Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious fun for both of us!
Review: My three year old son and I simply adore this book. He was "reading" it to me about three days after getting it for Christmas (and reading it about 5 times a night.) We still laugh-out-loud with every reading! (I don't know who has more fun, mom or the three year old.) We just love the 'naughty' little pigeon that will say anything to get the child to let him drive the bus - and the illustrations are simple so little hearts understand exactly what the pigeon is feeling on every page. In addition, it's short enough to be a quick read right before bed and provides an excellent end-of-the-day laugh together. I highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't be a pigeon
Review: Out of thousands of children's books published in 2003, it is UNBELIEVABLE that this non-descript non-entity is considered a "Most distinguished picture book for children" of the year 2003 and has won a Caldecott Honor. The illustrations are static, retrograde, repetitive, bland, and boring. The so-called pigeon, with its long thin neck, does not even resemble a pigeon. The children I showed it to did NOT find it inspiring or even funny.I think it's about time the Caldecott Committee contain an artist or illustrator. Then maybe a book like Peter Sis's, The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin, a truly extraordinary book of 2003, will win the Caldecott, as it has won the Society of Illustrator's Gold Medal for children's books.
I always thought the Caldecott Medal recognized innovative and original art, not reactionary, pigeon-livered, insipid rehashes of 1950's advertising art. I'd call this book second-rate, but that would be a grave insult to the thousands of bona fide second-rate illustrators working hard in America's studios today. I would not even give this book 1/2 a star, or even 3/16th of a star, if amazon.com enabled me.
Rating:
Summary: Don't judge the book by it's cover!
Review: the book from the outside looks a 1950-60's school book. everyone i showed this book to asked if this was an old book. i had just purchased it, so i assured them it was new. it's funny how people judge so quickly. anyway, ignore the outside and dig in!
this story correctly and humorously represents everyone at one point in their lives. every kid has hounded a parent to do something that they knew was futile to try- but did that ever stop us when we were kids? -- of course not. i loved this book.
It is refreshing that an author doesn't need elaborate and flowerly syntax to get his story to touch both young and old--thanks Mo Willems,your book was enjoyable and I get it!
Rating:
Summary: don't judge the book by it's cover
Review: The book is hilarious to kids young and old. Just about everyone has been in the pigeon's dilemna during childhood of wanting so badly to do something but aren't allowed yet!
To those who critize it for being a simplistic book, I say you've missed the whole point of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Simply drawn and simply entertaining
Review: The story is simple. The naughty pigeon wants to drive the bus, but we must not let him. The illustration is simple, but the expressions of the pigeon, from coyness to frustration to outright anger, are charming and memorable.
In this book, there is no subtle theme or highbrow message for the future adults of the world. Simply put, the book is just plain fun to read. Most kids and adults will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Funniest book I've read in a long time!
Review: The title of this book begs the reader to open it and find out more about this enterprising pigeon and his desire to drive a bus. I couldn't stop laughing as I read this book and then again when I focused on the illustrations. I loved the expressions on the pigeon's face and the way the pigeon behaved in, at times, a cheeky fashion (peeking around the page to see if the bus driver was gone yet). The pigeon definitely reminded me of all of the times children beg their parents to do something. I'm sure children will just LOVE this book, it is already my favorite!
Rating:
Summary: Award winner?
Review: This book has no plot or purpose. I can't believe that it got a Caldacott award. What were they thinking?
Rating:
Summary: Simplicity Wins!
Review: This book is a riot. Toddlers will love the bold-lined, simple drawings, and primary-graders will giggle in recognition at the sly, bribing, wheedling pigeon who just wants what he wants, even though he knows he's not supposed to have it.I laughed out loud many times, especially when the pigeon offered to give me five bucks. The ending is cute and winky-wink too. Children and adults will recognize themselves in this stubborn yet fickle pigeon. A real charmer!
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST!
Review: This book is amazing! Purchased for my 5 year old nephew who after reading it to him twice new the whole thing by heart. To have him read it back is the best as he uses all the emotions necessary to make it extremely funny for him and his audience.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun. Kids remember it.
Review: This book is FUN, and the concept is very memorable. Especially if you live in a place where your kids will see pigeons or buses (that is, most everywhere). Two year olds think pigeons are interesting anyway, and this book gives them new reasons to think so. ("NO! NO BUS FOR YOU!") Ditto for buses. Five year olds are coming to grips with the reality that sometimes the answer has to be "no" regardless of how one asks. This book doesn't moralize on the subject, but that's probably why older kids relate to it so well. (Beginning readers also will like the clean, big, round letters!) As a parent, I also like it because it's fun to read. Often.
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