Read This

When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place- a pigeon! And believe me, you’ve never met a pigeon quite like this one before. Children immediately fall for this fowl as he begs and pleads his way through Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the first in a delightful series by author/illustrator Mo Willems.

What I love most about the book is how perfectly Willems captures a young child's "negotiating" tactics via the pigeon. I also love how the text naturally encourages audience interaction. I swear I've never met a kid who didn't want to jump in, answer back (How 'bout if I give you five bucks? "NO!") and decide the poor birds fate. If you like Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Willems has many more in the series that delight as well.

Hey, did you know that it's Children's Book Week? Neither did I (thanks twitter). Apparently it's a national event that's been celebrated in schools, libraries, bookstores, private homes (basically any place where there are children and books) since 1919! To me it seems like yet another perfect opportunity to share your love of reading with your kiddo. How do you get involved? Glad you asked! The Children's Book Week site is filled with lots of great ideas for celebrating! Next year, we'll be sure to let you know about this event in advance so your kiddos can get involved in their Children's Choice Book Awards. Turns out Mo Willems is a finalist for best illustrator (I told you kids love him). This years' winners will be posted on Wednesday here, so tune in to see if Willems wins!