Q&A with Mo Willems
Q: Where did you grow up? Tell us about your family of origin. How did your family background prepare you to communicate with children through your books?
A: I was raised by Dutch immigrants in a house down the street from a seedy New Orleans blues bar. My father quit his job to become a full-time potter when my house-frau mother became a corporate attorney.
New Orleans taught me how to tell stories (storytelling in N'awlins is unique because your audience is usually drunk, so you've got to be clear, funny, and succinct); my father taught me the patience of a craftsman; and my mother instilled the importance of negotiating a good deal.
If those aren't the ingredients to making kids' books, I don't know what are.
Q: What were you like as a child?
A: Shorter, younger, sadder, and more intense than I am now. Also, back then I didn't have hair, like, all over my face and arms and stuff, but I do now, and that's really neat. Sorry, what was the question again?
Q: What books influenced you as a child? As an adult?
A: Good Grief! Those Peanuts collections that sold for 50 cents or so in the drugstores blew my mind as a kid. The star of the strip was an unhappy boy named Charlie Brown. Wow! Finally, someone wasn't lying to me about childhood! And it was funny! With beautiful drawings! God bless Charles Schulz and that little round-headed boy. Now, I primarily read Arab and Central Asian history with a sprinkling of collected 1960s and '70s SpiderMan comics.
Q: Was there a special adult or mentor that came to mind when thinking about the development of your career?
A: Although I've received wonderful support from myriad people, no mentor ever took me under their wing. Probably the seminal moment of my career occurred in eighth grade when Mrs. Laboisse demanded that her students have a good "general fund of knowledge" and quizzed us weekly on the contents of the Sunday newspaper. My world immediately expanded, and I became fascinated by events and people around the globe.
Q: What is your work schedule, and where do you work?
A: Until a few weeks ago, I had to fit my picture book writing and drawing in with my responsibilities as a head writer for a cartoon series, which was nuts. Having escaped the clutches of grinding out TV, I'm content to spend my days in my Brooklyn studio, where I merrily write and draw in the morning, lunch with my family, take the dog for long walks, and conduct business in the afternoon. That's the idea, anyway.
Q: How do children's books today reflect current culture, i.e., TV, movies, competitiveness? How has this influenced your writing?
A: The (hidden yet pervasive) theme in my picture books so far is Failure. Pop culture for young people incessantly shrieks, "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!" but any reasonable four-year-old (who doesn't have superpowers, can't fly, and isn't a princess in a castle) realizes that's a crock. Kids constantly, humanly, fail from the time they wake until they're dragged to bed (they even fail to stay up late!). I try to illuminate and celebrate these daily failures; they are what adults and kids have most in common.
Q: What role does humor play in children's books?
A: You can't get more true than funny, so I shoot for maximum funny. It's up to my audience to decide if I've succeeded.
Q: What is your most memorable school visit?
A: Actually, this is the story of my first-ever book signing.
NYC's Books of Wonder was kind enough to ask me to join Lane Smith and Laurie Keller in plugging our projects. As I looked at the sizable crowd, a darling little girl, clutching a book tightly in her arms, slowly marched up to me, her face filled with tearful admiration. This was obviously the highlight of her young life. Time slowed as she reached my table and broke into a beautiful smile. Then, still in slow motion, her father leaned down into my field of vision and said to her, "Nnnnnooooooo, LLLaaaaannnnneeeee Smmmiiittthhh iisss oooovvveeeerrrrr ttthhheeerrreeee . . ."
Time snapped back as the girl shot me the nastiest expression I have ever seen and marched over to Lane's table, leaving me to spend the rest of the session twiddling my thumbs and feeling guilty for not being Lane Smith.
Q: What are some of your favorite questions young children ask?
A: My daughter once asked me if I love her. I got to say, "More than anything in the world." That was cool.
Q: Does one disastrous experience stand out as memorable on your way to success?
A: I was asked by Cartoon Network to come up with some ideas for a cartoon show and diligently worked on two ideas, one about a boy trapped on Mars, and the other about a superhero vice president. When the network executives flew into New York, they told me they were very excited to hear my ideas; anything was possible, except shows about outer space or superheroes. Stuck without anything to pitch, I made up some stuff and took them out to dinner.
The result was an animated sketch comedy show called "Sheep in the Big City," which premiered the next year.
Q: When you're not working, what is your favorite way to spend your free time?
A: The perfect day would consist of a long walk in Prospect Park with my family, followed by a plate of my wife's Bolognese, a glass of wine, and some tomato, mozzarella, and basil (the tomatoes and basil picked from our garden).
