Mo Willems

Author of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

138+ Works 113,483 Members 3,635 Reviews 90 Favorited

About the Author

Mo Willems was born on February 11, 1968. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School for the Arts, he spent a year traveling around the world drawing a cartoon every day, which were published in the book You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons. For nine seasons, he worked as a show more writer and animator for PBS' Sesame Street, where he received 6 Emmy Awards for his writing. During this time, he also served as a weekly commentator for BBC Radio and created two animated series, Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats and Cartoon Network's Sheep in the Big City. While working as head writer for Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door, he began writing and drawing books for children. He received three Caldecott Honor Awards for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2004; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in 2005; and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity in 2008. He also created the Elephant and Piggie series for Easy Readers, which were awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009. His drawings, wire sculptures, and ceramics have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the nation. Occasionally he serves as the Radio Cartoonist for NPR's All Things Considered. He voices and produces animated cartoons based on his books with Weston Woods studios. The animated Knuffle Bunny was awarded Best Film during the New York International Children's Film Festival in 2008 and received the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2007. His title Happy Pig Day made Publisher's Weekly Best Seller List for 2011. In 2012 his title Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs made The New York Times Best Seller List. In 2013 his titles: That is Not a Good Idea!, Let's Go for a Drive! and I'm a Frog! made the New York Times Best Seller List. In 2014 The Pigeons Need a Bath! and Waiting Is Not Easy! made the New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: Mo Wilms, 莫威樂, Mo Willem, Mo Willems, Mo Wiliams, Mo Willems, Willems M., Mo Williams, Mo Willaims, Mo Williams, Mo Willlems, by Mo Willems, Mo; b290 Willems, Mo Willems Mo Willems, Mo picture book Willems, Mo Williams Fall Cohort 2012, Mo Willems, author, illustrator.

Image credit: Miranda H.

Series

Leonardo [Mo Willems]

Unlimited Squirrels

Sheep in the Big City

Works by Mo Willems

Popular Recent

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2003) 10,554 copies, 513 reviews

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (2004) 6,125 copies, 367 reviews

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! (2006) 5,400 copies, 111 reviews

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (2004) 5,053 copies, 104 reviews

There Is a Bird on Your Head! (2007) 4,190 copies, 119 reviews

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (2008) 3,927 copies, 80 reviews

My Friend is Sad (2007) 3,808 copies, 63 reviews

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (2012) 3,448 copies, 62 reviews

We Are in a Book! (2010) 3,221 copies, 135 reviews

Should I Share My Ice Cream? (2011) 3,043 copies, 42 reviews

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity (2007) 2,994 copies, 168 reviews

Waiting Is Not Easy! (2014) 2,811 copies, 48 reviews

A Big Guy Took My Ball! (2013) 2,609 copies, 58 reviews

I Love My New Toy! (2008) 2,494 copies, 56 reviews

Can I Play Too? (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (2010) 2,460 copies, 47 reviews

I'm a Frog! (2013) 2,173 copies, 29 reviews

Let's Go for a Drive! (2012) 2,170 copies, 33 reviews

I Am Invited to a Party! (2007) 2,102 copies, 35 reviews

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! (2014) 2,037 copies, 52 reviews

Are You Ready to Play Outside? (2008) 1,909 copies, 76 reviews

My New Friend Is So Fun! (2014) 1,873 copies, 22 reviews

Happy Pig Day! (2011) 1,834 copies, 22 reviews

Today I Will Fly! (2007) 1,745 copies, 51 reviews

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! (2019) 1,685 copies, 23 reviews

I Will Surprise My Friend! (2008) 1,665 copies, 26 reviews

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster (2005) 1,606 copies, 109 reviews

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (2012) 1,588 copies, 128 reviews

I Broke My Trunk! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (2011) 1,453 copies, 40 reviews

I Really Like Slop! (2015) 1,450 copies, 13 reviews

The Thank You Book (2016) 1,447 copies, 17 reviews

Elephants Cannot Dance! (2009) 1,364 copies, 36 reviews

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (2009) 1,201 copies, 93 reviews

