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52nd out of 1,732 books
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Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Pigeon #1)
by
Mo Willems
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a presch...more
Published
(first published April 1st 2003)
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3.5 STARS. I thought this was a well thought out book, but I'm not sure how much of dear little Pigeon I'll be able to take. Initially, I thought he was cute if rather whiny (The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!) This time, I thought he was borderline obnoxious and manipulative. Which, of course, is the point, I think! Maybe it's to illustrate the absurdity of kids trying to get their parents to let them do things that there is absolutely no way they can/should do!
It was, perhaps, just m...more
It was, perhaps, just m...more
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A short but snappy story from popular cartoonist Mo Willems. 'Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus' is guaranteed to leave you with a big smile on your face! I am not ashamed to say that this story brought out the dramatist in me as I read it out loud to a mother and toddler group!
The best part had to be the glorious double page spread of illustrations showing all of the pigeon's techniques to convince you to let him drive the bus... "Your MUM said that I could...", "I'...more
The best part had to be the glorious double page spread of illustrations showing all of the pigeon's techniques to convince you to let him drive the bus... "Your MUM said that I could...", "I'...more
The illustrations and text will make children laugh hysterically as the pigeon gets more and more frustrated. This is an excellent book for demonstrating expressive reading.
Received starred reviews in SLJ and Booklist.
Received starred reviews in SLJ and Booklist.
- ages 2-6 -
Former Sesame Street writer Mo Willems's first children's book in a series starring the delightful blue pigeon. I liked the participatory element - story begins with the bus driver asking us to watch the bus for him while he takes a break. Also love the drawings and text - simple, yet really fresh and unique.
The rest of the line-up: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! and The Pig...more
Former Sesame Street writer Mo Willems's first children's book in a series starring the delightful blue pigeon. I liked the participatory element - story begins with the bus driver asking us to watch the bus for him while he takes a break. Also love the drawings and text - simple, yet really fresh and unique.
The rest of the line-up: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! and The Pig...more
Cute interactive book for older preschoolers. Your child needs to have a grasp of right and wrong and a sense of humor to appreciate this book. In other words it's probably not so great for toddlers. The reason is that your child has to "get" that the pigeon in this book is being obnoxious and naughty. The pigeon tries to wheedle, wine and bargain his way into driving the bus (which has been left in your care by the bus driver with the explicit instructions NOT TO LET THE PIGEON DR...more
Called "one of the great read aloud books" by Steve Barancik of Children's Book Review¹, this picture book uses simple line drawings and a minimal amount of dialogue to create a sweet and entertaining story. It features a pigeon who begs and pleads to be allowed to drive a bus using common childhood arguments. The audience get to say 'no' over and over again, putting them in the role of the parents. The pigeon is denied from driving the bus, showing children that incessant begging is n...more
Genre: Picture Book
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: Persistence and manipulation: Not taking no for an answer.
Curricular Use: Read aloud.
Literary Elements: Humor. Strong example of voice. Personification.
Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and pictures. The pictures convey the pigeons tone and expression, especially by the use of his eyeball. (And when he gets mad you know it).
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: Persistence and manipulation: Not taking no for an answer.
Curricular Use: Read aloud.
Literary Elements: Humor. Strong example of voice. Personification.
Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and pictures. The pictures convey the pigeons tone and expression, especially by the use of his eyeball. (And when he gets mad you know it).
The book is almost a square but a little more vertical. It looks like the letters are written in a typewriter font. the writing and the pictures look like charcoal, heavy lead, or colored pencils. The inside cover looks like the pigeon is imaging himself driving a bus doing all type of stunts. The story actually begins on the first page right before the publishers page.The colors are dull, but the illustrations look like cartoons. They are also illustrates that take up the whole page. Most of th...more
Jessie Bear
rated it
Shelves:
ages-2-6,
animals,
birds,
bus,
caldecott-honor,
humor,
interactive,
picture-book,
pre-school,
si-624,
persistence,
pigeons
The bus driver entrusts his audience with a super important task: not to let the pigeon drive the bus, no matter how hard the pigeon tries to convince readers otherwise. Sure enough, pigeon tries every trick in the book to gain access to the bus, providing children with a humorous interactive story. The story smartly utilizes minimalism where appropriate, such as the comical set-up and the illustration style. Muted, solid colored back drops surround the pigeon, allowing children to focus on ...more
1. Genre: Contemporary Picture Book
2. Summary: This book takes place when a bus driver needs to take a break and put you, the reader, in charge of his bus. He leaves you with one rule: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. The pigeon persists and pleads throughout the book to have just one turn to drive the bus before its real driver gets back.
3. Critique:
a. This book has a great tone and is sure to make the readers laugh as they read it.
b. As the pigeon begs and pleads w...more
2. Summary: This book takes place when a bus driver needs to take a break and put you, the reader, in charge of his bus. He leaves you with one rule: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. The pigeon persists and pleads throughout the book to have just one turn to drive the bus before its real driver gets back.
3. Critique:
a. This book has a great tone and is sure to make the readers laugh as they read it.
b. As the pigeon begs and pleads w...more
‘Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus’
By, Mo Willems.
