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Elephant & Piggie #18
Let's Go for a Drive!
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Let's Go for a Drive Gerald and Piggie want to hit the road. But the best-laid plans of pigs and elephants often go awry.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2012
30 people are currently reading
1676 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
230 books4,106 followers#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 series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
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 series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
August 25, 2019
Gerald and Piggie want to go for a drive, but apparently they forgot that they don't own a car!
Hahahahahahahahahaha
Cute story as usual.
Hahahahahahahahahaha
Cute story as usual.
October 27, 2012
There's a classic bit of writer's advice that a good ending is both surprising and inevitable. Mo Willems has this down at the DNA level; the Elephant and Piggie books always, always, always end well.
Again there's a lot of strength in the expressions on the two friends' faces and the way their bodies inhabit the pages. I read this with my 11yo, who loved the line, "A pig with a car would be silly." She cracked up and said, "But a pig with all this other stuff is okay?"
Great attention to detail: Gerald's word bubbles are gray and Piggie's are pink, of course, and when they speak at the same time their joint word bubble is a muddy mix of both colors; and each time Piggie leaves she "Zips" off and "Zaps" back, with the exception of when she is loaded down with suitcases--then she comes onstage with a much slower and heavier "ZUP."
I also liked the interludes while Piggie was away fetching all the things and Gerald was pontificating to the audience: his statements give the beginning reader a little practice figuring out a longer sentence with fewer picture clues AS WELL AS providing pacing for the story, giving Piggie some "time" to be gone offstage gathering the necessary items.
If you're ever in a writing-for-children class and your teacher doesn't use an Elephant and Piggie book as a model text, I think you should ask for your money back!
Again there's a lot of strength in the expressions on the two friends' faces and the way their bodies inhabit the pages. I read this with my 11yo, who loved the line, "A pig with a car would be silly." She cracked up and said, "But a pig with all this other stuff is okay?"
Great attention to detail: Gerald's word bubbles are gray and Piggie's are pink, of course, and when they speak at the same time their joint word bubble is a muddy mix of both colors; and each time Piggie leaves she "Zips" off and "Zaps" back, with the exception of when she is loaded down with suitcases--then she comes onstage with a much slower and heavier "ZUP."
I also liked the interludes while Piggie was away fetching all the things and Gerald was pontificating to the audience: his statements give the beginning reader a little practice figuring out a longer sentence with fewer picture clues AS WELL AS providing pacing for the story, giving Piggie some "time" to be gone offstage gathering the necessary items.
If you're ever in a writing-for-children class and your teacher doesn't use an Elephant and Piggie book as a model text, I think you should ask for your money back!
June 18, 2018
Gerald and Piggie are ready to go on an adventure, specifically a drive. As they begin to plan, they discover all the items they will need: maps, sunglasses, umbrellas... and then comes the need for actual transportation. Cue the dramatic music and the chaotic rushing around. Gerald and Piggie have hit a snag that might cause the entire process to... wait, they can always play another game. Brilliantly read by Neo, this book had some good laugh out loud moments. So pleased we found this series!
August 26, 2014
I've been studying Mo Willems lately. What's the big hullabaloo about Mo Willems? His art's not the best. It's rather rudimentary. His colors are muted and uninspiring. His plots aren't innovative. His stories are about the sounds that animals make or fractured fairy tales, for example—subjects covered by countless other picture book authors. In fact, his plots are rather ordinary. So why is he so popular? It became my mission to find out, so I borrowed 8 of his books from the library.
This book is a perfect example of Willem's mundane settings. It is about two animals preparing for a drive in a car. The elephant states what they need, the pig retrieves it, they celebrate while shouting singsongy-wongy versions of the thing they needed, and then the elephant remembers something new. Not only mundane, but typical. They repeat the pattern five times.
Then Willems pulls the rug out from under you.
So far all Willems' books have a mundane, and almost trite, setup, then he tosses in a surprise. It's a formula he has put to great use in all 8 books. The mundane nature of the story is contrasted by his quirky characters and love for the twist. The characters have very comical expressions, so despite their "rudimentary" rendering, there is a depth to them as well as a zaniness that is appealing. I understand now why Willems has become so popular, and now I'm a fan, too. This book had me laughing out loud at the twist, and smiling by the end.