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion (2010) 1,182 copies, 79 reviews

City Dog, Country Frog (2010) 1,147 copies, 154 reviews

I Will Take a Nap! (2015) 1,107 copies, 28 reviews

Pigs Make Me Sneeze! (2009) 1,106 copies, 26 reviews

Watch Me Throw the Ball! (2009) 1,032 copies, 18 reviews

The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! (2005) 989 copies, 15 reviews

That Is Not a Good Idea! (2013) 939 copies, 85 reviews

Listen to My Trumpet! (2012) 904 copies, 22 reviews

Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct (2006) 872 copies, 40 reviews

I Am Going! (2010) 775 copies, 20 reviews

An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! Volume 1 (2017) 731 copies, 5 reviews

Time to Say "Please"! (2005) 672 copies, 48 reviews

The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! (2005) 660 copies, 7 reviews

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! (2014) 608 copies, 2 reviews

The Cookie Fiasco (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) (2016) 581 copies, 13 reviews

Because (2019) 536 copies, 19 reviews

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! (2022) 526 copies, 6 reviews

Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (2010) 515 copies, 16 reviews

Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! (2011) 509 copies, 46 reviews

The Story of Diva and Flea (2015) 499 copies, 30 reviews

I Lost My Tooth!-An Unlimited Squirrels Book (2018) 403 copies, 12 reviews

Nanette's Baguette (2016) 382 copies, 22 reviews

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! (2023) 364 copies, 6 reviews

Time to Pee! (2003) 355 copies, 28 reviews

An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! Volume 2 (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (2019) 349 copies

The Itchy Book!-Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! (2018) 320 copies, 5 reviews

The Good for Nothing Button! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!, 3) (2017) 286 copies, 3 reviews

What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound? (2010) 255 copies, 10 reviews

Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly! (2010) 251 copies, 8 reviews

Who is the Mystery Reader? (2019) 245 copies, 2 reviews

It's Shoe Time! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) (2017) 241 copies, 5 reviews

You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons - The World on One Cartoon a Day (2006) 239 copies, 3 reviews

Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep! (2010) 212 copies, 14 reviews

An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! Volume 3 (2020) 211 copies

I Want to Sleep Under the Stars (2020) 183 copies, 4 reviews

Sam, the Most Scaredy-cat Kid in the Whole World: A Leonardo, the Terrible Monster Companion (2017) 171 copies, 4 reviews

An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! Volume 4 (2021) 169 copies

A Busy Creature's Day Eating! (2018) 138 copies, 4 reviews

Big Frog Can't Fit In: A pop-up book (2009) 125 copies, 4 reviews

Welcome: A Mo Willems Guide for New Arrivals (2017) 123 copies, 8 reviews

Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection (Includes 2 Bookends) (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (2017) 112 copies

Opposites Abstract (2021) 101 copies, 5 reviews

It's a Busload of Pigeon Books! (2013) 94 copies, 1 review

An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! Volume 5 (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (2022) 92 copies

Guess What!? (An Unlimited Squirrels Book) (Unlimited Squirrels, 4) (2021) 88 copies, 2 reviews

Don't Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book! (Pigeon series) (Pigeon, 8) (2012) 86 copies

The Frustrating Book! (2022) 72 copies, 1 review

Mo Willems Set of 8 Paperback Books Includes Can I Play Too?, a Big Guy Took My Ball, Cat the Cat Who Is That?, Knuffle… (2013) 70 copies

Don't Pigeonhole Me! (2013) 57 copies, 8 reviews

Be the Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon (2023) 55 copies, 2 reviews

Are You Big? (2024) 43 copies, 1 review

We Are in an ART-ivity Book! (2017) 41 copies

Doodling 101: A Silly Symposium (2021) 35 copies

Are You Small? (2024) 31 copies, 4 reviews

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! / The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! 15 copies

Pigeon Series 7 Book Set : Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus / Stay up Late. Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog ....and 4 More… (2009) 14 copies

