Caramel reviews Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems

All the book bunnies love Mo Willems and his books about the Pigeon. Caramel even reviewed a couple of them for the book bunnies blog. See, for example, his reviews of The Pigeon HAS To Go To School and Be the Bus. Today he talks to Sprinkles about a brand new Pigeon book: Will the Pigeon Graduate? As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems.
Caramel reviews Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about a new book about the Pigeon!

Caramel: Yep, the best pigeon in the world is back!

S: You have read quite a lot of the other books about the Pigeon. You also reviewed two of them. What is this one about?

C: This one is about how the pigeon is growing up, and he is scared about the future after finishing school.

S: He is already graduating? How exciting!

C: Well, he had to go to school back in 2019 so I suppose it is time. 

S: You are right of course. At some point school ends and the rest of life begins. 

C: Yep, but I don’t like that idea.

S: Why not? 

C: I like being a young bunny going to school. I like it too much.

S: Why do you like it so much? I know you learn a lot of things at school every day and I know you like learning. But you can continue to learn outside of school. too. 

C: True, I guess you are right. But at school you have friends–

S: You can make friends after school, too. 

C: Yes, but school friends are the best! And at school, people tell you to do things, and you do them, and that is all the work you have. You do not have to earn money, save money, buy or rent a house, and all that adult stuff. 

S: I get that, Caramel. Growing up can be hard. And this is exactly what this book is about, isn’t it?

C: Yeah, I guess that the Pigeon is very smart.

S: How so?

C: Well, he knows finishing school means he has to start making important decisions and taking care of more things and being careful about all kinds of details and so on. 

S: That is very much true Caramel. But in the end he gathers up his courage and decides he is ready for whatever is coming his way, right?

C: Yes. 

Caramel is reading Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems.
Caramel is reading Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems.

S: I  am thinking this could be a really nice gift for someone finishing high school or elementary school or even college. What do you think? 

C: Yep, I think in a couple of years, Marshmallow might like it. There is even a little place in the inside cover of the book for a photo of someone graduating. We could put Marshmallow’s picture there. 

S: We could definitely do that. But we could also save it for you. You will also be graduating soon yourself. 

C: Yes, but I am going to go to another school right after. 

S: That still counts as moving to a bigger new world. That new school is bigger than your current one. And there will be a lot of changes. 

C: Hmm, I am not sure I am ready for a lot of changes. 

S: I know. We are not always ready but they come nonetheless. Anyways, there is still some time, but by the time that change comes, you will be ready. I am quite sure. 

C: Hmm, I hope you are right, Sprinkles. 

S: Remember how many years ago, you were about to change classrooms and get a new teacher and you were kind of anxious about it? We talked about it when we were discussing My Teacher Is A Robot

C: Yeah, that was a good book. And I did end up liking my new teacher a lot. Okay, maybe you are right. Maybe I can handle some changes, just like the Pigeon. 

S: Yay! That’s the right attitude Caramel! I think this is a perfect place to end this review. 

C: Alright by me!

S: Okay, what would you like to tell our readers then?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems and thinks this book would be a great gift for new graduates.
Caramel enjoyed reading Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems and thinks this book would be a great gift for new graduates.

Caramel reviews Be the Bus by Mo Willems

Caramel, just like the rest of the book bunnies, loves Mo Willems’s Pigeon, and he has already reviewed one of his adventures, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!, for the blog. Today, he talks about the brand new Pigeon book, Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, published this year, 2023, which is also the twentieth anniversary of the very first Pigeon book: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems.
Caramel reviews Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, when I heard of this book, I knew you would want to read it. Even though it is supposedly meant for grownups.

Caramel: I am sure grownups can enjoy it, too, but I really liked it. So I don’t think it is only for grownups.

S: I agree with you Caramel. It definitely fits the adult humor genre, kind of in the spirit of Penguins Hate Stuff by Greg Stones, which you have reviewed a while ago. But it is also perfectly hilarious for little bunnies like you, and there is nothing too adult there, I feel.

C: Well, there is no mushy stuff for starters, and that is good.

S: Yep, nothing like that.

C: It’s just the Pigeon saying stuff. He says for example “I’m not susceptible to flattery. Unless it is about me.” I think that is funny.

S: Yes. I thought all of it was hilarious. The Pigeon says the funniest things. What was your favorite?

C: I don’t think I have a favorite. They are all funny.

S: I did hear you laugh out loud.

C: Yep. LOL.

S: Hmm, now you speak textspeak?

C: Well, I just said what you said.

S: Okay then.

C: The Pigeon is really wise. He says that it is better to say “I love you more than ever” than “I used to love you less.” And it is true. The two sentences say the same thing. But the first one does sound much better than the second.

S: Yes, I took a photo of you with that page. Let me put it right here.

Caramel is reading Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems.
Caramel is reading Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems.

