Day 191: Should I Share My Ice Cream?

Mo Willems might just be our household's favorite children's author.  Whether it's Gerald and Piggie, the beloved bus-obsessed Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny and Trixie, or Leonardo the Terrible Monster, we just can't get enough of Mo's characters.  I thought about saving this book until we're having more ice cream friendly weather, but we've been loving this story so much lately that I just couldn't wait!  

If you know Elephant and Piggie, you know how fabulous and funny their books are.  If you don't, you need to go to the library and get some of them immediately.  Seriously.  They are an absolute must for any preschooler's collection.  Mo Willems has the amazing ability to draw simple, yet wonderfully expressive characters while telling fabulously funny stories with easy-to-read text.  These were some of the very first books my son ever read on his own, and while we loved these books long before he could read, I appreciate their brilliance even more now.  We love all of the tales in the Elephant and Piggie series, but this is among our favorites.  It's one of my daughter's most requested stories at the moment, despite the fact that it's silliness always gets her more excited than sleepy at bedtime and naptime.  On second thought, maybe that's why she likes it so much...  

Gerald loves ice cream, and in this fantastically fun story, he is trying to decide whether to share his delicious treat with his best friend, Piggie.  It's so yummy, Piggie will be sure to love it, too... But wait!  Piggie is not there!  She'll never know he had the ice cream... But it would make her so happy to have some.  Should Gerald share his ice cream with her??  We've all been there before, haven't we?  I know my kids can certainly relate.  They know it's nice and polite to share with others, but as we all know, sometimes that's easier said than done... especially when it comes to something as delicious as ice cream!  The silly series of events throughout this story is bound to make your little ones laugh out loud, and my guess is you'll think this book is pretty hilarious, too.  And don't be afraid to get silly and carried away while you read it aloud.  It's much more fun that way!  While the ensuing giggle-fests might not be the most conducive to sleep at bedtime, this story is an all-around awesome read at any time of day.  

Day 86: We Are in a Book!

Mo Willems has to be one of my absolute favorite children's book authors.  His books are clever, witty, silly, fun and a HUGE hit here in our household.  I'm not always sure who laughs louder when we read them, my son or us!  I received a Borders gift card as a birthday present recently, and used it to order a few of the many titles on our "must own" list.  Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie books were buy one, get one 50% off, so I ordered four of them.  We gave my son We Are in a Book! yesterday and to say he loved it is an understatement.  He and my husband laughed their way through the whole story, and were only a few pages in when my son said, in between giggles, "This is such a silly book!"  Then, of course, came "Bananas!" said over and over again to fits of hysterical laughter.  "I have more to give!  More words!  More jokes!  More 'bananas!'"  Mo Willems is a master of taking incredibly simple illustrations and bringing them to life to tell a wonderful story.  He is also a master of engaging his readers.  Just like in the Pigeon books, he makes the reader part of the story.  This kind of audience interaction is sheer brilliance.  We especially love the way Piggie comes forward to the edge of the page to see us.  This is another series that is perfect for preschoolers and emerging readers.  And not to worry, Gerald.  Your books are sure to be read over and over again in our house.