The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

As most of my young students know, I love Mo Willems! His illustrations are simple and easy to draw, his text is perfect for beginning readers, and his stories are funny. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! is the latest in Mo's Pigeon series, which began with the beloved Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (By the way, that book was inducted in the Picture Book Hall of Fame!)

In this story Pigeon is pitching a fit about not wanting to start school. As the reader soon realizes Pigeon is really afraid...afraid his teachers won't like him, afraid he will not be able to learn everything, and afraid he won't know what to expect. The thing that finally turns the whole situation around is when Pigeon discovers that he will go to school on a bus! What a perfect ending that takes readers right back to the beginning of the delightful Pigeon series.

I recommend this book to early readers who either love or want to discover Mo Willems's Pigeon series. I also think teachers would enjoy reading the book aloud at the beginning of the school year because Pigeon is not the only one who gets stressed out starting back to school.

Mrs N.