The story begins with a bus driver who leaves his bus and directly asks the reader and the audience to keep an eye on it until he returns and just before he leaves he says, ‘oh and remember: don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!’ The pigeon comes onto the scene and franticly plea’s with the audience and tries everything possible to persuade the reader and the audience to let him drive the bus. After exhausting all his hard and p...more
By, Mo Willems.
The story begins with a bus driver who leaves his bus and directly asks the reader and the audience to keep an eye on it until he returns and just before he leaves he says, ‘oh and remember: don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!’ The pigeon comes onto the scene and franticly plea’s with the audience and tries everything possible to persuade the reader and the audience to let him drive the bus. After exhausting all his hard and p...more
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Category: Grades K-3, Book #17
A bus driver has to get off the bus momentarily, but whatever happens, "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus". However, the pigeon is very tricky, he'll do anything he can to get in that driver's seat. The children will love the predictability and humor of this book. This book was added to the "Books for Boys" books, making it another reason to be a great find! This is a great read-aloud, especially with prediction discussions!
...more
A bus driver has to get off the bus momentarily, but whatever happens, "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus". However, the pigeon is very tricky, he'll do anything he can to get in that driver's seat. The children will love the predictability and humor of this book. This book was added to the "Books for Boys" books, making it another reason to be a great find! This is a great read-aloud, especially with prediction discussions!
...more
I loved, loved, loved this book.
Before reading this, I had read many other books by Mo Willems, including several of the Elephant and Piggie books and the first two Knuffle Bunny books. I have loved each of those books, so I'm not really sure why I hadn't picked up any of the Pigeon books yet.
This book is very simple, but pretty brilliant. A bus driver asks the reader to please watch his bus, and no matter what, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" Of course the...more
Before reading this, I had read many other books by Mo Willems, including several of the Elephant and Piggie books and the first two Knuffle Bunny books. I have loved each of those books, so I'm not really sure why I hadn't picked up any of the Pigeon books yet.
This book is very simple, but pretty brilliant. A bus driver asks the reader to please watch his bus, and no matter what, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" Of course the...more
Ronyell
rated it
I have read many books by Mo Willems that have been honored with the Caldecott Honor award, which included the “Knuffle Bunny” series. Now I have recently read “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” which is actually Mo Willems’ first children’s book and is a Caldecott Honor book and it is about how the Pigeon keeps asking the audience if he could drive the bus after the bus driver leaves to run an errand. “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” is truly a memorable book that children can read ov...more
Bridget Mcnear
rated it
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was a story I believe to have been read to my Preschool students by representatives of the Chicago Public Library but all I could recall were the reactions my students had to it. There was no recollection of the premise, text or illustrations. After reading this story several times I could see why this story was such a favorite.
This picture book begins with a bus driver that asks "the reader" to keep an eye on his bus. He gives the dir...more
This picture book begins with a bus driver that asks "the reader" to keep an eye on his bus. He gives the dir...more
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Hyperion Books for Children
2003
Fiction: Picture Book
Ages 4-9
This book begins from the moment you open it. The end papers depict the pigeon dreaming about driving a bus. On the title page, the reader meets the bus driver who is leaving and needs you to watch the bus. He has one piece of advice, "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" The rest of the book consists of the pigeon ...more
Hyperion Books for Children
2003
Fiction: Picture Book
Ages 4-9
This book begins from the moment you open it. The end papers depict the pigeon dreaming about driving a bus. On the title page, the reader meets the bus driver who is leaving and needs you to watch the bus. He has one piece of advice, "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" The rest of the book consists of the pigeon ...more
This book starts out with a bus driver who has to leave his bus parked for a little while unattended. He asks the reader to keep an eye on it and to make sure that the pigeon doesn't drive the bus. After the bus driver leaves, the pigeon comes out and tries to convince the reader to let him drive the bus. He begs and begs until finally the bus driver returns to his bus and leaves. The book ends when the pigeon sees another vehicle that catches his eye.
I thought that this book was rea...more
I thought that this book was rea...more
This was a good children’s book. The pigeon was a cute little character. I thought it was very interesting how the main part of the book was the pigeon’s dialog with himself. However I think that could bring up some good conversation during a read aloud. Also, I like how persistent the pigeon was. He wouldn’t take no for an answer and wouldn’t give up. I think that is a good message for children, not to give up on things you really want to do.
This book is about a pigeon who wants t...more
This book is about a pigeon who wants t...more
This is the best read aloud ever. The premise is unique; a pigeon who wants to drive a bus. Spot on line drawings that are easy to see and understand in unusual colors. The story begs to be interacted with. I tipped my hand to the kids to yell "No!" everytime the pigeon pleaded to drive the bus. Great pacing. A big surprise emotional explosion which takes kids off guard. And finally a fun twist ending.
If you are feeling artsy, Mo Willems provides a simple how-to-draw the p...more
If you are feeling artsy, Mo Willems provides a simple how-to-draw the p...more
L-Crystal Wlodek
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
award-winning-and-honor-books,
picture-books
This book is intended for preschool children up to grade two and his won the Caldecott Honor. In this story, a bus driver has to leave for awhile and asks readers for a favor, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.” The determined pigeon asks calm and sweet at first, “Hey, can I drive the bus?” However, he gets more and more demanding and into more mischief as time goes on, much like the young children for which this book is intended.
