Picture book #6

Title-Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Author-Mo Willems

Illustrator-Mo Willems

Genre-Picture story book

Subgenre-Unrealistic Fiction

Theme-Bedtime, humor

Primary and secondary characters-A pigeon

Award(s)- A New York Times Best Seller; Publishers Weekly Bestseller; Book Sense Bestseller; A Nick Jr. Magazine Best Book; NAPPA Gold Medal Award winner; Parenting Magazine Best Book; Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2007; Book Sense 76 Pick; Children’s Book of the Month Club Main Selection; Junior Library Guild Selection

Date of publication-2006

Publishing company-Hyperion Books for Children

Brief summary-A man in pajamas tells the reader, “Don’t let the pigeon stay up late!”  The pigeon tries to think of everything to get us to allow him to stay awake.  How many excuses can the pigeon come up with before he falls asleep? 

Quote-“I’ll go to bed early tomorrow night instead!”

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to make my students laugh and get in a good mood.  The book makes a joke out of all the excuses children make when they just are not ready for bed.  Of course, these are the times that the child is so tired; he can barely speak without yawning. It would put the student in the position of a parent and how it feels trying to put a child to bed.