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WORK TITLE: Are You Big?
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WEBSITE: http://www.mowillems.com/
CITY: Northampton
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COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 387
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Booklist vol. 118 no. 22 Aug. 1, 2022, Linda Ludke, “The FRUSTRATING Book!”.
Kirkus Reviews June 15, 2022, , “Willems, Mo: THE FRUSTRATING BOOK!”. p. NA.
Kirkus Reviews July 1, 2022, , “Willems, Mo: THE PIGEON WILL RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER!”. p. NA.
Booklist vol. 119 no. 1 Sept. 1, 2022, Fletcher, Connie. , “The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!”.
Publishers Weekly vol. 269 no. 49 Nov. 23, 2022, , “It’s a Sign! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!).”. p. 119.
Kirkus Reviews Jan. 1, 2024, , “Willems, Mo: ARE YOU BIG?”. p. NA.
Publishers Weekly vol. 270 no. 44 Oct. 30, 2023, , “Are You Big?”. p. 97.
Mo Willems
Mo gets to spend his days writing funny books and plays for people who have not learned how to be embarrassed yet.
Birthday
February 11
Best Friend
My wife
Favorite Color
Rust
Food I Like Best
Kimchi
Hobby
Doodling
BOOOOORING... None of this stuff is about ME.
Did You Mo?
Did you Mo that... Mo is the inaugural Education Artist-in-Residence at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC?
Did you Mo that... many of Mo’s books have been made into animated films?
Did you Mo that... there are three musicals based on Mo’s books: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical; Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!; and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience!
Did you Mo that... from January 19 to May 12, The Pigeon Comes to Tampa: A Mo Willems Exhibit is open at the Glazer Children’s Museum?
Did you Mo that... Mo started his career as a writer and animator for Sesame Street, where he earned six Emmy Awards?
About Mo Willems
Mo Willems is an author, illustrator, animator, and playwright. He was the inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence (2019-2022), and he continues to collaborate in creating fun new stuff involving classical music, opera, comedy concerts, dance, painting and digital works with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Ben Folds, Yo-Yo Ma, and others.
Willems is best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling picture books, which have been awarded three Caldecott Honors (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale; Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity), and his celebrated Elephant and Piggie early reader series, which has been awarded two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors.
Mo's art has been exhibited around the world, including major solo retrospectives at the High Museum (Atlanta) and the New-York Historical Society (NYC). Over the last decade, Willems has become the most produced playwright of Theater for Young Audiences in America, having written or co-written four musicals based on his books.
He began his career as a writer and animator on PBS' Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards (writing). Other television work includes two series on Cartoon Network: Sheep in the Big City (creator + head writer) and Codename: Kids Next Door (head writer). Mo's recent TV projects include the live action comedy special Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! and an animated rock opera special based on Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, which originally premiered on HBO Max. In April 2023, Mo will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! with the publication of Be the Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon (Union Square Kids, April 4, 2023), a humor book for adults, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! 20th Anniversary Edition (Hyperion Books for Children, April 4, 2023) including an exclusive board game. His papers reside at Yale University's Beinecke Library.
About me
Industry Arts
Occupation Collaborator in Books, Theater, TV, Art, Music, & Doodles
Introduction Always think of your audience, never think for your audience.
Mo Willems
“
I always think of my audience, but never think for my audience.
— Mo Willems
Mo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions (for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity.) Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was also an inaugural inductee into the Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame. Mo’s celebrated Elephant and Piggie early reader series has been awarded two Theodor Seuss Geisel Medals (for There is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?) and five Geisel Honors (for We Are in a Book!, I Broke My Trunk! Let’s Go For a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball, and Waiting Is Not Easy!) In 2019, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC named Mo the first-ever Education Artist-in -Residence. Mo began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy awards.