This book is a perfect example of Willem's mundane settings. It is about two animals preparing for a drive in a car. The elephant states what they need, the pig retrieves it, they celebrate while shouting singsongy-wongy versions of the thing they needed, and then the elephant remembers something new. Not only mundane, but typical. They repeat the pattern five times.
Then Willems pulls the rug out from under you.
So far all Willems' books have a mundane, and almost trite, setup, then he tosses in a surprise. It's a formula he has put to great use in all 8 books. The mundane nature of the story is contrasted by his quirky characters and love for the twist. The characters have very comical expressions, so despite their "rudimentary" rendering, there is a depth to them as well as a zaniness that is appealing. I understand now why Willems has become so popular, and now I'm a fan, too. This book had me laughing out loud at the twist, and smiling by the end.
January 5, 2017
This was a fun read. Bug really enjoyed it.
August 10, 2014
Yay! Another Elephant and Piggie story! We read them as soon as we can get them at our local library. We just love these books and our girls love to play the different parts.
With only two speaking parts, I got to sit back and listen to our girls read the book to me. I love how Mo Willems includes lots of varying volumes and enthusiasm in his dialogue and I was so impressed how our girls used different inflections in their voice to convey these changes.
Younger children will love the repetition and even older children can appreciate the irony of all the preparation without having one essential item. The illustrations are just as fun as we've come to expect from the books in this series and our girls got a thrill pointing out all of the 'hidden' pigeons throughout the book. I love the expressions on Gerald and Piggie - you can really see their emotions.
Overall, we really enjoyed reading this book together, and although our girls have outgrown the reading level of these books, we all really love them anyway.
With only two speaking parts, I got to sit back and listen to our girls read the book to me. I love how Mo Willems includes lots of varying volumes and enthusiasm in his dialogue and I was so impressed how our girls used different inflections in their voice to convey these changes.
Younger children will love the repetition and even older children can appreciate the irony of all the preparation without having one essential item. The illustrations are just as fun as we've come to expect from the books in this series and our girls got a thrill pointing out all of the 'hidden' pigeons throughout the book. I love the expressions on Gerald and Piggie - you can really see their emotions.
Overall, we really enjoyed reading this book together, and although our girls have outgrown the reading level of these books, we all really love them anyway.
January 3, 2016
Another book my seven-year old grandson handed to me and told me to READ. He got this one and one other for Christmas and whether we read them alone or together, we smile and giggle all the way through. There's humor and silliness and these two - the elephant and the pig - get up to some rather crazy, yet simple-to-understand shenanigans. In this one they're trying to take a trip, a drive, but neither knows exactly how to go about doing so, so they get a map...
The map later re-appears in a totally different use than one might expect. Loved it.
:D
The map later re-appears in a totally different use than one might expect. Loved it.
:D
October 2, 2022
اولی رو که خوندم یکی دیگه هم دلم خواست
کاراکتر ها خیلی به دل نشستن
کاراکتر ها خیلی به دل نشستن
April 7, 2022
Drive drive drivey drive drive 😂 Classic!
December 12, 2018
I’ve just been flooding the Internet with Willem love over the past 48 hours. It’s dark. It’s the late Fall with snow on the ground. I have tea and some pleasant music and these books are a perfect antidote to my northern hemisphere seasonal affective disorder. Better than self medicating with alcohol.3 cheers for Elephant and Piggie !
January 17, 2020
"I am a pig. A pig with a car would be silly."
Sillier than the story itself? Not so much. But, bonus, the story also has a wise insight to share. Three, actually. 1. planning isn't always so important 2. friends are 3. imagination is, too. ;)
Sillier than the story itself? Not so much. But, bonus, the story also has a wise insight to share. Three, actually. 1. planning isn't always so important 2. friends are 3. imagination is, too. ;)
May 5, 2019
Love the interaction between elephant and pig. And this one is very funny.
