Are You Ready to Play Outside?

This book was extremely cute and I loved reading it and looking at the illustrations. One of the things that I actually liked the most was indeed the illustrations. They are extremely simple, but effectively tell the story in a way that all readers can understand. My favorite illustration is of Piggie and Gerald in the rain, while Gerald holds his ear over top of Piggie to guard him from the downpour. The emotions shown on the animals’ faces are very telling and work in tandem with the text.

Another aspect of the story that I liked was the writing. The text was short and to the point, making it easier for the reader to grasp the story. The words are written in speech bubbles, which adds another element to the story. Also, the words show more increase in size when the characters become angry. For example, when Piggie gets mad, it says “HOW CAN ANYONE PLAY OUTSIDE WITH ALL THIS RAIN?!?!” The text is in all caps and is much larger than the normal text.

The central message of the picturebook is to show that it’s possible to make the best of every situation. In the beginning, Piggie was ready to play outside, until he was hit with a raindrop. Piggie gets upset, which causes Gerald to use his ear as an umbrella, covering Piggie. Then Piggie decides he likes the rain, but the sun comes back out. To make the best of the new situation, Gerald creates rain with his trunk in order to put Piggie in a good mood. The story also shows true friendship throughout the ever changing situations. Gerald is always helping his friend out, even when it might be uncomfortable for him. On the page where Gerald first shields Piggie from the rain, Gerald is pictured as unsteady, showing that even though it might be difficult for him, he’d rather take one for the team and help out his friend. show less

Well, here we are. Mo Willems. Three Elephant and Piggie books nominated for Cybils. What can I say? I mean, have you ever seen a bad review of Mo Willems? I didn't think so. And this first one here, Are You Ready to Play Outside? Geisel winner. I may not pay much attention to Newberys and stuff like that, but Geisels never go on our shelves....because they're always checked out. Well, I will try.

Just in case you thought Elephant was always uptight and Piggie was always flexible and fun....here's Piggie in a rage because of the rain while Elephant knows just how to adapt. Lovely clean lines, humor in each little squiggly eyebrow, and spot-on child voices.

Now in this story, Piggie is ready to teach Elephant a new skill. Elephant is not show more sure this is a good idea; but he's willing to try. And try. And try. Until it just doesn't work! Or does it?

Um...I need to say something else. Let's see.....well, on top of recommending Elephant and Piggie to rabid comic fans who want to start their kids out early, kids who want funny easy readers, kids who love Mo Willems picturebooks, parents who love Mo Willem's picturebooks....Elephant and Piggie make great duologues! They're my go-to books when teachers or kids need something simple that two kids can do. The dialogue is all there - all you need to add is expression!

Ah, now my favorite. Still my favorite despite having read it twenty or more times at my summer reading promotions last May. I have the whole thing memorized. I can do it in my sleep. Funny voices and all. That delicious moment when the ball plops and the kids shriek with laughter...beautiful. Just beautiful.

Verdict: Haven't read Elephant and Piggie? Your life is a barren waste and verging on pointless. These are the rare easy readers that aren't just for beginning readers, they're perfect for all ages. Read them aloud as picturebooks, hand them to an older child on a bad day, use them in your high school theater class, or curl up with a big stack to relax and recapture the wonder, despair, and hilarity of childhood.

Watch me throw the ball!
ISBN: 978-1423113485; Published March 2009 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Are you ready to play outside?
ISBN: 978-1423113478; Published October 2008 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Elephants cannot dance!
ISBN: 978-1423114109; Published June 2009 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils show less

This book, like basically all books by Mo Willems, made me chuckle. Elephant and Piggie are so excited to go play outside, but then it starts to rain. It ends up being a deluge, and Piggie is NOT happy because Piggie does NOT like rain! Eventually, Piggie's attitude changes and s/he (?) is happy to be playing in the rain, only for it to stop! At this point, Piggie is now upset that it ISN'T raining! I found this amusing because I can relate with Piggie's attitude shifts as the story changes, and so can many children. I also enjoy seeing the friendship between the two characters. Another thing I like is that for early readers, Mo Willems does not use quotation marks for dialogue, rather he uses speech bubbles, and these are color-coded show more to Elephant and Piggie. This helps make the text even more accessible for our earliest readers. show less

When I saw the new Elephant and Piggie easy reader on our department's cart of new books, I think I actually squealed. The new entry will not disappoint fans of the series. In this outing, Piggie and Gerald are all pumped up to start playing outside, but a rainstorm appears to threaten their fun. Once again Willems somehow crams so much expression onto his character's very simple faces with Piggie carrying much of the dialogue this time. While there aren't as many laugh out loud moments in this story as in some of the other Elephant and Piggie readers, the sweetness of the story and the possiblities for acting it out make up for that fact. I can just see a room full of preschool children running, skipping and jumping with Piggie or you show more could put Are You Ready to Play Outside? with Rain Play by Cynthia Cotton and The Rain Stomper by Addie Boswell for a rain themed storytime. I can't wait to see what will be next for Elephant and Piggie. show less

Mo Willems uses simple, spare illustration and language to communicate a wonderful lesson about making the most of any situation and the joy of being a good friend. Gerald and Piggie are just about to play outside when it starts to rain and threatens to ruin their fun. Willems uses perspective and framing for some cute humor, then repeats it again to the delight of a young reader looking for patterns. I have to be honest: I was delighted, too. I love the energy in the drawings and the wonderful expressions on Gerald and Piggie's faces.

I love the Piggie and Gerald books. I love how it mimics the ideas of a young child that has a hard time "seeing" past the current problem of the rain. I love that this book shows Piggie upset because he can't go play outside, but the Gerald saves the day. He allows the opportunity for Piggie to see the worms and create an idea of playing in the rain. Gerald also creates more rain once the rain has stopped. He is a parent character but also a good friend to Piggie. It is just a sweet story for little children, and it allows them to learn to see solutions beyond a problem.

Not usually my style but I enjoyed the pig's enthusiasm, then utter depair that it was raining. Good for anyone who lives in the northwest and is tired of the rain.