Usually, I spend my free time devising clever plans to get out of doing the dishes.
Q: Is there anything else you want to tell us-a word, a story, or anecdote for children, parents, or teachers?
A: Once upon a time, there were 3,472 Little Pigs. By the time they finished high school, their mother was more than eager to kick them out of her cramped studio apartment into the Big, Bad World to make houses of their own.
Well, the first Little Pig built a house out of straw.
The second Little Pig built a house out of sticks.
The third Little Pig built a house of bricks.
The fourth Little Pig built a house out of steel.
The fifth Little Pig built a house out of aluminum siding (which costs less than you think!)
The sixth Little Pig built a house out of all those catalogs he got in the mail.
You get the idea.
One day, the Big, Bad Wolf came to the door of the first Little Pig's straw house. He grinned a sharp, toothy grin and called out in a deep voice, "Little Pig, Little Pig! Let me in!"
The Little Pig peeked out of the window, took one look at the Big, Bad Wolf, and said, "Sure."
The Little Pig opened the door, the Big, Bad Wolf strode right in, and they spent a lovely evening playing backgammon and watching a documentary about Ghengis Khan.
The end.
And the moral is: You Never Know.
Interview conducted by Isabel Baker for Young Children, the journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and provided by Hyperion Books for Children.
For further information about Mo Willems, visit his web site www.mowillems.com
Reviews
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Mo Willems
There are many books that can deepen a child's early reading experiences and strengthen skills without much work. Take, for example, Mo Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The book opens with a bus driver warning the reader: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" The driver leaves and a blue bird arrives. He begs, pleads, bargains, and threatens--he wants to drive that bus! Though the pictures are static and don't provide clues about the text, the print is large and clear, there are repeated phrases, and an interactive text which make it an ideal shared read. As you point out familiar words and reread the overly-dramatic pigeon monologues, you will build both reading delight and abilities. 2003, Hyperion, $12.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
In this picture book with simple pictures and lots of empty space, a cute blue pigeon begs the reader to let him drive the bus while the bus driver is gone. He implores, promises, whines, begs, bribes (like I don't get enough of this from my kids) in order to get his chance. He says things like, "I bet your mom would let me" or "I have dreams you know." This could actually be a sad book (hey, I was always the kid who wanted the Trix rabbit to actually get some Trix) except for the last two pages. After the bus drives off leaving the pigeon looking dejected, a semi drives up, the pigeon looks at it, and says, "Hey...," and the end papers of the book have the pigeon smiling, eyes closed as he envisions himself driving a semi. Nice touch. 2003, Hyperion Books, $12.99. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Sharon Levin (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Sep. 1, 2003; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2003; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2004; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004; H.W. Wilson
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2004; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2004; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2003; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Buckaroo Book Award Winner 2005 Wyoming
Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended 2004 United States
Colorado Children's Book Award Runner-Up 2005 Picture Book United States
Colorado Children's Book Award Runner Up 2005 Picture Book United States
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award Winner 2005 Picture Book North Dakota
Golden Archer Award Winner 2005 Primary Wisconsin
Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner 2005 Grades K-2 Kentucky
Original Voices Award Finalist 2003 Picture Book United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 2004 United States
Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award Winner 2005 Vermont
South Carolina Picture Book Award Winner 2006 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Buckaroo Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades K-3; Wyoming
Colorado Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Colorado
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Picture Books; North Dakota
Georgia Children's Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Picture Storybook; Georgia
The Golder Archer Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Primary; Wisconsin
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades K-2; Kentucky
Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award , 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades K-4; Vermont
South Carolina Picture Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; South Carolina
Texas Reading Club, 2005; Texas
ISBN: 0-7868-1988-X
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!
Mo Willems
In look and premise, this follows previous books about that persnickety pigeon whose actions resemble those of young children. Kids are invited to make sure that the pigeon doesn't stay up late. But the pigeon has his own ideas on the matter: "First of all, I'm not even tired," he proclaims. On each successive page, a balloon of text comes up with ever more reasons why the pigeon shouldn't be coerced into bed ("I hear there's a good show about birds on TV tonight. Should be very educational"). Then come the familiar questions: "Can I have a glass of water?" At one point he drags out his stuffed rabbit (looking suspiciously like Knuffle Bunny), who, the pigeon insists, wants to stay up. But then a yawn overtakes the bird, even though he insists he is just stretching--and, well, you know the rest. Fans of the pigeon will welcome him back and wait with anticipation to see what he can't do next. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2006, Hyperion, $12.99. PreS. Reviewer: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Feb. 15, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 12)).
Best Books:
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-3746-2
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Mo Willems.
