“Always think of my audience, but never think for my audience”
-Mo Willems
Mo Willems is one of the most memorable children’s authors of all time. Writing books like Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The bus, Knuffle Bunny, Elephant and Piggie, Because, This Is Not A Good Idea! and more! Of course every person has their alter-ego. In Don’t Pigeonhole me!, we see a compilation of sketchbooks that allow us to explore the more mature-side of one of our favorite children’s authors.
In Don’t Pigeonhole Me! each section begins with a small summary of the sketchbook and the process of its publication. The first few sketchbooks are basic doodles that will most likely give you a quick chuckle or two. In sketchbooks like “I’m Fine” we get too see a story line that is illustrated through drawings meant to demonstrate the very simple sentences. We can even see the early birth of our favorite pigeon in the original “DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!” and “The Pigeon Tells A Story.”
As someone who personally enjoys art, I tried to read some of the comics slowly, over and over to try to fine some deep meaning but then I realized that not all art has a powerful meaning behind it. Comics like “The Red Truck” and “Olive Hue Show Mutts” are perfect examples of this because they are silly, simple and funny.
Mo Willems did an excellent job showing us his complex and quite hilarious mind, and I loved every part of it. The Mo Willems sketchbook compilation is a well executed book for all mature audiences.
1 reply on “Don’t Pigeonhole Me! -a Mo Willems Sketch Book”
I agree it’s so much fun to better get to know the creator behind stories we loved in our childhood. To this end I recommend the interviews that Maurice Sendak (author of Where the Wild Things Are) gave in his last years of life, there’s one on NPR and another on The Colbert Report. I think this review could be stronger if you added imagery of the pigeon as he evolved, or an (appropriate) example of one of the comics in the book.