This book is simple, yet humorous and realistic to a...more
This book is simple, yet humorous and realistic to a...more
Great, engaging story for little ones. Our girls have asked for this story several times - they love it! I love that they participated in the "reading" of this story long before they were able to read. We really enjoyed reading it together, and it's one that I don't mind reading over and over again.
2011 update: We've borrowed this book several times from the library. Our girls love to shout "No!" while I read it and now they love reading it by themselves!
2011 update: We've borrowed this book several times from the library. Our girls love to shout "No!" while I read it and now they love reading it by themselves!
This books is about a pigeon who would like to drive a school bus, who sees the bus driver leave the bus un attended and asks the audience to watch it for him and to not let the pigeon drive it. The book if fill with funny images and is very interactice. The pigeon gives you many escuses so he can drive the bus, from making up games, to offering you money to promising to be your best friend and more. The pigeon want's to drive the bus at all costs, but you as the readers are not going to let him...more
OH I really liked this book! I loved how the story began with the bus driver talking to the reader about how he must leave. The pigeon is so funny with his ways of trying to persuade you to let him ride the bus. I especially loved the part where he says, "I'll be careful", "my cousin drives a bus", and best of all "It's just a bus!!!". This is funny to me and I know it will be even more funny for children that you read the book too.
The pictures in the bo...more
The pictures in the bo...more
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
• The positive overriding theme of the book is not to give up on your dreams. If at first you don’t succeed, you may have to alter your dreams but never give up. The pigeon was persistent in wanting to drive the bus and when that didn’t work out he decided to go for a Mack truck.
• The lines in the book convey motion – Mo Willems uses short repeated lines to indicate the movement of the pigeon’s wings and feet. Lines are also used to indicate moveme...more
• The positive overriding theme of the book is not to give up on your dreams. If at first you don’t succeed, you may have to alter your dreams but never give up. The pigeon was persistent in wanting to drive the bus and when that didn’t work out he decided to go for a Mack truck.
• The lines in the book convey motion – Mo Willems uses short repeated lines to indicate the movement of the pigeon’s wings and feet. Lines are also used to indicate moveme...more
Hands down my favorite kid's book that has been published in the last 5 years. Simple illustrations. Hilarious story. Great interactive book to read with the child---the pigeon talks directly to the reader.
If you want my honest opinion, I don't see why you wouldn't let the pigeon drive the bus, I mean his uncle Earl is afterall a bus driver.
*Best read outloud with a South Dakotan accent!
If you want my honest opinion, I don't see why you wouldn't let the pigeon drive the bus, I mean his uncle Earl is afterall a bus driver.
*Best read outloud with a South Dakotan accent!
Citation: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems (Scholastic, 2003)
1. Genre: Children’s Picture Book / Contemporary realism
2. Summary: When a bus driver has to leave his bus unattended, he asks the reader to keep an eye on the bus. The driver leaves, offering the reader one piece of advice, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.” Enter the pigeon, who immediately begins to plead his case to the reader as to why he should be allowed to drive the bus! What fo...more
1. Genre: Children’s Picture Book / Contemporary realism
2. Summary: When a bus driver has to leave his bus unattended, he asks the reader to keep an eye on the bus. The driver leaves, offering the reader one piece of advice, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.” Enter the pigeon, who immediately begins to plead his case to the reader as to why he should be allowed to drive the bus! What fo...more
My 3 year old has asked me to read this book at least 30 times since we checked it out of the library a few days ago. It has quickly become a favorite of hers. I think the interactivity of the book is what she really loves. A bus driver asks her to watch his bus and says "don't let the pigeon drive the bus". Throughout the book, the pigeon tries to convince the audience to let him drive the bus to which my daughter continues to answer no.
The illustrations are simple, but eff...more
The illustrations are simple, but eff...more
Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus! is such a simple concept. This is where Willems shines as a creator - taking a simple concept and a small cast of characters and bringing them to a life in a way that is fun and interactive.
The bus driver is going on a break and asks: “Can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Pigeon enters and asks, pleads, whines, pouts, bribes - wanting so desperately to drive the bus. “I have dr...more
The bus driver is going on a break and asks: “Can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Pigeon enters and asks, pleads, whines, pouts, bribes - wanting so desperately to drive the bus. “I have dr...more
Snorkle
rated it
A classic kids book that everybody should be able to say, "why, yes, I have read Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!" This book is absolutely hilarous! Just looking at the pigeon's little face as he tries to convince you that he is ready and willing to drive that bus totally cracks me up. Mo Willems did a stellar job, I highly recommend this book.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIGEONS CAN DRIVE??? | 12 | 57 | Dec 14, 2011 03:22pm |
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#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a serie...more
More about Mo Willems...
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a serie...more
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“I bet your mom would let me."
-Pigeon, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus-”
—
31 people liked it
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-Pigeon, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus-”