Waterville Celebrates Bestselling Children’s Book Author and Illustrator Mo Willems
ANNOUNCEMENTS4 MIN READ
The acclaimed author will speak at Colby and receive an honorary degree and also offer events for community children
A beloved author, illustrator, animator, and playwright, Mo Willems is best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling picture books. (Photo by Chris Fortuna)
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By George Sopko
March 7, 2024
To help celebrate the arts in Waterville and the inaugural year of the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, Colby College is pleased to announce that acclaimed author Mo Willems will speak at Colby and receive an honorary degree on Monday, March 18. The College, Waterville Creates, and the Waterville Public Library will offer associated events for community children on March 16.
Best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling picture books—Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity—Willems is a beloved author, illustrator, animator, and playwright. He was the inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence (2019-2022) and continues to collaborate on creating projects involving classical music, opera, comedy concerts, dance, painting, and digital works. He began his career as a writer and animator on PBS KIDS’ Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards (writing), and last year published Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! 20th Anniversary Edition.
Willems will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree, the highest honor the College bestows to recognize accomplishments and achievements that reflects its ideals, values, and aspirations. Willems will engage in a conversation with Tracey Keevan, an editorial director at publisher Union Square & Co., about his creative process and how he built a career that spans multiple modes of creative expression. The event, at 4 p.m. in the Performance Hall of the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, is free and open to the public. RSVP here.
“Throughout his remarkable career, Mo Willems has made an impact on countless children, inspiring a passion for reading, drawing, and creating through a range of mediums,” said Colby President David A. Greene. “His innovative collaborations make art accessible to all and demonstrate the power of the arts to bring people together and bring joy to our lives.”
Mo Willems cartoon characters_small
(Credit: Art ©️ Hidden Pigeon, LLC)
In celebration of his visit, the Waterville Public Library will host a read-aloud of his books at the Waterville Public Library on Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event is for children and their parents and caregivers, and participants will have the opportunity to take photos with Willems’s iconic Pigeon character. Free copies of the newest book by Willems, The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!, will be available while supplies last.
Also on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Waterville Creates will host an “ART-ivity” event for children of all ages at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center on Main Street. Activities from Willems’s We Are in an ART-ivity Book!—drawing, coloring, sculpting, gaming, puzzling—will be available to complete at the center, and copies of the book will be provided while supplies last. Pigeon will also be attending this event and will continue to be available for photographs.
“We’re delighted to partner with Colby and the Waterville Public Library to offer these special events for children in our community,” said Patricia King, vice president of Waterville Creates. “Mo Willems’s commitment to exploring new artistic expressions and pushing the boundaries of the creative process has endeared him to millions, and the activities downtown will continue our celebration of Youth Art Month.”
Willems’s visit celebrates how the city is evolving into a dynamic arts destination with a unique set of venues and attractions that are unparalleled in Northern New England. A key part of this is developing an exciting mix of programming that brings to life the amazing arts assets that the area has to offer and allows residents and visitors to see and experience a wide range of wonderful art and artists.
About Mo
Author and illustrator Mo Willems has been awarded the American Library Association’s Caldecott Honor three times for his picture book illustration. Additionally, he is the recipient of two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors for his Elephant & Piggie early readers. Mo began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. His work has been exhibited around the world, including solo retrospectives at the High Museum in Atlanta and the New-York Historical Society. Over the last decade, Mo has written three musical theater works based on his books, two of which were commissioned and toured by the Kennedy Center. His papers reside at Yale University’s Beinecke Library.
The creator of The Pigeon series, Knuffle Bunny, and Elephant & Piggie, Mo will develop and present multidisciplinary programming and performances across the Kennedy Center including theater, jazz, dance, classical music, comedy, digital experience, and outreach over the next two years. Audiences will play, participate, and create with cross-genre experiences and world premieres seen nowhere else.
