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

Genre: Fanciful Fiction
Themes: Humor, Persuasion
Grade Level:K-2
Curricular Connections:Writing (Story Modeling), Art (Sketching)

The story starts out with the Pigeon dreaming of driving a bus. Next we meet a bus driver who announces he is taking a short break, and he asks the reader to keep an eye on things while he is gone. The driver asks the reader to remember one simple thing, "Don't let the Pigeon drive the bus." As soon as the driver leaves, the Pigeon appears and asks if he can drive the bus. He pleads, begs, bargains, and tricks the reader into letting him drive the bus. He pouts, mopes, and even throws tantrums to try to get his way. The bus driver returns, and the Pigeon hangs his head, but not for long. He sees a semi-truck, and begins dreaming again.

Related Works: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, The Pigeon Has Feelings Too, The Pigeon Loves Things That Go

Classroom Suggestions:

1. Students can write their own Pigeon stories creating new situations the Pigeon should avoid as well as thinking up new tactics the pigeon could use to try to get his way.

2. Students could practice sketching the Pigeon from the story. They could even draw their own illustrations for their stories just as the author did.