Elephant and Piggie Books, by Mo Willems
Simple, Educational Picture Books for All Ages.
Mo Willems’ appeal is that he keeps his pictures book simple. As good picture books do, each Elephant and Piggie book deals with one storyline in its handful of pages. Not only is one simple story evident, but also Willems manages a slight twist, a surprise, in each of the stories. He accomplishes the twist without leaving his young audience out of the loop. Willems adds humor and wit to this simplicity, and Elephant and Piggie are reminiscent of their childish audience.
Today I Will Fly
In Today I Will Fly, Piggie decides he wants to fly. The most impressive element of this story is that Willems does not stretch the boundaries of imagination; he does not have a pig miraculously fly. His story remains in the realm of possibility by finding a logical albeit comical way of allowing Piggie to fly: a bird and a rope provide his transportation. Willems message in this book is clear: anything is possible if you are creative in finding that possibility.
In I Am Invited to a Party!, Willems mimics the excitement of a child who has received his first party invitation. Elephant helps Piggie choose the best clothes to wear to the party, changing from fancy dress party clothes to swim party clothes to costume party clothes. But Elephant and Piggie and Willems audience are not disappointed to find out at the end which set of clothes is the best fit.
Educational and Exciting Picture Books
Another important thing to remember about Willems is his ability to appeal to toddlers, beginning readers, and, most importantly, parents. For toddlers, the simplicity and straightforwardness of the stories keep their interest. Since illustrations in pictures books are essential, Willems chooses simple pastel color schemes and thick lines; there are no loud colors and busy backgrounds to distract.
For beginning readers, Willems offers few words on each page. These are simple words, words that a beginning reader might practice with in any series of early reading books. The repetition helps with word recognition and reading skills.
Parents, then, appreciate the books’ natural ability to amuse and educate. Each book deals with a situation that children find themselves in, for Elephant and Piggie are clearly meant to mirror early age adolescents. The stories are ones parents can read both to and with their children and ones that children can learn to read with and to their parents.
Willems has created a set of children’s books marked with simplicity. They return to the easiness of yesteryear, without the grand illustrations and pretensions of some of today’s picture books. Instead, Willems offers easy to read, simply illustrated, exciting books for his young audience.
Today I Will Fly, Mo Willems. Hyperion Books for Children, March 2007. ISBN: 9781423102953
I Am Invited to a Party, Mo Willems. Hyperion Books for Children, July 2007. ISBN: 9781423106876
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles