A delightful childrens book about a pigeon who thinks he wants a puppy with a surprise ending. My granddaughter loves this book!

My daughter LOVES this book!!! One of the other reviewers wrote her child could relate to this book.. it is so true!!! If you read this book with the right inflections and with lots of expression, your child will love it too. Especially the page, "I want a puppy, right here right now!!" My daughter now reads that page to me when we come to it. And she laughs when I read it because I do think she can totally relate to the demanding tone of the pigeon. And when I read it, I try to sound just like my daughter when she tries those tactics with me. When we're done with the book, she likes to read it back to me. It's just the right length for a toddler and it's a fun book to read for parents.

As a teacher librarian I loved sharing this new book in the Pigeon series with my students. The emotive cartoons and powerful yet simple text lead the reader on another journey with a favourite character. It led into a discussion and Internet research on the animal mentioned at the end of the book.

We love Mo Willems and can't wait for the Pigeon's next book. I use this for students from 5-8 years of age

Mo Willems brings us another gem from his beloved Pigeon's adventures. The Pigeon wants a puppy but clearly does not know what having a dog entails. The text is funny, sincere and so true. It is an instant classic. My daughter, her cousin, her friends all adore the pigeon, and they all adore this new book. Buy it, share it, give copies to everyone. :-)
Enjoy!

i think i like this one even more than don't let the pigeon ride the bus. the pigeon is so much more over the top in this one. not in an unnecessary, ostentatious way, but in a fun, energetic cute way. just look at the cover! look at that face! it's cute, i smile. and i suppose the kids would like it too >.>

The Pigeon is back, and he is as adorable as ever. Buy this book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late. They entertain and educate parents and children.

This entire series is brilliant!
My kids (5 and 2 years old) love them.
OK, once you've seen one, the other stories and drawings are pretty much the same, but to a 5 year old, the drawings really capture the feelings and emotions of a poor pigeon trying to get his way.
It's amazing how some simple lines and circles can be manipulated to reflect such a wide range of emotions on a pigeon's face!
The look of amusement on the kids's faces as they read the book and see the different pigeon feelings on each page really make purchasing the pigeon series by Mo Willems worth it.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy is the latest installment of "The Pigeon" books by Mo Willems. This is the first one that we have read, and both my 3 year old daughter and I laughed out loud. The Pigeon sounds like a typical preschooler, wanting what he wants when he wants it, and he wants it NOW.

Most children will recognize themselves in it, causing them great giggles. The Pigeon breaks the fourth wall, and speaks directly to your child. Mine answers him every time. The Pigeon begs, he pleads, he yells, he bargains, he tantrums to get the puppy that he must, Must, MUST have...that is, until he gets it.

This is a truly delightful and engaging story to read out loud to your little ones. It is an excellent length for a bedtime story, and one you will both enjoy. We look forward to reading more. This has very quickly become a new favorite at our house.

The Pigeon wants a puppy. He really does. And with all the glee and naïveté 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?

My kindergartners love the Pigeon books. They are great for teaching concepts, reading, and just having a good laugh!

my daughters, 5 and 3, love the pigeon stories and were excited for this new one. it's right on line with the series. we highly recommend it.

I love Mo Willems, and because we are huge "Pigeon" fans, I immediately bought the book without even looking through it. While the book is very cute, and the pigeon is as funny as always, I felt as though this book was not up to the same 5-star rating that I would give "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" or "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late" (two books that have been read over 500 times in our house). I kept hoping for something more to the book. Maybe it was because it was missing his trademark 2-page, 8 block spread with rapid-fire "excuses" the pigeon uses to make his case (even my 7 year old commented that it was missing from the book on the first reading). Regardless, it is a very cute book, and if you have a "Pigeon" fan in your house, they will definitely like the latest edition to the series.

Both my 3 1/2 year old daughter & I love the "Pigeon" books by Mo Willems (along with several of his other titles). They're entertaining for children as well as the adults reading to them.

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.

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!

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.

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 :)

Preschoolers will recognize themselves in Pigeon, a big-eyed blue bird that really, really, really wants a puppy. He's wanted it "forever! At least since last Tuesday."

Pigeon speaks directly to the reader from page one. "Oh, hello. How are you? I'm fine, thanks for asking." He proceeds to tell you how much he wants a puppy, how he'll take care of it by watering it once a month. Pigeon gets emotional when he concludes that you don't want him to have a puppy. He throws a tantrum: "I WANT A PUPPY! RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW!"

Mo Willems uses speech balloons to show that Pigeon is indeed speaking to the reader, and he changes the size of the type to show Pigeon's changing emotions. When the bird sulks, the type size is small, as if Pigeon is muttering to himself: "You just don't understand." And when the puppy arrives on the scene with a friendly "Woof?" Pigeon's terror shows with a bold, black scrawled "Aaaaaggghhh!"

Of course Pigeon changes his mind about wanting a puppy, and decides what he really, really, really wants is... a walrus.

Young kids will love reading along and answering back to Pigeon as he "talks" with them. This one joins Willems' other classics:
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!
and
The Pigeon Loves Things That Go!.

By far, the best pigeon book yet! As a first grade teacher, there is no better way to get kids hooked on books than by reading a book that forces the reader to YELL! What fun we had today uncovering the mystery of what that pigeon really wants. Thankfully Amazon sent the pre-order a bit early, or we would have had some very disappointed students (and teachers!). To top it all off, the Pigeon turned 5 on the same day (April 1st) so it brought on a full day of celebration! But, this book did leave us wondering...what is next for the pigeon?????

The long wait is over! The pigeon officially wants....

...a PUPPY!

Mo Willems once again creates a wonderful read-aloud book that engages children in a silly conversation that will tickle and delight. I am a huge fan of Willems' Pigeon books, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is easily in my Top Ten for Kids of All Time (see, I capitalized it, so it's really important!). Every time I read these aloud to groups of kids or to a single child, they light up and jump right into the story. A Pigeon story-time is a performance where the audience is in on the show.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy once again presents the loveable pigeon's pleading, bargaining and tantrums; this time for a puppy. Kids will be rolling when they hear him mistaking a puppy for something he'd have to water once a month, and Willems' illustrations again are so evocative, you can't help but read it with full emotion.

Two thumbs up, ten out of ten, five stars, and all that jazz. Long live the Pigeon!