LS 5603 Picture Book Review #1

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2003 DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078681988X

PLOT SUMMARY
DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS has a unique beginning with the driver of a bus speaking to the reader and/or listeners via a speech bubble in common everyday language. The bus driver makes a request for someone to keep watch until he returns with the one stipulation of not letting the pigeon drive the bus! The story continues with the first person portrayal of the pigeon who displays many behaviors that a young audience might recognize: begging, pleading, bargaining, etc. The pigeon’s desire to drive the bus represents an explicit theme that climaxes with a tantrum followed by the look of complete defeat. Yet the open ending shows the little bird does not give up easily!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This Caldecott Honor book presents the pigeon in a bluish hue sporting simple crayon-like drawings. The bird’s eyes, head, and wings are utilized to give character and expression to the star of this show. Simple page layouts with figures appearing at the edges with neutral colored space in the middle give the impression of movement. Language of the bus driver and the pigeon is represented through speech bubbles in common dialog. The story pleads for audience participation and reads as if a child has given the very words to the pigeon! The culminating tantrum happens just before the bus driver returns and has a slightly brighter background color with much larger lettering. In the space of one page turn, the pigeon recovers from his despair with the same song, second verse! He has found a better vehicle, an 18-wheeler!
Interesting note is the end flaps correspond with the story, beginning with images of the pigeon dreaming of driving a bus, and ending with images of the pigeon dreaming of driving an 18-wheeler truck.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn Book: “Assuming that young listeners will take on the role of limit-setting grownups and not identify with the powerless but impertinent pigeon ("What's the big deal!?" "No fair!"), this well-paced story encourages audience interaction.”

Library Media Connection: “This book tells the story of an immature, whining pigeon that wants to drive a bus while the driver is away. The text is written in comic-book style but some of the vocabulary is too hard for very young students. The text emphasizes negative instead of positive behavior. Not Recommended.”

CONNECTIONS
* There are other Willems books about this pigeon’s adventures.
* Could be used with older readers to represent first person point of view in writing.
* Great for youngsters not yet reading on their own because the story encourages their participation.
*