November 8, 2022
Allie absolutely loves this. She criticizes Gerald for being too bossy but then sings along as things are gathered for the driving adventure.
April 11, 2018
This is a hilarious book that is perfect for early readers!
October 8, 2013
Let's Go for a Drive! by Mo Willems, published 2012.
Fiction.
Picture book.
Pre-K to grade 2.
Found via Booklist, reviewed by Daniel Kraus.
Gerald the elephant has the idea to go for a drive, and his best friend, Piggie, agrees. Together, the two of them collect various things they could need for a drive--umbrellas, sunglasses, a map, and bags. When it comes time to get a car, though, neither of them has one, and the two have to find a new way to spend their day. Like other books in this series, this book is hilarious and introduces early readers to new words slowly, repeating them in a fun way through the songs of Elephant and Piggie. Reviewer Kraus highlights how good this series is: "Still, though, even as we approach 20 books in the series, it's hard to imagine getting sick of these two simply yet expertly drafted goofballs." New readers should delight in this book, and it's appropriate for all readers.
Fiction.
Picture book.
Pre-K to grade 2.
Found via Booklist, reviewed by Daniel Kraus.
Gerald the elephant has the idea to go for a drive, and his best friend, Piggie, agrees. Together, the two of them collect various things they could need for a drive--umbrellas, sunglasses, a map, and bags. When it comes time to get a car, though, neither of them has one, and the two have to find a new way to spend their day. Like other books in this series, this book is hilarious and introduces early readers to new words slowly, repeating them in a fun way through the songs of Elephant and Piggie. Reviewer Kraus highlights how good this series is: "Still, though, even as we approach 20 books in the series, it's hard to imagine getting sick of these two simply yet expertly drafted goofballs." New readers should delight in this book, and it's appropriate for all readers.
August 17, 2022
Elephant and Piggie's idea for a simple outing leads to a frenzy of gathering essential items (maps, umbrellas, etc)-- and ultimately, a gentle lesson about keeping track of planning fundamentals. Willems is a virtuoso with the easy-reading format of this series. Seems tailor-made for emerging readers as well as preschoolers (and fun for parents). Haven't done it, but think the whole series would be terrific for dramatization.
December 7, 2022
November 14, 2012
How amazing is it that an early reader series can captivate readers of every level? Willems is brilliant: these books charm and delight us all. And I continue to be gobsmacked by how much he manages to convey in the illustrations that seem so simple.
***
7 December, 2022
All still true.
Library copy.
How amazing is it that an early reader series can captivate readers of every level? Willems is brilliant: these books charm and delight us all. And I continue to be gobsmacked by how much he manages to convey in the illustrations that seem so simple.
***
7 December, 2022
All still true.
Library copy.
October 4, 2012
I know this seems weird but I am worried that Elephant is becoming a caricature of himself. This installment was less subtle in its humor and I miss the added dimension that Willems usually includes.
January 21, 2013
I pretty much love every Elephant and Piggie adventure. I love Mo Willems. It's out there.
June 21, 2017
Love Elephant and Piggie.
March 25, 2020
I love this book. My mom is a teacher and watching her read it to her class made it even better for me. I think sometimes a story is just good until it has the right story teller to read it aloud. :)
April 15, 2022
The MOST fun to read aloud to a 2-4 year old! I love Elephant & Piggy’s drama! Have read numerous times to my Gson. Am making a Tonie recording for his bday.
March 7, 2024
"Who needs plans when you have a pig for a pal?"
April 14, 2024
I liked that it said “wait” a lot. It was funny!
February 2, 2018
I have never seen two characters having more fun in my whole life! Mo Willems fully captures the excitement of two friends preparing for a car ride. Nice twist at the end. Kids will love it! Highly recommended Grades K-2.
March 17, 2021
Having a first grader read to me is the best feeling in the world! Today, I was read to!
November 6, 2022
Julianna read this book to us. She gives it 5 stars. Silly cute book.
February 19, 2020
My favorite part was when they played pirates instead of going for a drive.
