Review by Booklist Review
In this latest series installment, it's time for Pigeon to start attending school. However, he has absolutely no intention of going. He doesn't do mornings, and he already knows everything, including how to spel. His stance, wings on his little birdie hips, shows his determination to avoid what he considers unnecessary and a waste of his time. But as he goes through a litany of what-ifs, his anxiety begins to show through his stubbornness. While addressing his laundry list of concerns, he slowly begins to understand that school just might be helpful when it comes to learning about things like the alphabet, finger painting, and reading. Each page offers backgrounds in subdued colors of tan, purple, gray, pink, orange, and green, with our ever-dramatic pale blue Pigeon front and center, the text transmitted entirely through his dialogue bubbles. The ending is spot-on, as Pigeon spots something big, something bright, and something yellow, and his excitement skyrockets. Children on their way to kindergarten may recognize themselves in Pigeon's story and take heart at his (eventual) enthusiasm. The introductory endpapers show an empty classroom, and the concluding ones reveal who Pigeon's classmates will be. A few of them will even be easily recognized by children familiar with this author-illustrator . . . and who isn't?HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Pigeon's been winning hearts since he first appeared with that bus, and best-selling, multi-multi-award-winning Willems is irresistible to kids and grown-ups alike.--Maryann Owen Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
At long last, the school bell tolls for Pigeon, despite his insistence that "I already know EVERYTHING!" But as longtime readers of Willems's series know, there's a little bird beneath all that bluster, and Pigeon soon reveals that school has turned him into a feather-covered bundle of anxieties. "What if the teacher doesn't like pigeons?" he asks, his normally robust black pupil shrinking to a little dot of fear. As he thinks about learning math and the alphabet, wearing a hefty backpack, and meeting other birds, the strong black outlines that have always defined Willems's beloved, kvetching protagonist turn ragged: "The unknown stresses me out, dude," he confides. But wait--is that a school bus he gets to ride on? "Coming through!" he shouts. "The Pigeon HAS to go to school!" Ages 3--5. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Willems's famed feathered protagonist faces the inevitable with a winning mix of chuckle-inducing bravado, honest emotion, and a child-grabbing point of view. The pigeon is not happy about the prospect of launching his educational career, flapping his wings in desperation as the book begins ("WAIT! Don't read that title!") and spouting a series of fervent objections that range from the familiar to the delightfully absurd: "Why do I have to go to school?" "I already know EVERYTHING!" "Does 'school' start in the morning? Because you know what I'm like in the morning! It is NOT pretty." "What if the teacher doesn't like pigeons?" "WHAT IF I LEARN TOO MUCH!?! My head might pop off." Utilizing muted monochromatic backdrops, the pages are dominated by the vividly drawn character, and his dramatic body language and ever-expressive single eye accentuate each and every comic beat. When the pigeon finally gets to the heart of the matter and reveals his true feelings ("I'm…scared"), he is drawn much smaller, with thinner lines and tighter body posture. Never fear, this lovable character works his way through his emotions (raising questions that parents can discuss with their own soon-to-be-students) and finishes on an upbeat note--total jubilation at his means of transportation: a school bus! VERDICT Deftly balancing genuine concerns with humor and buoyant reassurance, this irresistible offering starring a fan favorite is sure to become a first-day-of-school classic.--Joy Fleishhacker, Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado Springs
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Willemss pugnacious picture-book pigeon (most recently The Pigeon Needs a Bath, rev. 7/14) is unsurprisingly unexcited about starting school: Why do I have to go to school? I already know everything! Over the course of the story, in direct-address text, the pigeon imagines worst-case scenarios, from the ridiculous (What if I learn too much!?! My head might pop off) to the realistic (What will the other birds think of me?). Many children who are facing this milestone will relate to the pigeons apprehension. Those listeners and viewers witnessing his antics, though, should have no trouble recognizing the histrionics for what they are, as demonstrated loud and clear in both over-the-top text and restrained-until-theyre-not illustrations. The moments when the pigeon does show emotional vulnerability (Imscared) feel especially well earned; and the spread in which hes longing to be a baby again rewards viewers with an adorbs picture of a wide-eyed little-itty-bitty-not-going-to-school-baby-waybie pigeon. elissa gershowitz July/Aug p.121(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems' hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon.Told mostly in speech balloons, the bird's monologue will have kids (and their caregivers) in stitches at Pigeon's excuses. From already knowing everything (except whatever question readers choose to provide in response to "Go aheadask me a question. / Any question!") to fearing learning too much ("My head might pop off"), Pigeon's imagination has run wild. Readers familiar with Pigeon will recognize the muted, matte backgrounds that show off the bird's shenanigans so well. As in previous outings, Willems varies the size of the pigeon on the page to help communicate emotion, the bird teeny small on the double-page spread that illustrates the confession that "I'm / scared." And Pigeon's eight-box rant about all the perils of school ("The unknown stresses me out, dude") is marvelously followed by the realization (complete with lightbulb thought bubble) that school is the place for students to practice, with experts, all those skills they don't yet have. But it is the ending that is so Willems, so Pigeon, and so perfect. Pigeon's last question is "Well, HOW am I supposed to get there, anyway!?!" Readers will readily guess both the answer and Pigeon's reaction.Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
