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Author Mo Willems Talks to Two Young Superfans
Sam, the Most Scaredycat Kid in the Whole World: A Leonardo, the Terrible Monster Companion
Mo Willems
Hardcover
$17.99
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There’s a certain squeal of excitement you hear when you make a child’s wildest dreams come true. I had the joy of hearing it recently, when I told my son and daughter that they would get to interview Mo Willems, their all-time favorite children’s book author and illustrator. Willems’ stories are modern classics, and his characters, which include The Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Elephant and Piggie, are a beloved part of story time for countless children (and their parents, because his books are so much fun to read aloud).
Willems’ newest book, Sam, the Most Scaredy-cat Kid in the Whole World, is a companion to his hilarious Leonardo the Terrible Monster, and it’s on B&N bookshelves now. Mo Willems was such an incredible sport to let my kids ask him a few of the burning questions that all of us superfans have about his books, his fears, and Piggie’s real name.
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Cooper, age 6: I really like Sam, the Most Scaredy-cat Kid in the Whole World and Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. I read both books after being scared to go on a roller coaster. Are you scared of roller coasters?
Mo: Thank you. You went on a roller coaster!? You are braver than I am!
Addison, age 8: Is there anything you’re scared of?
Mo: I’m a pretty scaredy-cat fellow myself. I’m nervous around roller coasters and drink coasters!
Cooper: Why does Gerald have a name but Piggie doesn’t?
Mo: Piggie does have a name. Her name is “Piggie.” She was named that because when she was born she looked just like a little piggie.
Elephant Gerald is named after my favorite singer (say it fast, then ask a grown-up who digs jazz).
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And do you know what The Pigeon’s first name is?
“The.”
Cooper: Speaking of Gerald and Piggie, why did you stop writing stories about them?
Mo: One day I realized that I was curious about what I would write and draw if I wasn’t making new Elephant & Piggie adventures. As I became more and more curious, I decided to find out! So, now I get to discover new challenges (and still revisit Elephant & Piggie every now and then when they introduce new books in the “Elephant & Piggie Like Reading” series).
Addison: I have a question about Knuffle Bunny. Did you have a special toy when you were a kid?
Mo: I had a red lamb that I really liked. In fact, I liked it so much, I asked it to marry me.
Cooper: I have a lot of questions about The Pigeon. Do you actually have a pigeon?
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Mo: I do not have a pigeon (or a bus), but my editor spends her free time helping to rescue injured pigeons!
Addison: I love to write stories too. Are you writing any new stories right now?
Mo: YES! I am sketching and drawing and thinking of kids like YOU. I can’t tell you what my stories are about until they’re finished, but I hope they’ll make you laugh so hard you’ll want to make your own stories.
Cooper: One last question. How did you learn to draw so many funny things?
Mo: Drawing funny stuff is like being an athlete. You practice every single day, experimenting, failing, and occasionally succeeding in making a good joke. If you do this long enough and work hard enough eventually you’ll grow funny muscles!
Thank you, Mo Willems. Your books are one of our greatest pleasures.
ELEPHANT & PIGGIE is a trademark of The Mo Willems Studio, Inc.
Photo credit: Jo Chattman.