Highlights in Mo’s residency include the world premiere of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Musical); the world premiere orchestral rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (a Symphonic Spectacular) with music composed by Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor Ben Folds for the National Symphony Orchestra; Mo Willems & the Storytime All-Stars present: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!, a comedic celebration of reading; an interactive Jazz Doodle Jam! in partnership with Jazz Programming and Jason Moran; and more.
With a career spanning television, theater, books, and exhibits plus a ten-year association with the Kennedy Center, Mo is an exciting choice for this inaugural Artist-in-Residence. “I am thrilled by this opportunity,” says Mr. Willems. “I can’t wait to play and explore with the incredible talent available to the Kennedy Center while hopefully encouraging kids and the grown-ups in their lives to join in the fun.”
Mo Willems' bossy Pigeon makes his operatic debut
APRIL 24, 20234:14 PM ET
HEARD ON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
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Isabella Gomez Sarmiento
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Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! turns 20 this month. To mark the anniversary, Willems and Renee Fleming presented the pigeon's story in an opera at the Kennedy Center.
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AILSA CHANG, HOST:
This month marks 20 years since Mo Willems published his first picture book, "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!" It has sold more than 6 million copies and received a Caldecott honor. But this past weekend, readers got to see and hear a brand-new side of the bossy bird. As NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports, The Pigeon made his operatic debut at Washington's Kennedy Center.
ISABELLA GOMEZ SARMIENTO, BYLINE: Mo Willems says most of the characters in his children's books are born in an idea garden. He spends years thinking about them, developing them, figuring out the stories they'll be a part of.
MO WILLEMS: The Pigeon was not that. The Pigeon showed up one day while I was trying to write a great picture book - this before I had ever been published - and The Pigeon said, don't. Don't write this. It's not any good. You should write about me.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!" was about a pigeon - last name - Pigeon, first name - The - who asks, begs, demands to get a chance to drive a bus while the driver is on break. Twenty years on, Willems has taken The Pigeon to school, to ride a roller coaster and, now, to the opera.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #1: (Singing, inaudible).
WILLEMS: I know nothing about opera, and that made it really compelling. And then I discovered that opera and picture books are both about very big emotions.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: Big emotions like love...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #2: (Singing) Knuffle bunny, my number one-y (ph), since I was one-y...
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: ...Disgust...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #3: (Singing, inaudible).
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: ...And sadness.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #4: (Singing) The ice cream truck's broken...
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: The performance, titled "The Ice Cream Truck Is Broken! & Other Emotional Arias," premiered over the weekend. It was written in collaboration with singer Renee Fleming.
RENEE FLEMING: Well, we're definitely not used to this laughter. We're not used to laughter at all, really. There are comedies in opera, but they haven't really been in my repertoire so much.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: Both Willems and Fleming stressed that they really wanted kids and parents to have fun. One way to do that is to address the audience directly. At one point, multiple pigeons ask...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: So can we stay up late?
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL GROUP: (Singing, inaudible).
BETSY KLOSSEN: I think the most fun thing was when we actually got to sing and tell the pigeon, no, no, no, no, no.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: That's Betsy Klossen, who attended the show with her nieces.
KLOSSEN: For us to be able to be part of a brand-new world premiere opera was very exciting.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: Carlos Simon composed The Pigeon's aria.
CARLOS SIMON: With classical music, it can be this element of, like, I am singing the song. you will not clap. You will not speak or you not do anything. You know, these rules that have become part of the genre - well, we want to kind of break those down.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: That way, they also got to emphasize The Pigeon's persuasive skills, which he's been sharpening for two decades now. I asked Mo Willems if he thinks The Pigeon has grown up at all during that time.
WILLEMS: I like how determined The Pigeon is, and I think that maybe I see The Pigeon now as more determined than obnoxious, so maybe I'm growing.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL GROUP: (Singing) A sleepy party, a snore-y (ph), snore-y, sleepy party.
GOMEZ SARMIENTO: Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News, Washington.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #1: (Singing) A sleepy party...
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #2: (Singing) ...Where every dream seems so surreal.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #1: (Singing) A sleepy party...
