Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 28
 The Pigeon Wants a Puppy: A Dog Trainer's View May 4, 2008
Sympawtico Dog Training, LLC
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
The Pigeon wants a puppy. He really does. And with all the glee and naivete of a child (or pigeon) he expresses his desires and expectations in this latest installment of storybook author Mo Willems' popular Pigeon series. He begs. He bargains. In red-echoed letters he demands. And of course he promises great feats of responsibility: "I promise I'll water it once a month." But would you make his dreams come true?
Many parents do. Many parents seem to see possession of a puppy as a rite of passage for their children: an ownership of life, a dry-run at all there is to come. Indeed, puppies and children go paw-in-hand for thousands of families, the embodiment of the American Dream. In fact, one-in-three American homes gives shelter to at least one dog. The problem is puppies are not possessions. And if puppy "ownership" is a dry-run at life for children, for the puppy it is very, very real. But of course the Pigeon can't see that. He's a puppy-lovin' pigeon! And the romance of his desire, swathed in rosy hues and fuchsia hearts, colors his judgment, as romantic ideals color the judgment of too many American families each year.
How many frantic phone calls I receive from parents at their wits' end because the puppy they brought home for junior has revealed himself to be shockingly alive: independent, averse to piggyback rides, and in need of more than sunshine and monthly watering. And the fact that they had wanted this four-legged possession forever - or "at least since last Tuesday" - notwithstanding, now they tell me his behavior must change immediately, yesterday!, or he has to go. As if he has anywhere to go.
It's about realistic expectations. It's about early education so that our children learn and grow and develop a consciousness in which "The teeth! The hair! That wet nose! The slobber! The claws!" of a dog are taken into consideration before he is taken into our homes. ("I mentioned the teeth, right?") And it's about a shift in perception, away from our egocentric view of humanity as little gods with dominion over the earth and its creatures, towards a donning of the mantle of humane stewardship: our responsibility and gift to the world around us in return for Life itself.
Willems' Pigeon is an iconic figure: at turns playful and pouting, he embodies the intense and unrealistic yearnings of youth, an Everychild (or Everypigeon) who flies in the face of romantic ideals. But the lessons the Pigeon has to teach are not just for children - and certainly should not be limited to children "Ages 2-6" as suggested on the back of the book. Indeed, this brilliant little tome should be required reading at shelters, rescue organizations, and even breeders' facilities and pet stores (if, heaven forbid, one should choose to purchase a puppy from one of those). Certainly all dog trainers need to be aware of this book.
I do want my clients to be happy. I do understand. The desire for a warm-bodied, four-legged friend with whom to share a home and a hearth is as natural as evolution itself. But the expectation that that living, thinking, breathing animal be as two-dimensional as a character in a storybook, the demand that the multi-dimensional animal who shows up instead be instantly adaptive to our established schedule and routine - that's not natural. And as a dog behavior consultant it is my job to educate my clients on the difference. Mo Willems' The Pigeon Wants a Puppy will be an essential part of my curriculum from now on. Now, who's going to help train or re-home the walrus?
Yay for Mo Willems!!! April 8, 2008
pinkcypress (Richardson, TX United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Another great addition to the Pigeon series!!! This one had my daughter and I laughing again and again (because we read it again and again!!).
The pigeon wants a puppy - something all kids can relate to! But when the pigeon gets what he wants, well... I don't want to give away the ending :)
Pigeon Wants a Puppy April 15, 2008
K. Cutler (Santa Rosa, California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Willems, Mo. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! Hyperion Books. 2008.
Pigeon returns in this amusing spoof of the theme of getting a puppy. Pigeon speaks first to his audience, "Oh, hello. How are you? I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Then Pigeon tells the reader, "What I've wanted forever...? At least since last Tuesday...? A PUPPY!" This eminently cute one-sided conversation goes on to reveal that Pigeon does not know what a puppy needs, "Oh, don't worry. I'll take care of it! I promise I'll water it once a month." Continuing this beguiling "discourse", Pigeon soon becomes coy and says, "Oh...I get it. You don't want me to be happy, do you?" One delightful picture shows Pigeon looking crestfallen, wings crossed and head turned down. In the next picture, Pigeon stands upright disclaiming, "I'm a puppy-lovin' pigeon!" Remarkably expressive, Pigeon will appeal to all who are young at heart. Librarians will want to reserve a copy to read aloud to children, ps-3rd grade.
Love these pigeon books! April 20, 2008
J. Parker
I have all these pigeon books at my house for my grandson. He is 5 now but we've been reading them since he was a baby. We love to make the pigeon voice, especially when he "loses it". He has a ton of books at home but these are our special books. They makes us laugh!
Book Review: The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! April 26, 2008
T. Jonker
Mo Willems' status as a storytime master is becoming legendary. Book after book is a hit with kids and parent/librarian types alike. It's akin to Outkast in their golden period from `94 to `00 - there really is no letdown in quality. I'll give you a dollar if you can read one pigeon book aloud and not have the mess of them checked out for the rest of the year. In "The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!", Mr. Willems continues to please by expertly doing two things:
1. Making youngsters a part of the story.
2. Making said youth laugh like crazy.
"The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!" is the fourth book (sixth if you're including the two board books) featuring the blue and white bird. This time Pigeon is out to convince the reader that he deserves a puppy. This pleading is done entirely through word balloons and directed squarely at the audience. I've made mention in previous reviews about how word bubbles typically make a story best for solo reading, but the opposite is true here. Similar to another recent release (and recommended book) "Big and Little", the Pigeon breaks down the fourth wall and grabs the readers attention right from the get go, promising to water the puppy once a month and "play tennis with it". His persuasion tactics continue until he actually comes face to face with a puppy. The response? Utter terror.
As in the previous installments, Willems' simple, emotive illustrations are amazing in their ability to convey the Pigeon's thoughts and feelings. Single color backgrounds change with the mood of the story. An outstanding example of humor, story, and illustration all working together. A required purchase.
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