Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
by Mo Willems
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is a brilliantly simple book. It starts with a bus driver, who has to step away from his bus so tells the reader: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus." This seems like a silly request, but soon a pigeon appears on the scene and starts in with "Hey, can I drive?" Being told no, he launches into "ever-escalating, increasingly silly bargaining" that captures "the essence of unreasonableness in the very young." (School Library Jrnl)
We love this book. Willems has a talent for creating deceptively simple stories that really speak to kids. When adults read this book, they inevitably think "Oh, that is so brilliant." And when kids hear it for the first time, they inevitably recognize something familiar in the pigeon's theatrics. The simplicity of the illustrations is truly part of the magic. Mo Willems has such a wonderful talent for imbuing his illustrated characters with an overabundance of personality!
This book won a Caldecott Honor in 2004!
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Reading Level
Interest
Level: Preschool - Grade 2
DRA Level: 16
Guided Reading: I
Lexile Measure: 120L
Read-Aloud vs. Individual Reading:
For
kids in preschool to first grade, this book
will need to be a read-aloud rather than for individual reading, as the
reading level will be too high for the majority of them. Ideally, first graders will be able to read this book by the end of the school year, and most second graders will be able to read this one on their own.
See Inside Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Below are pages from inside Don't
Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. We love the progression of his requests, up to the
desperate pleading that the pigeon resorts to when his initial requests
to drive the bus are denied. Kids will love seeing the pigeon act this
way since they will absolutely recognize this behavior! And
for such a simply drawn little bird, this character is bursting with
personality and drama, drama, drama.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Lesson/Activity Idea
Some children don't know where to begin when they want to draw something. They see the whole rather than the parts, and when unable to translate that into a drawing, they decide they 'just aren't good at art.' Now and then it can be helpful to show children--in steps--how to draw something. It builds confidence and teaches students that drawing is a process-- one pencil stroke at a time!
We thought of doing this for the pigeon in the book because the overall shapes and look can easily be replicated. This is a creature that children often feel they have a shot at drawing well. Of course, when Mo Willems draws it, he imbues the bird with tons of character and charm, whereas our step-by-step bird at right is pretty basic. But trust us, your students will be absolutely delighted by the results!
We suggest drawing each step on the board and having students follow along, one step at a time, at their desk. To see step-by-step process, click here.