Knuffle Bunny and More Great Childhood Adventure Stories [A Read-Aong DVD] (2007) 9 copies

Pigeon Pack (5 Book Set) (The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?; The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!; Don't Let Pigeon the Stay Up… (2012) 7 copies

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical Original Cast Recording [Sound Recording] (2011) 7 copies

Don't Let the Pigeon Kiss the Cat 7 copies, 7 reviews

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale | Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity (2008) 6 copies

Lefty (2024) 5 copies, 1 review

Pigeon Pack (4 Book Set) (The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!; Don't Let Pigeon the Stay Up Late!; The Pigeon Wants a… (2010) 5 copies

Mo Willems Knuffle Bunny Book Set of 3 - [Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken… (2004) 5 copies

The Mo Willems' Pigeon Collection (2015) 5 copies

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and More Stories (2011) 5 copies

Elephant & Piggie Bundle (2011) 4 copies

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! | The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! 4 copies

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Scholastic Storybook Treasures) (2010) 4 copies

My Friend is Sad / Today I Will Fly! 4 copies

The pigeon finds a hot dog! [and more stories by Mo Willems] (2011) 3 copies

Don't Let the Pigeon Finish This Mini Activity Book (2017) 3 copies

Knuffle Bunny and Other Stories About Families: Knuffle Bunny / That New Animal / Three Cheers for Catherine the Great… (2013) 3 copies

Elephant & Piggie Set of 5 Books: There Is a Bird on Your Head!, Elephant & Piggie: Can I Play Too?, Elephant & Piggie:… (2013) 3 copies

We Are in an ACT-ivity Book!: An ELEPHANT & PIGGIE Theatrical Event (2024) 2 copies

Don't Let the Pigeon be a Principal (2005) 2 copies, 2 reviews

The Wonderful World of Elephant & Piggie Series 10 Books Collection Box Set by Mo Willems (2020) 2 copies

There is a Bird on Your Head | My Friend is Sad (2009) 2 copies, 1 review

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? and More Stories by Mo Willems (2016) 2 copies

The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! | The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! 1 copy

Voi & lợn : Có một bạn chim trên đầu cậu kìa! =There is a bird on your head! 1 copy

Me and Other Bunnies 1 copy

Be the bus! : the lost and profound wisdom of the pigeon 1 copy

I Am Going! (Elephant & Piggie Books) by Mo Willems (2010-01-26) 1 copy

ELEPHANTS CANNOT DANCED! 1 copy

Lets Go For a Drive! 1 copy

I Really Like Slope 1 copy

Éléphant et Rosie : Joyeuse fête du cochon! 1 copy

Books 1 copy

Elephant and Piggie Series 10 Books Collection Set By Mo Willems (Today I Will Fly, My Friend Is Sad, I Broke My Trunk,… (2020) 1 copy

We Are in a Book! | Should I Share My Ice Cream? (2016) 1 copy

Elephant & Piggie 10 Book Set (2017) 1 copy

My Friend Is Sad | There Is a Bird on Your Head! | I Love My New Toy (2011) 1 copy

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! and More Stories [DVD] (2013) — Director — 1 copy

Sheep in the Big City: Season 2 — Creator — 1 copy

Sheep in the Big City: Season 1 — Creator — 1 copy

Elephant & Piggie Friends Collections (2008) 1 copy

Não Deixes o Pombo Guiar o Autocarro! (2015) 1 copy

Não Deixes o Pombo Ficar Acordado até Tarde! (2015) 1 copy

O Pombo Quer um Cãozinho (2016) 1 copy

Lazy Day Doodles 1 copy

Elephant & Piggie: Bundle - Set of 5 Books - I am Invited to a Party; Let's Go for a Drive; A Big Guy Took my Ball; My… 1 copy

Mo Willems Pigeon and Pals: Complete Cartoon Collection Volumes 1 & 2 (2012) 1 copy

How to Draw... : Your Favorite Characters (2016) 1 copy

Elephant & Piggie 6 Book Set (2017) 1 copy

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive this App 1 copy, 1 review