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST #3: (Singing)...Filled with cobwebs everywhere.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL GROUP: (Singing) We love how this dreamy dream (inaudible)...
Mo Willems
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mo Willems
Willems at the Mazza Museum Fall 2012 Conference
Willems at the Mazza Museum Fall 2012 Conference
Born February 11, 1968 (age 56)
Des Plaines, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Author, illustrator, animator, voice actor
Education New York University (BFA)
Spouse Cheryl Camp (m. 1997)
Children Trix Willems
Website
mowillemsworkshop.com
Mo Willems (born February 11, 1968) is an American writer, animator, voice actor, and children's book author. His work includes creating the animated television series Sheep in the Big City for Cartoon Network, working on Sesame Street and The Off-Beats, and creating the popular children's book series Elephant and Piggie.
Willems was born in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Illinois[1][2] and was raised in New Orleans, where he graduated from Trinity Episcopal School[3] and the Isidore Newman School.[4][5] He graduated cum laude[6] from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Three of Willems' books have been awarded a Caldecott Honor, for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity.[7] The third book also won the Indies Choice Book Award for Children's Illustrated Book.[8]
Life
Early life
When Willems was about 3 years of age, he took interest in cartoon artwork, drawing and creating his own characters. Willems enjoyed writing stories about his characters to share with others. However, he was disappointed when adults would praise his work politely, as he wanted feedback on the quality of his stories. To fix this dilemma, Willems wrote comedic stories, following the notion that even polite adults would not fake a laugh. When adults laughed, Willems assumed his story was good, and if the adults only gave polite comments, Willems assumed his story needed improvement.[9]
After graduating from Tisch, Willems spent a year traveling around the world drawing a cartoon every day, all of which have been published in the book You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons.[10]
Career
Returning to New York, he started his career as a writer and animator for Sesame Street, where he earned six Emmy Awards for writing during his tenure from 1993 to January 2002.[11] The segments he wrote and animated for the show included a series of short segments featuring the recurring character Susie Kabloozie, and her pet cat, Feff. During this period he also performed stand-up comedy in NYC and recorded essays for BBC Radio along with making a promo for Cartoon Network and animating the opening for a show on Nickelodeon. He later created two animated television series: The Off-Beats for Nickelodeon and Sheep in the Big City for Cartoon Network.[12] Sheep in the Big City was a success with the critics but ultimately failed to attract sufficient viewership and was canceled after two seasons. Willems later worked as head writer on the first four seasons of Codename: Kids Next Door,[12] created by one of his colleagues from Sheep, Tom Warburton. He left the show to pursue his writing career.
Since 2003, Willems has authored numerous books for young children, many of which have garnered significant critical acclaim. The New York Times Book Review referred to Willems as "the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's"[13] — and to his pigeon character as "one of this decade's contributions to the pantheon of great picture book characters."[14] He also creates the Elephant and Piggie books, an early reader series about a friendly elephant and pig. In 2010, Willems introduced a new series of books featuring Cat the Cat, also aimed at early readers.[15]
Willems' books have been translated into a number of languages, spawned animated shorts that have twice been awarded the Carnegie Medal (Knuffle Bunny, 2007,[16] and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, 2010[17]), and been developed into theatrical musical productions. His illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.[18] He made several appearances on NPR's All Things Considered as the show's "radio cartoonist" in 2008.[19]
In 2019, Willems was named the Kennedy Center's first education artist-in-residence.[20] In 2020, the Center sponsored a series of virtual lunch doodles with Mo Willems as a way of keeping children entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic.[21]
Awards
In 2005, his book Leonardo, the Terrible Monster was named a Time Magazine Best Children's Book; it was also awarded a Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book in 2006.[22]
Two animated versions of his books were awarded Carnegie Medals (Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!)[23]
Elephant & Piggie books won two Theodor Seuss Geisel Medals, for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?, and five Geisel Honors, for We Are in a Book!, I Broke My Trunk!, Let's Go for a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball!, and Waiting Is Not Easy![24] His 2009 I Love My New Toy! earned him a Golden Kite Award.[25]
The Pigeon Needs a Bath was awarded the Best Picture Book award by Goodreads in 2014.[26] The Thank You Book was awarded the same award by Goodreads in 2016.[27]
Willems won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Children's Series six times for his work on Sesame Street between 1995 and 2001.[22]
In 2019, Willems was named the Best of Brooklyn, during the Brooklyn Book Festival.[28]
In 2020, Willems recorded an audio book, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!, for which he was nominated for the Audie Award for Young Listeners.[29] The same book had Willems on the NY Times Bestseller list for 11 weeks running.[30]
Personal life
He married Cheryl Camp in Brooklyn, New York, in 1997.[6] They reside in Northampton, Massachusetts.[31]
Bibliography
Willems has worked on a number of books on his own, as well as submitting work for other compilations.
