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Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

List Price: $12.99
Your Price: $9.74
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Boring book - neither my 3yo, 4yo or I thought it was funny,
Review: and the illustrations are downright dull. I simply CANNOT believe this book won a Caldecott Honor Award. The book is about a whiny pigeon who wants to drive a bus. There is no plot, and nothing creative, no lesson, nothing good about this book.

I give it <1 star. And I now question what the Caldecott committee is doing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Destined for fame.
Review: As a children's librarian I read to classes of preschoolers on a daily basis. This delightful book has even the youngest squirmers enchanted. Children are able to respond and to help me tell this story. Any time I hear "Read it again" after doing a story, I know it is destined to be a classic.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Make your pre-schooler laugh out loud
Review: As a pre-school teacher, I read alot of stories for children. I read this book, found it mildly amusing, but trusting Caldecott, felt the children's reaction might be a better guage of it.

I've got to say, this book read to a group of children, was one of the highlights of my year. Kids who don't normally react (or even sit still) were engaged by it. Others we had barely heard a peep from in group, laughed out loud. It's great for them because there's not too much happening on each page, but they are asked to participate in the story by not letting the persistent pigeon have his heart's desire.

Enjoy it with your kids.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the funniest picture books you'll ever peruse
Review: Because this book won a 2003 Caldecott Honor, you're probably going to hear a lot of people complaining about it. "Oh the art isn't beautiful". "Oh my four-year-old child could've drawn it". "Oh it isn't Caldecott-worthy" (whatever that may mean). The fact of the matter is, I was a little shocked too. This book won a Caldecott honor? The one where an amusing pigeon tries every bit of persuasion he can think of to wheedle himself into the driving seat of a bus? Now I've loved this book since it was first published. When I first read it I laughed out loud. Quick! Recite the children's books you love that make you laugh out loud! Not so easy to think of, are they? So I've returned to this little treasure in the hopes of discovering why that Caldecott nominating committee loved this book as much as my pretty self. Could it have been the artwork? Deceptively simple is the best way to describe its style. The pigeon isn't exactly a Michaelangelo. He's drawn with thick black lines, shaded in with blue and yellow. But has a Michaelangelo ever really amused you? Look a little closer at this pigeon and you realize the book's genius. His oversized eyeballs exquisitely display every emotion possible. From sweet and innocent to consumed with an all-encompassing rage. The pages wherein the pigeon completely freaks out and screams at the top of his lungs, "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!" is the temper tantrum of a two-year-old rendered into an aviary form.

But do kids like this book? Well, ladies and gentlemen, the answer is yes. In fact, clever readers let the kids hearing this tale say, "NO!" every time the pigeon tries a new tactic. When the pigeon says, "Please", the kids say no. When the pigeon says, "I tell you what: I'll just steer", the kids say no. When the pigeon says, "Hey, I've got an idea. Let's play 'Drive the Bus'. I'll go first", the kids say no. And when Mr. Pigeon collapses in a fury, the kids do not relent. Finally, they have been placed in the position of their parents. They get to tell someone exactly what he cannot do. And they love it.

In the end, it's hilarious. Who can resist this foul when he pulls every trick out of his feathery bag? From, "How 'bout I give you five bucks", to a mock-innocent wide-eyed, "I have dreams you know!". In the end, the pigeon goes on to bigger and better dreams (complete with CB radio) and the children reading the story know they've participated in the happy ending. Joy all around. Is this book deserving of a Caldecott Honor? No ladies and gentlemen. It is deserving of a Caldecott MEDAL. But like the pigeon's, this is just a dream.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An instant classic!
Review: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is defintely the best children's book I have seen in a long time. Instantly ranking with me in the Where the Wild Things Are and Harold and the Purple Crayon category of excellence, DLTPDTB combines expressive illustration, thoughtful writing and a wonderful level of interaction with the reader.

Mo Willems has created a very feisty pigeon who will have children and parents telling it "no!" while also secretly rooting for it to succeed. Quick and fun, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus has been as big a hit with the adults in my life as it has with the children. An award-winner for sure.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just buy it!
Review: Every now and then a book comes along that is simply worth the money. This is it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfect for 3 and 4 year olds!
Review: How to turn the manipulations of your youngster back on themselves...and all in such a spirit of fun!!! And what fun to read...you get to sound just like your kids...whining and all...with the result being a chorus of giggling :-)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This new book is sure to become a Caldecott Medal winner
Review: I bet this new book will be a future Caldecott Medal winner. It is sure to delight both children and adults alike. Children will love the story of that little blue pigeon and it is sure to make parents remember with a smile the willful nature of the three year old. This book is a must for your children's library. Five time Emmy Award winning writer and animator Mo Willems is sure to gain further recognition for his latest venture.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This new book is sure to become a Caldecott Medal winner
Review: I bet this new book will become a Caldecott Medal winner. It is sure to delight both children and adults alike. Children will love the story of that little blue pigeon and it is sure to make parents remember with a smile the willful nature of the three year old. The illustrations are adorable. This book is a must for your children's library. Five time Emmy Award winning writer and animator Mo Willems is sure to gain further recognition for his latest venture.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my 4 years old FAVORITES (and mine too)
Review: I checked this out at the library about 4 months ago when I saw it on the suggested reading for children shelf. We checked it out with about 4 other books, but this was the only one that got read more than once. We ended up checking it out 2 more times during the summer, the only other book to rate that was "The Lorax" book. Anyway, we just moved and when my daughter was sent home from pre-school with the book bag to bring in her favorite book, so we went to the library and they didn't have it...
So I'm ordering it today. This book is great, my daughter LOVES answering "No" to all of the pigeon's requests and the look in her eye and the love she's gaining for books is worth whatever the asking price.


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