pigeon eats his cookie, as the Duckling asks for another (without nuts this time).

It’s difficult to think of many characters that are funnier when they’re ranting in a children’s picture book than the Pigeon. His reasoning for why he deserves a cookie as he’s always asking for things is pure gold, referencing previous books to great effect, even being brought to tears from the injustice of it all at one point. The Duckling, of course, is incredibly cute and gets his way because of it, but we know really that he’s a bit sneaky, playing on his cuteness at every turn. It’s good fun watching him emphasise the fact that he asked ‘politely’ several times though.

I've mentioned the Pigeon ranting already, but I feel I need to mention it again, so brilliant it is each time. I've always been a fan of comedians and characters that rant about mundane things, and it’s like watching a miniaturised version of Rhod Gilbert. Wonderful stuff.

If you’ve not read any Mo Willems yet, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee do something about it!

10/10