Genre 1- (Picture Book) The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
By: Mo Willems

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Willems, Mo. (2004). THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG!. New York, NY:  Hyperion Books For Children. ISBN: 0-7868-1869-7

PLOT SUMMARY

Emmy Award-winning writer and animator for Sesame Street, Mo Willems, has ingeniously created picture book, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! The egocentric and hungry Pigeon stumbles across his favorite food, a hot dog. The exuberant Pigeon couldn’t wait for the perfect snack to enter his beak. Much to the Pigeon’s surprise, just as he is about to indulge on the snack, a sudden small voice comes from behind. Special guest star, the curious and hungry Duckling, appears and asks the questions, “Is that a hot dog?” “I have never had a hot dog before?"  The guilt begins. The Duckling's hilarious and clever, questioning of the taste of the hot dog causes the Pigeon to question his greediness. Although frustrated with the Duckling's questions, the Pigeon allows for a compromise, letting the Duckling carry out his plan of splitting the hot dog for both to enjoy. The Pigeon suggest that he has been had by the Duckling with his last statement being, “You know, you’re pretty smart for a duckling.” The Pigeon, sitting next to the duckling on the final page, expresses that the best decision has been made, which was to share the hot dog with the curious Duckling.   

CRITICAL ALALYSIS

Mo Willems story is a reminder that big things come in small packages. Willems' simple story is short in words but carries a powerful punch for readers. Compassion, consideration and sharing are three important lessons that readers will obtain from reading the story of the Pigeon and the Duckling. Willems story instills qualities in his readers that will continue to produce positive experiences that will create meaningful relationships throughout the lives of his readers. 

Willems utilizes a painting technique to illustrate this simple yet powerful story from the front of the book to the back. Willems utilized crayons for his illustrations, giving the story a childlike feel. The plain and linear backgrounds allow Willems' images to jump right off the page at the reader. Willems' simple but detailed illustrations give the reader the exact image of the attitude and curiosity of both the Pigeon and the Duckling throughout the story. The scowling slant of the Pigeon's eyes and eyelids gives the reader the idea that the Pigeon is annoyed and the Duckling's big blue wide eyes looking up at the Pigeon creates a sense of curiosity in the Duckling. Willems' illustrations also create seniority among the characters. The Pigeon is large in size with big stout wings and a bold loud voice, creating an intimidating image for the reader. The duckling is small in size with tiny little wings and small voice, expressed with a smaller, less bold font, creating a quiet more timid image for readers. Willems’ illustrations of the Pigeon and the Duckling create a meaningful and important lesson that promotes positive human characteristics, for his readers to appreciate at any age.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist- “In this follow-up to Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the wheedling pigeon with the short fuse meets his match.”

School Library Journal- “In this second book featuring the star of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the shoe is on the other foot. Once again, the action starts on the title page, with the pigeon's joyous discovery of a hot dog.”

Kirkus Reviews – “The determined pigeon of the Caldecott Honor-winning Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, returns in a more subdued performance that will nevertheless appeal to fans of the first.”

Publishers Weekly- “In Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the hero was subordinate to an unseen person who withheld bus-driving permission; here he has the dominant role and must placate his own pesky interloper, as he bargains with a duckling over a discarded hot dog.”

CONNECTIONS

If you are a teacher or parent looking for creative ways to teach your children the importance of sharing, without a lecture, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! is a great tool for you. There are also many other fabulous picture books that will help promote the importance of sharing.

Sharing Books:

The Rainbow Fish by: Marcus Pfister - ISBN: 0760787220
Should I Share My Ice-cream? by: Mo Willems- ISBN: 1423143434
Stone Soup by: Ann Mcgovern - ISBN: 0590416022 (There are a couple of versions of this book and all are great examples.)

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! is a great tool to develop and accessing children’s story telling abilities as well as comprehension through illustrations.

What to do:

Step 1: Read The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! once through, out loud with your child/children.

Step 2:  Place sticky notes over the words so the children can retell the story in their own words.

Step 3: Listen and assess

Activity 2

Allow children to tell stories about both giving and receiving acts of kindness.

Activity 3

Discuss current events and articles in the paper or on the news where people contribute their time or talent to others. Have student cut out pictures from magazines and newspapers that they feel are examples of sharing, placing them on construction paper. Have students share with their peers why they feel their selected pictures are examples of sharing.