As author
Pigeon series
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2003) — Caldecott Honor (2004),[7] Charlotte Zolotow Commendation[32]
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (2004)
The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! (2005)
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! (2005)
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! (2006)
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (2008)
The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (2012) — Irma Black Honor (2013)[33]
Don't Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book! (2012)
The Pigeon Needs a Bath! (2014)
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! (2019)
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! (2022)
Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon (2023)
Knuffle Bunny series
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (2004) — Caldecott Honor (2005),[7] Charlotte Zolotow Honor 2005[32]
Knuffle Bunny 2: A Case of Mistaken Identity (2007) — Caldecott Honor (2008)[7]
Knuffle Bunny 3: An Unexpected Diversion (2010)
Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct (2006)
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster (2005) — Charlotte Zolotow Commendation[32]
Time to Pee! (2003)
Time to Say "Please"! (2005)
You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons (2006)
Elephant & Piggie series
Today I Will Fly! (2007)
My Friend is Sad (2007)
I Am Invited to a Party! (2007)
There Is a Bird on Your Head! (2007) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal (2008)[24]
I Love My New Toy! (2008)
I Will Surprise My Friend! (2008)
Are You Ready to Play Outside? (2008) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal (2009)[24]
Watch Me Throw the Ball! (2009)
Elephants Cannot Dance! (2009)
Pigs Make Me Sneeze! (2009)
I Am Going! (2010)
Can I Play Too? (2010)
We Are in a Book! (2010) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2011)[24]
I Broke My Trunk! (2011) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2012)[24]
Should I Share My Ice Cream? (2011)
Happy Pig Day! (2011)
Listen to My Trumpet! (2012)
Let's Go for a Drive! (2012) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2013)[24]
A Big Guy Took My Ball! (2013) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2014)[24]
I'm a Frog! (2013)
My New Friend Is So Fun! (2014)
Waiting Is Not Easy! (2014) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2015)[24]
I Will Take a Nap! (2015)
I Really Like Slop! (2015)
The Thank You Book (2016)
Elephant and Piggie Presents series (written by other authors)
We Are Growing! (2016)
The Cookie Fiasco (2016)
The Good for Nothing Button (2017)
It's Shoe Time! (2017)
The Itchy Book! (2018)
Harold & Hog Pretend for Real! (2019)
What About Worms?! (2020)
I'm On It! (2021)
It's A Sign! (2022)
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (2009)
Big Frog Can't Fit In: A Pop-Out Book (2009)
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (2012) — Irma Black Honor (2013)[33]
That is NOT a Good Idea! (2013) — Irma Black Medal (2014)[33]
Don't Pigeonhole Me! (2013)
Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator! (2011)
Cat the Cat series
Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (2010)
Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly (2010)
What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound? (2010)
Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep! (2010)
City Dog, Country Frog (2010) — Charlotte Zolotow Honor[32]
The Story of Diva and Flea (2015), illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Nanette's Baguette (2016)
Sam, the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World (2017)
Welcome (2017)
A Busy Creature's Day Eating (2018)
Unlimited Squirrels series
I Lost My Tooth! (2018)
Who is the Mystery Reader? (2019)
I Want to Sleep Under the Stars! (2020)
The EVERYTHING Book! (2022)
Because (2019), illustrated by Amber Ren
As animator
The Man Who Yelled (1990)
Ira Sleeps Over (1991) (animator)
A Child's Garden of Verses (1992) (layout)
Iddy Biddy Beat Boy (1993) (director)
Cartoon Network "Closedown" (design) (1993)
Beavis and Butt-Head (layout and design) (1993–1994)
