{"id":17568,"date":"2013-01-31T22:59:13","date_gmt":"2013-02-01T02:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=17568"},"modified":"2013-01-31T23:36:12","modified_gmt":"2013-02-01T03:36:12","slug":"stand-out-author-mo-willems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=17568","title":{"rendered":"Sonderbooks Stand-out Author: Mo Willems"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>After posting my 2012 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a>, I couldn’t help but notice that some names have come up again and again. So I’m doing a series of blog posts about those authors who have appeared on my Stand-outs lists before. And next up is Mo Willems, with a total of 8 Sonderbooks Stand-outs since 2003.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I discovered Mo with that wonderful classic, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus<\/a><\/em> It of course was a 2003 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>, my top choice for Picture Books<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Unfortunately, my kids were too old to appreciate the full power of the pigeon books, but I remember in 2006 when I stayed for a month and a half with my friend, I got to pull them out and read them to her kids. They especially liked it when I read the temper tantrum page. Another Pigeon book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late<\/a><\/em>, made the 2006 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a> list, once again #1 for Picture Books.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In 2008, I met Elephant and Piggie, and fell in love. This time, Mo had not one but three 2008 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a>. Are You Ready to Play Outside?<\/a><\/em> was #5 in Picture Books, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!<\/a><\/em> was #6, and I Will Surprise My Friend!<\/a><\/em> was #7. And I still like the essay I wrote about Are You Ready to Play Outside?<\/em> and contentment (and, well, my ex-husband)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

My 2009 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a> featured another Elephant and Piggie book at #3 in Picture Books, Pigs Make Me Sneeze!<\/a><\/em> How I wish I’d had it back in the day when I taught Intro to Statistics! A picture book lesson that Correlation does not imply Causation! Yes!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>My 2010 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a> had something new, a book written, but not illustrated, by Mo Willems, City Dog, Country Frog<\/a><\/em>, which was #4 in Picture Books.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>And finally, this year the Pigeon was back! In my 2012 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a>, The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?<\/a><\/em> delightfully played with the themes from all the previous Pigeon books and hit #2 in my Picture Books list.<\/p>\n

Now, I may not have permanent MO graffiti on my blog like Mother Reader<\/a>, but I’m definitely a huge fan. I think the man’s a genius, and I’ve found that if I want kids to enjoy a storytime, all I have to do is include a Mo Willems book. May he continue to be prolific! I have a feeling he’s going to feature on many lists to come.<\/p>\n

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