There Is a Bird on Your Head! - Mo Willems

Tender comedy is great for beginning readers.

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Book details

Author:Mo Willems
# of pages: 64
Publisher:Hyperion Books for Children
Original Publication Date: 07/31/2007
Genre: Fiction - For Beginning Readers
Hardcover: $8.99
Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 4-8
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 5
Awards:Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is another one of the very funny books in Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie series. Kids will laugh themselves silly when reading it.

Families can talk about and play the two main characters. Members in the family can take the part of Gerald the elephant, or his friend Piggie, and act out this story, which almost sounds like a Laurel and Hardy comedy routine. Beginning readers can handle the text, and everyone in the family will love the expressively comic drawings.

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

Two birds build a nest and produce eggs.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Patricia Tauzer

When a bird lands on Gerald the elephant's head, the trouble begins. One thing leads to another, with Gerald freaking out and Piggie trying to help out, or at least explain what is going on. Things go from bad to worse, but always in fun, until a surprising solution is found.

Is it any good?

Anyone familiar with Mo Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon… books will recognize the simple but expressive lines of his drawings, as well as those of his text. Both are funny in a quiet way that creeps up on you until you're laughing yourself silly. Bespeckled and a little stressed out, pessimistic Gerald the elephant has the look of a worried old man while his upbeat friend Piggie is much more kid-like and exuberant. Together they make a great pair, in much the same way as Frog and Toad.

The language is simple and repetitive enough for beginning readers to enjoy. And the humor will hold their interest while they struggle with the harder parts. This book is so much fun that even struggling readers will want to read it over and over again, especially if they are able to share parts with another reader. And, happily, this is only one of several in the Elephant and Piggie series.