Sesame Street (various shorts, including Suzie Kabloozie and I'm an Octopus) (1993–1999)
Another Bad Day for Philip Jenkins (1994)
Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger (1995) (animator)
Crazy Owen (promo for Cartoon Network) (1995)
Nickelodeon "Rhino ID" (design) (1996)
The Off-Beats (1996–1998)
Short Films by Short People (show open) (1997)
An Off-Beats Valentine's (1999)
Life (1999; 6-minute short)
Sheep in the Big City (2000–2002)
Codename: Kids Next Door (2002–2008)
My Fair Lady (2003)
LazyTown (2004) (writer)
Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: Z.E.R.O. (2006)
Sit Down, Shut Up (character designer) (2009)
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience (2022)[34]
QUOTED: "Willems' inimitable comedic timing, animated cartoon characters, and witty repartee."
The FRUSTRATING Book! By Mo Willems. Illus. by the author. Sept. 2022.96p. Disney/Hyperion, $12.99 (9781368074827). K-Gr. 3.
In the zany fifth entry in the Unlimited Squirrels series, Zoom Squirrel stops by his pals' "feelings" kiosk and eagerly tries on proffered new emotions. First up is disappointment. Zoom is ready, but the hawker squirrels consult their clipboard schedule and advise a "disappointment appointment," leaving Zoom dismayed at the delay. An alternative emotion, frustration, is temptingly offered, but when that feeling is out of stock, Zoom sees red. The squirrels check their inventory and find a favorite old feeling to embrace: "LOVE!" Speech bubbles with boldfaced words, plenty of pleasing repetition, and "emote-acorn" emojis all support readers in their understanding of the text and naming and recognizing emotions in themselves and others. More laughs are provided by "Acorn-y" joke pages, and conversations are encouraged with Research Rodents question, "What do you do when you get frustrated?" Willems' inimitable comedic timing, animated cartoon characters, and witty repartee give beginning readers all the big feels.--Linda Ludke
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Ludke, Linda. "The FRUSTRATING Book!" Booklist, vol. 118, no. 22, 1 Aug. 2022, pp. 55+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A714679542/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a7a30f33. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
QUOTED: "The Unlimited Squirrels series finds its footing in the identifiable."
Willems, Mo THE FRUSTRATING BOOK! Disney-Hyperion (Children's None) $12.99 9, 27 ISBN: 978-1-368-07482-7
Crank the irritation level up to HIGH as the latest Unlimited Squirrels offering explores a quintessential childhood feeling.
Frustration has its day, and in many different forms. Willems has always used his Unlimited Squirrels as a way to deliver easy-reader sketch-comedy segments � la Laugh-In or Hee-Haw. Running gags pop up periodically, like Happy Squirrel's repeatedly thwarted attempts to say something only to be repeatedly stopped by the stage manager. There are the customary groan-inducing "It's Acorn-y Joke Time" gags. And there are the longer sections, like a legitimately amusing storyline involving Zoom Squirrel discovering new emotions. Research Rodent is on hand, asking the squirrels how they deal with frustrations; their helpful responses include taking deep breaths, solving problems new ways, and counting lucky stars. Whether kids will retain these lessons is by no means a given, but they provide a nice breather (no pun intended) between the jokes. Little wonder that this book is one of the more enjoyable outings with the Willems squirrels. After all, the author did make his name with a pigeon book that leaned heavily on that very same emotion. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
The Unlimited Squirrels series finds its footing in the identifiable. (Easy reader. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Willems, Mo: THE FRUSTRATING BOOK!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A706932878/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=142049db. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
QUOTED: "Roller-coaster enthusiasts or not, children will eagerly join our intrepid hero on this entertaining ride."
