10 Times Mo Willems’ The Pigeon Made Us LOL

The Pigeon is an iconic character in my house. My middle son loves all books about this bird. It doesn’t matter if he wants to drive a bus or stay up late, Mo Willems’ Pigeon is a sure bet to entertain. After all, you’ve got to admire a bird who knows what he wants. Always decisive but rarely rewarded, the Pigeon unfortunately doesn’t get what he asks for most of the time (unless it’s a cookie with nuts—thank you, Duckling!). But his misadventures do entertain readers of all ages. In honor of the latest book in the Pigeon’s hilarious saga, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School, here are ten times that the Pigeon made us literally LOL.

1) When he tried to convince us that the buzzing flies surrounding him in The Pigeon Needs a Bath! have nothing to do with his filthy, stinky state. (And then the flies yell at him to take a bath.)

2) In Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, when he comes up with all kinds of tricks to avoid bedtime, including a plea for a glass of water, a cheer, promising tomorrow night he will go to sleep early, saying “we never get to talk anymore”, and calling his yawns just “stretches.” Hmm, okay. We’re not buying it, bird.

3) The way his wheedling and negotiations in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! include a cash bribery (of $5 that never materializes), promises of friendship, and guilt trips about us squashing his dreams.

4) When he talks about why he wants a puppy in The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! Reasons include such obvious puppy-friendly activities as playing tennis and piggyback rides. And really, is there anything cuter than a pigeon with a puppy for a pet? And, the Pigeon will even water it from time to time! Or so he claims.

5) When he gets jealous of Duckling receiving a cookie with nuts just by asking in The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? No one explains how “unfair” things can be quite like the Pigeon. After all, he asks for things All.The.Time. And does he ever get a break?

6) When he dreams about a hot dog party when he finally falls asleep in Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! I mean, what’s not to love about a hot dog party with a pigeon and his stuffed rabbit?

7) The Pigeon has penned a list of things he wants in The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (#30 is the aforementioned puppy), and his list also includes such items as turtleneck sweaters, suede things, cheese, and real estate. Obviously, we are dealing here with a bird with exceptional taste.

8) When he mentions in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! that the Pigeon has a cousin named Herb who apparently enjoys bus driving on the regular. (Also, how fun would it be to read a book about Pigeon and his cousin Herb? Just saying.)

9) When he waxes eloquent on the culinary delights of the hot dog in The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!  I dare you to read that to your kid and have them not ask for a hot dog. (Plus, our friend Duckling returns in this book all about hot dogs and who gets to eat them.)

10) Like most of us, the Pigeon has to have his bath water juuuuuust right. In The Pigeon Needs a Bath! he shows us that for him it can’t be too cold, hot, deep, lukewarm or reflective (it is water, Pigeon.) He finally gets in and realizes he LOVES it. But not as much as we LOVE the Pigeon.