A treasured stuffed animal is all too often lost or left behind, resulting in a tragedy for the small owner. Knuffle Bunny is Trixie's beloved companion, taken on a trip to the Laundromat with her dad. Readers and listeners will spot her problem immediately, but Daddy just can't understand Trixie's desperate attempts to communicate in her own language. By the time they reach home, Daddy is as unhappy as Trixie. Her Mommy, of course, immediately asks the crucial question: "Where's Knuffle Bunny?" Back they all run to the Laundromat, where they finally find the elusive bunny. In her delight, Trixie says her first real words: "Knuffle Bunny." The very succinct text is basically no more than captions for the illustrations. It is the visual narrative that keeps the pages turning. The artist places his full color set of cartoon characters, hand-drawn in ink, on backgrounds consisting of digital photography in shades of gray showing the neighborhood and Laundromat. A few speech balloons add dramatic content. Here hand-drawn pictures and computer-manipulated photographs join in a happy marriage in a situation any parent will understand. 2004, Hyperion Books for Children, $15.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars , Sep. 15, 2004; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2004; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2005; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 2005; International Reading Association; United States
Children's Editor's Choice, 2004; Kirkus Reviews; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2005; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2005; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Fanfare Honor List, 2004; Horn Book; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 1, 2004; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2005; American Library Association ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts, 2005; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 16, 2004; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2004; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2004; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Book of the Year Award Winner 2004 Kid's Illustrated United States
Book Sense Book of the Year Award Honor Book 2005 Children's Illustrated United States
Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book 2005 United States
Colorado Children's Book Award Runner Up 2006 Picture Book Colorado
Delaware Diamonds Nominee 2005-2006 K-Grade 2 United States
Irma S. Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature Winner 2004 United States
Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner 2006 Grades K-2 Kentucky
Mitten Award Honor Book 2004 United States
Original Voices Award Winner 2004 Picture Books United States
The Quill Awards Nominee 2005 Children's Illustrated Book United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor 2005 United States
Red Clover Award Winner 2006 Vermont
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
2X2 Reading List, 2005; Texas
Beehive Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Picture Book; Utah
Colorado Children's Book Award, 2006; Nominee; United States
The Golden Archer Award, 2006; Nominee; Primary; Wisconsin
The Golden Archer Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Primary; Wisconsin
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2006; Nominee; Grades K-2; Kentucky
Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Missouri
New Hampshire Ladybug Picture Book Award, 2005; Nominee; New Hampshire
Red Clover Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Vermont
South Carolina Picture Book Award, 2006; Nominee; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-1870-0
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster
Mo Willems
This is an original and quirky story by the author-illustrator of the Caldecott Honor Book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Leonardo is terrible as a monster just the way Casper is terrible as a ghost--Leonardo just does not scare anyone. He is not Tony with his 1,642 teeth, he is not Eleanor who is huge and sports polish on her claws and he is certainly not weird Hector who looks something like a teapot crossed with a furry snake. All Leonardo's attempts at being frightening fail, so he decides to find a scaredy-cat kid and "scare the tuna salad out of him." Sam fits the bill and sure enough, when Leonardo creeps up on him and lets loose with monster sounds and actions, Sam burst into tears. But then Sam explains that he is crying because he is had just a terrible day and after he tells Leonardo all his troubles, the monster decides he would rather be a good friend than a great monster. The silliness of the text and drawings remove this from the ordinary tale of friendship and kids will want it read again and again. 2005, Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Choices, 2006; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2006; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, August 2005; Cahners; United States
SLJ Best Books, 2005; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Book Sense Book of the Year Award Honor Book 2006 Children's Illustrated United States
Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended 2006 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Beehive Award, 2007; Nominee; Picture Book; United States
Black-Eyed Susan Award, 2006-2007; Book List; Picture Book; Maryland
Buckaroo Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Wyoming
Colorado Children's Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Picture Book; Colorado
Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award, 2006; Nominee; United States
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Washington
ISBN: 0-7868-5294-1
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
Mo Willems.
