Elephant & Piggie: "I Love My New Toy" and "I Will Surprise My Friend" by Mo
Willems (Hyperion, 9781423109617 and 9781423109624, $8.99 each)
Six reasons to love the newest Elephant & Piggie early-reader books by Mo
Willems, creator of Knuffle Bunny and The Pigeon:
#1. Elephant & Piggie are a perfect addition to a three-to-six-year-old's
library that includes books like Dr. Seuss's "Hop on Pop" and "Go Dog Go."
In fact, Willems won the 2008 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, named for the good
doctor himself.
#2. Elephant & Piggie stories contain just the sort of words and repetitions
that youngsters need to help them with language acquisition. Example:
"Look at my new toy! I love my new toy!"
"I broke your toy."
"You broke my toy!"
#3. Mo Willems is hilarity itself. He infuses easy words and simple stories
with a sly humor that makes repeat readings a joy instead of a chore.
Parents love these books as much as their kids do! Example: when Elephant &
Piggie get lost, Elephant frets that Piggie has fallen off a cliff or been
eaten by a great big bird; Piggie frets that it is lunchtime.
#4. Willems makes each cartoon picture of Elephant & Piggie crackle with
energy and fun. Nobody draws a Sneaky Piggie, a Storm-Cloud Elephant, two
joyful buddies, or two friends stunned by the super-sad sight of a Broken
Brand-New Toy better than Mo Willems. These books would be great even if
they had no words at all.
#5. Because Elephant & Piggie are new to the book world, they make perfect
gifts for birthdays and special visits. They're also incredibly tough and
durable, so they can survive a lot of reading and carrying around, which is
what will happen when youngsters get books as good as these.
#6. Sequels! There are now six wonderful little volumes in the Elephant &
Piggie library, so beginning readers can get in a lot of practice this
summer. It's never too early to begin reading to and with children, and
Elephant & Piggie are a great way to start. Visit Watermark's weekly
Tuesday-morning Story Time for a taste!
Review by
Mark David Bradshaw, June 5, 2008
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