Meet the latest additions to Mo Willems’ award-winning Elephant and Piggie series, which revolve around an elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie. Both books—I Love My New Toy, and I Will Surprise My Friend—contain the same real and pure emotion that he manages to capture in all of his written work. The simplicity of these early reader books enables children to interpret the raw social emotions and witty punchlines, in a way that works for them. In an interview on NPR, Willems says …”they are built to be little plays.”
“It’s a cute concept, and an impressively economical one, managing in the space of a joke to tap into children’s social anxieties, dress-up fetishes and love of parties — all with a simple, repeated vocabulary of about 50 words that makes it effective for beginning readers.” — Gregory Cowles, The New York Times
Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems
Reading level: Ages 2-8
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Hyperion (June 3, 2008)
In I Love My New Toy!, Piggie has a new toy and is very excited to show Gerald. When the toy appears to be broken, their friendship is put to the test. Could it possibly turn out that “Friends are more fun than toys?”
Learn More:
Mo Willems’ Blog: I Love My New Toy, I Will Surprise My Friend
You have to check out the adorable plush ‘Elephant and Piggie’.
Pigeon Presents Mo willems Books.
Listen to Author Mo Willems talk about ‘Elephant and Piggie’ on NPR.