The Pigeon from Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is back and this time he's found a hot dog, which he plans to eat by himself even though a Duckling has scooty, scoot scoot-ed to the corner of the picture's frame. "A taste sensation...A celebration in a bun" the Pigeon brags to the hopeful and savvy little Duckling who'd like to have a bite. While the duck whittles away the Pigeon's resolve to eat his hot dog by asking plaintively what does it taste like, the Pigeon staunchly defends his find--It's mine! It's my right! Finders, keepers. But in the end guilty triumphs, or maybe it's compassion but we doubt it, and the Pigeon asks for help in solving this impasse. Share, is the Duckling's open-faced reply. Preschoolers who are very sensitive to sharing will laugh at the obviousness of it all, while older readers are sure to get the implied manipulation of the Pigeon by the knowledgeable Duckling when the little guy who has supposedly never even tasted a hot dog ventures that it "needs mustard." Willems' sophisticated cartoon makes great use of a cocked eyebrow, the big-eyed Duckling's postures, and the conversation balloon chat that escapes encapsulation when the Pigeon is exasperated. Children will be sure to note the single half-chomped hot dog on the back interior endpapers nearly lost in the repeating hot dog images that decorate both front and back endpapers. It's another triumph for Mo Willems and a generous serving of humor for hungry young readers. 2004, Hyperion, $12.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books , 2004; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2004; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Buckeye Children's Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Grades K-2; Ohio
The Golden Archer Award, 2006; Nominee; Primary; Wisconsin
Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Missouri
ISBN: 0786818697
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!: A Smidgeon of a Pigeon
Mo Willems
In a marketing economy where brand loyalty starts early, these two "Smidgeon of Pigeon" board books will introduce preschoolers to the frustrated feathered one and his chief obsessions. Fortunately, Willems seems to know as much about kids as he does about marketing, these clever little tomes that match their picture-book counterparts in both style and attitude play on toddlers' emerging sense of humor as well as their sense of being pushed around. Young'uns will giggle over noting that buses, trains, and airplanes aren't the only things that go,hot dogs go, too, if they are stolen by cute little ducklings. And what business do bus drivers who won't even let you drive their buses have telling you to put on your happy face? Pigeon's range of emotion, from his frenzied excitement to his moribund dejection, is notably similar to that of most toddlers, making these work as quick little character sketches on their own as well as companion pieces to the pigeon's other flights. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2005, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2005, Hyperion, 12p, $6.99. Ages 2-4 yrs. Reviewer: Karen Coates, Reviewer (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2005 (Vol. 59, No. 1)).
ISBN: 0-7868-3650-4
The Pigeon Loves Things That Go!: A Smidgeon of a Pigeon
Mo Willems
Willems's charismatic pigeon (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!) makes his board-book debut. In Feelings, the pigeon goes through a range of emotions before giving up and being happy. In Go, he comments on four vehicles ("Choo-choo! Pigeon express comin' through!"), including a hot dog that goes into a duckling's belly. Diverting but not very filling. Category: Preschool. 2005, Hyperion, 12pp, 6.99. Ages 2 to 5. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws. Reviewer: Horn Book (Horn Book Guide, Spring 2006).
ISBN: 0-7868-3651-2
Time to Pee!
Mo Willems.
For kids who see every trip to the potty as an Event, this book's parade of sign-wielding mice cheering them into the bathroom will be welcome indeed. The simple text ("Pull down your underwear"; "Flush!") appears a word or two at a time on balloons, flags, banners, etc. The energetic, cartoonlike illustrations manage to be uncluttered despite the rowdy gang of mice, coaching and encouraging each step of the way. Category: Preschool. 2003, Hyperion, 40pp, $12.99. Ages 2 to 5. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average. Reviewer: Horn Book (Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, October 1, 2003; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
National Association of Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold 2003 Infants and Toddlers United States
ISBN: 0-7868-1868-9
Time to Say Please!
Mo Willems
Learning good manners is a must, and an entertaining book teaching when and how to say "please" helps the medicine go down. "If you ever really want something, really, really want something, don't just grab it! Go ask a big person and Please say "Please"!" The reader also learns to say please when they want a turn, a toy, or they want to borrow something, or maybe they want to try something for the first time. And please is not the only magic word. "Excuse me," "Sorry," and "Thank-you" are important too. A fun book with simple characters is an effective way to capture the imaginations of very young minds. Minimal illustrations carry the action across one page and on to the next. With a little scrutiny, you will notice small, pointy-nosed mice in the background, teaching the word "please" at the chalk board, carrying signs, parachuting into the kitchen, flying air balloons and riding helicopters. A nice addition to the story is the game built into the book. The book jacket opens up to reveal a small game board ready to be mounted on cardboard. Attached to the back cover is a spinner with four game pieces featuring four action-packed mice. It should also be noted that the author has won six Emmys for his Sesame Street scripts. His mastery of the craft is evident. 2005, Hyperion Books for Children, $15.99. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Robyn Gioia (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Editor's Choice, 2005; Kirkus Reviews; United States
Kirkus Best Children's Books , 2005; Kirkus Reviews; United States.
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Parent's Choice Award Approved 2005 Picture Books United States
ISBN: 0-7868-5293-3
Added 08/25/06
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