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168+ Works 95,147 Members 3,486 Reviews 88 Favorited

About the Author

Mo Willems was born on February 11, 1968. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School for the Arts, he spent a year traveling around the world drawing a cartoon every day, which were published in the book You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons. For nine seasons, he worked as a show more writer and animator for PBS' Sesame Street, where he received 6 Emmy Awards for his writing. During this time, he also served as a weekly commentator for BBC Radio and created two animated series, Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats and Cartoon Network's Sheep in the Big City. While working as head writer for Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door, he began writing and drawing books for children. He received three Caldecott Honor Awards for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2004; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in 2005; and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity in 2008. He also created the Elephant and Piggie series for Easy Readers, which were awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009. His drawings, wire sculptures, and ceramics have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the nation. Occasionally he serves as the Radio Cartoonist for NPR's All Things Considered. He voices and produces animated cartoons based on his books with Weston Woods studios. The animated Knuffle Bunny was awarded Best Film during the New York International Children's Film Festival in 2008 and received the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2007. His title Happy Pig Day made Publisher's Weekly Best Seller List for 2011. In 2012 his title Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs made The New York Times Best Seller List. In 2013 his titles: That is Not a Good Idea!, Let's Go for a Drive! and I'm a Frog! made the New York Times Best Seller List. In 2014 The Pigeons Need a Bath! and Waiting Is Not Easy! made the New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Miranda H.

Series

Works by Mo Willems

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (2004) 4,654 copies
There Is a Bird on Your Head! (2007) 3,551 copies
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (2008) 3,392 copies
My Friend is Sad (2007) 3,243 copies
The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (2012) 2,820 copies
We Are in a Book! (2010) 2,738 copies
Should I Share My Ice Cream? (2011) 2,409 copies
Waiting Is Not Easy! (2014) 2,203 copies
A Big Guy Took My Ball! (2013) 2,174 copies
The Pigeon Needs a Bath! (1800) 1,915 copies
Let's Go for a Drive! (2012) 1,784 copies
I Am Invited to a Party! (2007) 1,725 copies
I'm a Frog! (2013) 1,725 copies
Are You Ready to Play Outside? (2008) 1,552 copies
My New Friend Is So Fun! (2014) 1,543 copies
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster (2005) 1,467 copies
Today I Will Fly! (2007) 1,444 copies
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! (2019) 1,173 copies
I Really Like Slop! (2015) 1,172 copies
Elephants Cannot Dance! (2009) 1,172 copies
The Thank You Book (2016) 1,141 copies
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (2009) 1,120 copies
City Dog, Country Frog (2010) 1,082 copies
Pigs Make Me Sneeze! (2009) 935 copies
Watch Me Throw the Ball! (2009) 880 copies
That Is Not a Good Idea! (2013) 865 copies
I Will Take A Nap! (2015) 792 copies
Listen to My Trumpet! (2012) 697 copies
I Am Going! (2010) 669 copies
Time to Say "Please"! (2005) 626 copies
Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (2010) 473 copies
The Story of Diva and Flea (2015) 456 copies
Because (2019) 437 copies
Nanette's Baguette (2016) 333 copies
Time to Pee! (2003) 309 copies
Who is the Mystery Reader? (2019) 186 copies
Rosco vs. the Baby (2016) 126 copies
A Busy Creature's Day Eating (2018) 114 copies
Opposites Abstract (2021) 89 copies
Don't Pigeonhole Me! (2013) 53 copies
The Frustrating Book! (2022) 51 copies
Elephant & Piggie Bundle (2011) 4 copies
Sheep in the Big City: Season 2 — Creator — 2 copies
Sheep in the Big City: Season 1 — Creator — 2 copies
ASI SUENA MI TROMPETA (2013) 2 copies
Books 1 copy
Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (2008) 1 copy

Associated Works

Guys Write for Guys Read (2005) — Illustrator — 759 copies
We Are Growing! (2016) — Contributor — 619 copies
The Cookie Fiasco (2016) — Contributor — 501 copies
The Complete Peanuts: 1969-1970 Dailies & Sundays (2008) — Introduction — 351 copies
Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories (2011) — Contributor — 317 copies
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? (2006) — some editions — 279 copies
The Itchy Book! (2018) — Contributor — 249 copies
The Good for Nothing Button (2017) — Contributor — 238 copies
Harold & Hog Pretend For Real! (2019) — Contributor — 233 copies
A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader (2018) — Illustrator — 223 copies
It's Shoe Time! (2017) — Contributor — 209 copies
Who Done It? (2013) — Contributor — 133 copies
Peanuts: A Tribute to Charles M. Schulz (2015) — Contributor — 45 copies

Tagged

animals (1,314) bedtime (391) birds (585) bus (391) Caldecott (383) Caldecott Honor (366) Child Life (355) children (694) children's (1,340) children's book (339) children's literature (379) collection:Fiction (747) early reader (750) easy reader (552) elephant (396) Elephant and Piggie (1,267) elephants (760) emotions (362) family (365) fantasy (560) feelings (462) fiction (2,491) friends (696) friendship (2,088) funny (851) hardcover (1,096) humor (2,411) kids (379) manners (313) Mo Willems (1,922) picture book (4,855) pigeon (1,271) pigeons (436) pigs (983) read (342) series (592) sharing (616) shelf:Fiction (748) to-read (521) transportation (395)

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1968-02-11
Gender
male
Nationality
USA
Birthplace
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Places of residence
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
Education
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
Trinity Episcopal School
Isidore Newman School
Occupations
animator
illustrator
children's book author
Awards and honors
Theodor Suess Geisel Medal (2008, 2009)
Caldecott Honor (2004, 2005, 2008
Short biography
Mo Willems was born on February 11 in 1968 and raised in New Orleans.  He attended Tisch School of the Arts through New York University, graduating cum laude. He began his career as a writer and animator for Sesame Street, and then went on to create two cartoon series: "The Off-Beats" for Nickelodeon's "Kablam!" and "Sheep in the Big City" for Cartoon Network. Since 2003, Willems has authored numerous books for young children.

Members

Discussions

Anyone a else Mo Willems Fan? in Children's Literature (May 2015)

Reviews

 
Flagged
lazwilliams | 25 other reviews | Nov 16, 2023 |
This story allows children to enjoy a laugh and funny story about a persistent pigeon. This text introduces students to the idea of wise decision making in a fun and entertaining way.
 
Flagged
cieraj25 | 500 other reviews | Oct 14, 2023 |
This story can be used in the classroom to teach students how to use their words to express themselves.
 
Flagged
cieraj25 | 353 other reviews | Oct 14, 2023 |
 
Flagged
amberleighgozum | 353 other reviews | Oct 5, 2023 |

Lists

Awards

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Statistics

Works
168
Also by
15
Members
95,147
Popularity
#97
Rating
4.3
Reviews
3,486
ISBNs
951
Languages
11
Favorited
88
About
1
Touchstones
280

Charts & Graphs