S: So all in all, which three words would you use to describe this book Caramel?

C: Colorful, hilarious, and profoundly wise.

S: I see what you did there Caramel! You picked out the word “profound” from the title of the book!

C: Yep. Guilty as charged. I guess.

S: And some of the advice is on target, don’t you think?

C: Some of it, yes. The “I love you more than ever” one is clever. And there is another one like that, that I liked, too. and that is true: you should say “You are one in a million!” rather than saying “there are 7,960 other people like you!” Because if you are one in a million on a planet with 7.9 billion people, then the second sentence is right, too, but it does not sound so good.

S: Yes, and there are some quite wacky thoughts in the book, too, no?

C: Yes. Here is one: “Genius is seldom recognized. That is why I wear a name tag.” And the name tag says “Hello. I’m a genius.” So that is kind of wacky.

S: I agree. The Pigeon is definitely not a very modest creature.

C: That’s true. I’m sure nobody ever claimed he was.

S: So we read almost all the Pigeon books.

C: Yes, all except the one with the duckling and the cookie. We just saw that one in a YouTube video.

S: Yes.

C: Can we put the video here in this post?

S: Sure. Here it is.

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems | A Pigeon Read Aloud – from YouTube.

S: So do you think you are done with the Pigeon?

C: No. Never! I like the Pigeon and I like reading and rereading his funny adventures. And now there is this short book, too, so maybe Mo Willems will continue to write more Pigeon stories, and we can read them, too.

S: Yes, who knows? So maybe this is a good time to wrap this review up. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems, and recommends it to all the bunnies who know and love the Pigeon.
Caramel loved reading Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems, and recommends it to all the bunnies who know and love the Pigeon.

Caramel reviews The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

Caramel loved everything he read about Mo Willems’ Pigeon and so he was excited to get his paws on a copy of his new adventure: The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! Below he reviews this book, published this summer. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions as needed.

Caramel reviews The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems.
Caramel reviews The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems.

Sprinkles: So another pigeon story, right?

Caramel: Yes! The pigeon is so funny! Here’s a quote:

“I wish I was a little chick again. A little-itty-bitty-not-going-to-school-baby-waybie pigeon!”

S: So that basically summarizes the book, right? The Pigeon does not want to go to school.

C: Yep.

Caramel is looking at the page where the Pigeon is worried about learning too much.
Caramel is looking at the page where the Pigeon is worried about learning too much.

S: Were you also worried about starting school, Caramel?

C: Yes. A little bit.

S: Why?

C: I was nervous because I thought, what if I won’t have any friends?

S: That’s totally natural Caramel. When we go into new places, we might be worried about not knowing anyone. But you did make friends pretty soon, right?

C: Yes! I found a good friend almost immediately. We still play fun stuff together.

S: So the Pigeon does not have to worry, right?

C: No. He doesn’t. School is fun!

S: Would that be what you would tell the Pigeon, that school is fun, so he does not have to worry?

C: Yep. I’d say don’t worry. It’s going to be alright. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be super duper awesome mega fun!

S: You like school a lot, don’t you Caramel?

C: Yep. I like my friends. I like my teacher. School is a lot of fun. But this year, I’ll probably have a new teacher. So I’m kind of worried. I already miss my old teacher.

S: Yes, your teacher was pretty cool, wasn’t she?

C: She was awesome!

S: I’m sure your new teacher will be awesome, too, Caramel.

C: Yes, I think so, too. I mean, I hope so.

S: Well, so in short we think school is fun. And the Pigeon doesn’t need to worry. What else do you want to say about this book Caramel?

C: This book would be a good book for kids who are starting school and who are a little scared.

S: Yes, Caramel! The Pigeon says all kinds of things that might worry a young child starting school. Like …

“What if the teacher doesn’t like pigeons?”

C: I really like the part where he is talking about heavy backpacks, but my favorite part is when he says:

“The unknown stresses me out, dude.”

S: The unknown can stress us out of course. We can totally see what the Pigeon is talking about, right?

C: Yes. There is a lot of stuff he doesn’t know about school and he is worried. He doesn’t even know if the finger paint will stick to his feathers!

S: Did you ever worry about finger paint Caramel?

C: No! I was worried about making friends and having a nice teacher. Finger paint sounds like fun! But we don’t do it too much in school actually.

S: You did some in preschool, but you might have forgotten. But you still do a lot of fun things at your school, right?

C: Yes, I love my school! It’s the best bunny school in the whole wide world!

S: And hopefully the school the Pigeon is going to is going to be the best school ever for pigeons.

C: Yes. I bet it will. Let us stop here. Readers: stay tuned for more reviews from the book bunnies!

Caramel wants to tell all pigeons that there is nothing to worry about and that school is really a lot of fun.
Caramel wants to tell all pigeons that there is nothing to worry about and that school is really a lot of fun.