Willems, Mo THE PIGEON WILL RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER! Union Square Kids (Children's None) $17.99 9, 6 ISBN: 978-1-4549-4686-1
The Pigeon is on an emotional--and physical--roller coaster.
Since learning about the existence of roller coasters, he's become giddy with excitement. The Pigeon prepares mentally: He'll need a ticket and "exemplary patience" to wait in line. He envisions zooming up and down and careening through dizzying turns and loops. Then, he imagines his emotions afterward: exhilaration, post-ride blues, pride at having accomplished such a feat, and enthusiasm at the prospect of riding again. (He'll also feel dizzy and nauseous.) All this before the Pigeon ever sets claw on an actual coaster. So will he really try it? Are roller coasters fun? When the moment comes, everything seems to go according to plan: waiting in line, settling into the little car, THEN--off he goes! Though the ride itself isn't quite what the Pigeon expected, it will delight readers. Wearing his feelings on his wing and speaking directly to the audience in first person, the Pigeon describes realistic thoughts and emotions about waiting and guessing about the unknown--common childhood experiences. No sentiment is misplaced; kids will relate to Pigeon's eagerness and apprehension. The ending falls somewhat flat, but the whole humorous point is that an underwhelming adventure can still be thrilling enough to warrant repeating. Willems' trademark droll illustrations will have readers giggling. The roller-coaster attendant is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Roller-coaster enthusiasts or not, children will eagerly join our intrepid hero on this entertaining ride. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Willems, Mo: THE PIGEON WILL RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A708486935/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8f3c7677. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
QUOTED: "This latest is one of the best in Willems' flock of Pigeon adventures."
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! By Mo Willems. Illus. by the author. Sept 2022.40p. Union Square Kids, $17-99 (9781454946861). PreS-K.
Almost 20 years after Willems introduced his very determined, resistant-to-reason Pigeon in the Caldecott Honor Book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2003), a new vehicle holds an irresistible allure for Pigeon: a roller coaster that he imagines will be filled with beak-breaking ascents and feather-ruffling loop-the-loops. Pigeon, red hearts surrounding him and feathers flying off him in his passion, tells readers that he's been excited about roller coasters ever since he heard about them--10 minutes ago. He mentally rehearses every aspect of the ride, recognizing that there will be difficult parts, like standing in line, with two double-page spreads showing Pigeons vision of riding gloriously until he gets sick at the end of the ride ("ooohhhhh," Pigeon imagines groaning while staggering off the ride). When Pigeon finally overcomes all obstacles and gets on that roller coaster, it moves in a very tame straight line with one tiny bump near the ride's start, but Pigeon still loves it. Willems' spare illustrations put the spotlight right where it belongs, on Pigeon's incredibly expressive body language, flapping and flopping through the comic panels. Pigeon is one multifaceted bird, and this latest is one of the best in Willems' flock of Pigeon adventures.--Connie Fletcher
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Fletcher, Connie. "The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!" Booklist, vol. 119, no. 1, 1 Sept. 2022, pp. 82+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A718452356/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=bd23448e. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
QUOTED: "cleverly builds on a concept while tapping into readers' passion for categorization."
It's a Sign! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!)
Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey, with Mo Willems. Hyperion, $10.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-368-07584-8
The Pumphrey brothers (Somewhere in the Bayou) join this series with an all-dialogue early reader that cleverly builds on a concept while tapping into readers' passion for categorization. Foam-stamped, digitally finished illustrations, set against minimalist backgrounds, introduce four critters of varying size and color (their dialogue balloons are similarly color-coded), who each have pointy ears, long noses, saucer eyes, and bushy, spotted tails (the number of spots correspond to the order in which they're introduced). Bright orange One is the club's instigator, but though One can make paper hats, the animal can't write the sign needed to announce the group's existence. Red Two, who knows "EVERY letter" individually, makes a sign that reads a ("It is a letter AND a word"). Yellow Kat can seemingly write any three-letter word that rhymes with its name, and so makes a sign that reads "HAT." And finally, purple-hued Four makes a sign that reads "CLUB." So what should the crew be named? "A. HAT CLUB" certainly seems logical, but One's creativity goes someplace far funnier. Welcoming and unabashedly appreciative of each other's talents--and new readers' needs--the critters model the kind of club that anyone would be happy to join. Ages 5-8.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
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"It's a Sign! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!)." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 49, 23 Nov. 2022, p. 119. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A728494044/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d7654f2a. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
QUOTED: "Vast charm in a (relatively) small package yields big laughs."
Willems, Mo ARE YOU BIG? Union Square Kids (Children's None) $17.99 2, 6 ISBN: 9781454948186
Size may be relative, but that doesn't mean it can't also get silly.
How large or small a kid is can take on outsized importance, so right from the start, an unseen narrator poses the titular question. Well, what is "big," exactly? Our stand-in, purple-skinned child is placed next to an anthropomorphized bespectacled hot-air balloon. After all, hot-air balloons are big. On the next spread, the balloon is beside an even larger cloud. And beside the cloud? A storm. When the continent of Australia walks onto the scene, grinning wide, dwarfing the storm, we get a hint of how ridiculous things are about to get. And indeed, in walks the moon. Then Earth. Then the sun. Then the star Pollux, and beyond that are galaxies and galaxy clusters. Suddenly the question returns. "So, are you big?" A little bug cries out, "You are to ME!" Further facts about relative sizes appear at the story's end, as well as a necessary caveat that the images are not to scale. With aplomb, Willems plays with textures, colors, and layering in a style that resembles cut paper. Meanwhile the steady one-upmanship of the large bodies allows for the rare combination of scientific backing, read-aloud humor, and a concrete message about where one stands in the grand scheme of things.
Vast charm in a (relatively) small package yields big laughs. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Willems, Mo: ARE YOU BIG?" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777736656/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4a0ba967. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
QUOTED: "spare, sprightly thought experiment."
* Are You Big?
Mo Willems. Union Square Kids, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4549-4818-6
Willems (Opposites Abstract) takes the idea of relative size and pursues it all the way out into the universe in this conceptual title. "Are you big?" a narrating voice asks via bold, blocky text that occupies the book's verso pages throughout. On the adjacent recto, a lilac-faced human figure stands expectantly on stick arms and legs. A page turn later, a bespectacled red balloon appears: "A hot air balloon is big." The now-smaller-seeming stick figure peers up at it. Next, a cutout cloud strides onstage atop long legs, dwarfing the hot air balloon and the figure: "A cloud is big." As the pattern continues ("A storm is big"), balloon and cloud shrink comparatively, and the stick figure is reduced to the size of a pencil eraser. Then Australia shows up, shrinking the stick figure to the size of a pencil point. As larger--and more galactic--entities arrive, the line of dwarfed objects grows longer, until a late entrant hints at the possibility of a parallel series of objects growing smaller and smaller. Size depends entirely on context, Willems hints in this spare, sprightly thought experiment, whose back matter compares all of the objects included at scale. Ages 3-5. Agent: Mania Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Feb.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 PWxyz, LLC
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"Are You Big?" Publishers Weekly, vol. 270, no. 44, 30 Oct. 2023, p. 97. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A773381012/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3a6212d4. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.