The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems

Bibliography:

Willems, Mo. 2004. The pigeon finds a hot dog! New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786818697

Plot:

The pigeon, a beloved character from Willems’s earlier book, finds a hot dog, as the title suggests.  Duckling comes along and is immediately interested in the find.  Through uncluttered illustrations, the story unfolds, with Duckling’s questions showing an ever-increasing desire for the hot dog and Pigeon demonstrating a rising frustration.  In the end, the two share the hot dog, just as it seems the Duckling intended all along.

Analysis:

As a sequel to the Caldecott Honor Book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, this installment features the same emotive, wily Pigeon.  He may have met his match in the Duckling, whose sly questioning provokes but ultimately leaves the Pigeon with only once choice:  to share.  The simplicity of the crayon drawings, the pastel colors, and the lack of background scenery highlight these characters and complement the sparse dialogue that is the book’s only text.  Willems is able to convey much humor and expression despite the lack of complexity in both drawing and text. 

Awards & Reviews:
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Editor’s Pick, and Starred Review:  "Readers of all ages won't be able to resist miming the sly conversation in this satisfying sequel.”

School Library Journal review: “Willems's deceptively simple cartoon drawings convincingly portray his protagonist's emotional dilemma.”

Horn Book Magazine review:  “Maybe the pigeon's shtick isn't as original this time around, but he's such an engaging character that it's still a treat to see him again.”

Connections:

•  Use with preschool children in storytime or lesson about sharing.  Ask if they can predict what the Duckling’s idea is before the last page.  Eat hot dogs as a snack.
•  For older children, use in conjunction with comic strip collections and compare to Willems’s cartoonish characters.  Have children write their own comic panels.
• Allow children to visit www.mowillems.com or www.pigeonpresents.com to find out more about the author or to play Pigeon games.
• Other Pigeon books by Willems:

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus ISBN 078681988X
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late ISBN 0786837462
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy ISBN 1423109600
The Duckling Gets a Cookie ISBN 1423151283