8.6 /10 1 Votes
4.5/5 Barnes & Noble Cover artist Willems Publication date 2003 ISBN 978-0-7868-1988-1 Illustrator Mo Willems | 4.3/5 Goodreads Language English Pages 36 Originally published 1 April 2003 Page count 36 Awards Caldecott Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Genre Children's books
picture books Publisher Disney Publishing Worldwide Similar Mo Willems books, Caldecott Medal winners, Picture books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is a children's picture book by Mo Willems. Released by Disney-Hyperion in 2003, it was Willems' first book for children, and received the Caldecott Honor. The plot is about a bus driver who has to leave so he asks the reader to not allow the pigeon to drive the bus. The pigeon tries many excuses and tries to finagle readers into letting it drive the bus. An animated adaptation of the book won the 2010 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video.
Contents
Children s book reading don t let the pigeon drive the bus
Sequels
Willems has created further books about the Pigeon's adventures:
Board books
Cameo appearances by the Pigeon can also be found in Willems's Knuffle Bunny, Elephant and Piggie, and Cat the Cat book series.
Reception
In addition to the Caldecott Honor, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was an American Library Association Notable Book, a National Council of Teachers of English Notable Book, and a Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Book. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association named the book one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by School Library Journal.
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! is a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! is a Parenting Magazine Best Book. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! is the 2009 Children’s Choice Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year.
Each of the four of the standard-format Pigeon books has been on the New York Times best-seller list.
A 2011 scientific study entitled "Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" examined the ability of pigeons to solve the traveling salesperson problem by taking the shortest route to visit multiple feeders in a laboratory. The authors found that pigeons "appeared to plan ahead multiple steps," which provided "clear and strong evidence that animals other than primates are capable of planning sophisticated travel routes."
A parody, "Don't Let The Republican Drive The Bus" (not by Willems) replaces the pigeon with a vulture and advocates Democratic ideals.