November 30, 2012
Mo Willems in general and his Elephant and Piggie books in particular are the best things to happen to children's literature since a guy named Steve started making lists of Best Things to Happen to ______ since _______ back in the 1870s. You could look up that Steve thing or just trust that I did not make it up.
In any case, the latest adventures of Gerald and Piggie involve typically hilarious preparations for a road trip and culminate in a punchline that is utterly charming and delightful even when your rational(ish) adult mind or not-yet-anaesthetized child mind sees it coming a mile away.
If this book seems weightier than it should, it's only because it's fairly bursting with love and heart and an inspiring friendship that is deeply and deftly realized with but a few simple strokes and dialogue balloons.
You should buy a copy for your child, or a random child, or an adult who has not lost the ability to experience the world with child-eyed wonder. Willems is the only--yeah, I said only--author who comes close to Dr. Seuss in depth and breadth of contribution to children's literature. With, one prays, a lengthy career yet ahead, Willems will one day be the children's author against whom all others are compared and found wanting. One does not say such a thing lightly, and I do not. Fortunately, it is a thousand times true, and therefore it is unlikely that I will ever have to apologize for saying it.
In any case, the latest adventures of Gerald and Piggie involve typically hilarious preparations for a road trip and culminate in a punchline that is utterly charming and delightful even when your rational(ish) adult mind or not-yet-anaesthetized child mind sees it coming a mile away.
If this book seems weightier than it should, it's only because it's fairly bursting with love and heart and an inspiring friendship that is deeply and deftly realized with but a few simple strokes and dialogue balloons.
You should buy a copy for your child, or a random child, or an adult who has not lost the ability to experience the world with child-eyed wonder. Willems is the only--yeah, I said only--author who comes close to Dr. Seuss in depth and breadth of contribution to children's literature. With, one prays, a lengthy career yet ahead, Willems will one day be the children's author against whom all others are compared and found wanting. One does not say such a thing lightly, and I do not. Fortunately, it is a thousand times true, and therefore it is unlikely that I will ever have to apologize for saying it.
June 16, 2014
As an elementary school librarian and a mom to two young kids, I firmly believe that Mo Willems is a genius. I recently acquired this book and it has strengthened my opinion. Willems continues to solidify his place as my favorite children's book author.
The Elephant and Piggie books are a series of easy-readers. I rarely enjoy reading fiction easy-readers, and thus have a tendency to avoid doing so. In an interview with Willems, he discussed how easy-readers are known in the publishing world as "hard-writers" because it so challenging to write a compelling story with just a few easy words. (Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss was one of (or maybe THE) first books to do this.) Willems nails the genre, and though I haven't read very many of them yet, this one is my favorite. I shared it with my kindergartners this year and quickly it became a magical interactive book with the classes of children that listened to it read aloud. Only a few pages in and everyone was chanting along.
"We need umbrellas!"
"I have umbrellas!"
"Get those umbrellas!"
And...
"Drive, Drive, Drivey Drive, Drive!"
The simple illustrations are nevertheless enchanting, with so much emotion shining through Elephant and Piggie's faces. My 4 year old is completely hooked on these books, partly because he enjoys looking for the pigeon in the end pages, and mostly because the books are simply wonderful.
The Elephant and Piggie books are a series of easy-readers. I rarely enjoy reading fiction easy-readers, and thus have a tendency to avoid doing so. In an interview with Willems, he discussed how easy-readers are known in the publishing world as "hard-writers" because it so challenging to write a compelling story with just a few easy words. (Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss was one of (or maybe THE) first books to do this.) Willems nails the genre, and though I haven't read very many of them yet, this one is my favorite. I shared it with my kindergartners this year and quickly it became a magical interactive book with the classes of children that listened to it read aloud. Only a few pages in and everyone was chanting along.
"We need umbrellas!"
"I have umbrellas!"
"Get those umbrellas!"
And...
"Drive, Drive, Drivey Drive, Drive!"
The simple illustrations are nevertheless enchanting, with so much emotion shining through Elephant and Piggie's faces. My 4 year old is completely hooked on these books, partly because he enjoys looking for the pigeon in the end pages, and mostly because the books are simply wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews