Who Knows Mo?

Know this guy? 

Well, you should. His name is Mo Willems & he's only just about the best children's book author around. How do I know? Because I've seen kids fight over who gets to read his books first, you can hear a pin drop when you read them aloud or you can hear kids laugh hysterically over the pictures & nod their heads as they listen. They have a connection with his story. Oh & he's won about a gazillion awards, that's all.

Know this one? 

                

  Or, this one?

                                             

                                  How about these two?

Sounds like you have some reading to do!

Mo Knows Kids

These books are written for kids, pure & simple. The pictures are as entertaining as the subject matter. They love the crazy Pigeon & his ridiculous antics. They love to scream "NO!" when he asks to drive the bus. Kids can relate to Trixie in Knuffle Bunny & her attachment to her rabbit. They understand the relationship between Elephant & Piggie & what it's like to have a best friend. These books fit perfectly into a child's world & cover subject matters that are important to them. 
Also, Mo used to write for Sesame Street, 'nuff said.

Mo Knows Parents

Is there anything more torturous than reading a boring children's book? Ugh, I can bring a few to mind that make me shudder. They're too long, too cutesy, too overdone, too long... we've all been there, reading the words as our minds wander. Mo's books are the complete opposite. They're quick, to the point & funny, full of imagery & irony. 

One of my all time favorite lines is from Knuffle Bunny. Trixie has gone to the laundromat with her father & brought along her beloved Knuffle Bunny. On the way back home, she realizes that she's left Knuffle Bunny at the laundromat & begins to flip out, like only a toddler can. Mo is describing her meltdown & uses the phrase, "she goes boneless." Ever had a toddler go boneless on you? I have had plenty do that thing where their shoulders become useless & there's no way you're gracefully picking that mini-monster up. We've all been there (as well!) & just like this book, it ain't pretty.

When Trixie gets back home to her mother, her mother immediately asks about Knuffle Bunny & the dad finally gets what she's upset about... I'll let you draw your own conclusion there. I do have to say that if Trixie had gone to the laundromat with her mother this story probably wouldn't exist. Are you with me, ladies? (No offense, dads ;)

Mo Knows Education

I had a friend once tell me that her daughter taught herself to read using the Elephant & Piggie series. So I did some investigation & it turns out, she's spot on. The Elephant & Piggie books contain repeated text, high-frequency words & simple pictures with illustrations that match the text. Boom! What a great tool right at your fingertips! The Pigeon series contains speech or "talking" bubbles, a great (and fun!) example to use when teaching children how to enhance their writing. See? Learning IS fun! 

Get to know Mo, you won't be disappointed!

* I am in no way compensated for this post, I just love a great book (or ten).

* All of my Mo-info & his picture came from his website www.mowillems.com/

Check it out!