Work Explorer

Associated Works

Guys Write for Guys Read (2005) — Illustrator — 786 copies, 13 reviews

We Are Growing! (2016) — Contributor — 769 copies, 20 reviews

The Complete Peanuts: 1969-1970 Dailies & Sundays (2008) — Introduction — 380 copies, 1 review

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories (2011) — Contributor — 336 copies, 18 reviews

Harold & Hog Pretend For Real! (2019) — Contributor — 298 copies, 7 reviews

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? (2006) — some editions — 287 copies, 15 reviews

A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader (2018) — Illustrator — 260 copies, 4 reviews

9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember (2002) — Contributor — 253 copies, 1 review

Who Done It? (2013) — Contributor — 141 copies, 6 reviews

Every Man for Himself: Ten Original Stories About Being a Guy (2005) — Contributor — 98 copies, 7 reviews

Peanuts: A Tribute to Charles M. Schulz (2015) — Contributor — 45 copies, 3 reviews

Rush Hour: Reckless (2006) — Contributor — 16 copies

The Bride of Monkeysuit:Monkeysuit, Volume 2 (2000) — Contributor — 15 copies

Tagged

animals (1,460) bedtime (405) birds (634) bus (406) Caldecott (395) Caldecott Honor (374) Child Life (355) children (745) children's (1,396) children's book (343) children's literature (431) collection:Fiction (747) early reader (836) easy reader (549) elephant (432) Elephant and Piggie (1,401) elephants (791) emotions (411) family (397) fantasy (575) feelings (528) fiction (2,661) friends (805) friendship (2,316) funny (888) hardcover (1,108) humor (2,541) kids (387) manners (330) Mo Willems (2,117) picture book (5,087) pigeon (1,398) pigeons (462) pigs (1,016) read (348) series (616) sharing (686) shelf:Fiction (748) to-read (640) transportation (421)

Common Knowledge

Birthdate: 1968-02-11
Gender: male
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Places of residence: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
Education: New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
Trinity Episcopal School
Isidore Newman School
Occupations: animator
illustrator
children's book author
Awards and honors: Theodor Suess Geisel Medal (2008, 2009)
Caldecott Honor (2004, 2005, 2008
Short biography: Mo Willems was born on February 11 in 1968 and raised in New Orleans. He attended Tisch School of the Arts through New York University, graduating cum laude. He began his career as a writer and animator for Sesame Street, and then went on to create two cartoon series: "The Off-Beats" for Nickelodeon's "Kablam!" and "Sheep in the Big City" for Cartoon Network. Since 2003, Willems has authored numerous books for young children.

Members

Discussions

Anyone a else Mo Willems Fan? in Children's Literature (May 2015)

Reviews

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

When Trixie helps her dad run an errand, her precious Knuffle bunny is lost. What to do? Since Trixie is non-verbal, she goes boneless and makes a fuss until mom figures out what's wrong.

Flagged

phoenixcomet | 366 other reviews | Jan 3, 2025 |

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Caldecott Honor

Flagged

ParkerExum | 512 other reviews | Dec 11, 2024 |

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems

This is the sequel to the first knuffle bunny, it is a story about a little girl who has a stuffed bunny that gets switched with a similar bunny at school. She then has to get her bunny back from the little girl who owns the bunny it got switched with. In the end, they become friends. I would read this to around kindergarten age because the content is more suited for smaller children.

Flagged

Allison.Martinet | 167 other reviews | Dec 8, 2024 |

Are You Ready to Play Outside?-An Elephant and… by Mo Willems

This book is a part of the Elephant and Piggy series. It's a story about an elephant and a pig that are good friends. In this specific book they try to play outside but it begins to rain. They then learn to overcome this struggle and enjoy the rain. This book is more suited for younger ages such as 2nd and below but I would read this book in a classroom of students of any age. It teaches important life lessons of friendship and learning to be content and make the best of your situation.

Flagged

Allison.Martinet | 75 other reviews | Dec 8, 2024 |

See More Reviews