| Elephant and Piggie: I Am Going! |
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What You Need to Know:
• This is a brilliantly conceived new(ish) learn to read series by the author of the Pigeon books (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus).
• Willem's deft illustrations, the way they convey exactly what the character is feeling without need for words really, is nothing short of genius..
• In a few short pages, with spare prose, Willems has created a suspenseful story that will have you and your young reader hooked from start to finish.
• Your young reader should be able to read it by themselves after only a few shared readings, the picture clues and vocabulary choice and repetition are that good.
• For all those pigeons fans out there, check out the end-papers (the inside, back cover of the books). |
Sweet Series Background:
I am Going is another wonderful addition in the new learn-to-read series by Mo Willems. Think of it in the same vein as a Dr. Seuss book, similar in size and feel, with a bit less text than the longer-winded Seuss books. In the Elephant and Piggie books, Willems effortlessly combines elements required for this learning to read genre, like word repetition and sight word inclusion, with comedy, terrific illustrations and a great story-line. The last is what makes this series so special. So many of the learn to read books are dreadfully boring, because it is hard to repeat words, keep the vocabulary simple, all the while creating a great story. Willems does it effortlessly with Piggie and Elephant. |
Sweet Book Summary:
The main characters are a little, optimistic pig and a rather seasoned and pessimistic elephant named Gerald. In I Am Going, Gerald and Piggie are in their usual roles, but somehow it never gets old or boring to the child reading (or this adult!). Piggie announces, "I am going!", and immediately Gerald thinks the worst. Gerald gets his panties into a bunch and is sure that Piggie is taking off for good and wails, "Who will I wear silly hats with? Who will I play ping pong with? But Piggie announces, in typical guileless Piggie fashion, "I am going to lunch!" Gerald is quite relieved and Piggie and Gerald have a nice lunch. Emerging readers will benefit from the repetitive language and will simply just enjoy this delicious new addition to this brilliant learn to read series. |
Author: Mo Willems Illustrator: Mo Willems Published: 2010, 64 pages
Themes: Friendship, Animals, Feelings, Excellent Read-Aloud, Humor |
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