Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Pigeon goes nuts over not getting a cookie with nuts.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
A cute little yellow duckling appears alone on a blank page and asks politely for a cookie. One with nuts descends from the top of the page and he says, "Thanks!" Then the pigeon from Don't Let Pigeon Drive the Bus and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late arrives and asks how he got the cookie. The duckling tells him, "I asked for it." At this the pigeon flies into a rant about all his requests that get turned down, including "I ask to drive the bus!" and "I ask to stay up late!" He rails about how unfair it is: "Ducklings get everything." Then the duckling says he got the cookie so he could give it to the pigeon. The pigeon is won over, calms down, and says, "Thank you." Then the duckling asks for another cookie -- without nuts.
Is It Any Good?
The adorable, big-eyed duckling almost steals the show in THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE!?, but there are plenty of laughs in seeing the pigeon enraged when he thinks he's being treated unfairly. Kids with siblings will relate to the terror of feeling that a brother or sister got something they didn't. Amid the silliness and the pigeon's extreme reaction to his perceived unfair treatment, there are sweet messages about politeness, sharing, and expressing your needs directly. And of course, this being a Mo Willems book, there's a little comic twist, as well. The cartoon-like art is simple enough for toddlers to grasp, but imbued with an amazing about of personality and emotion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes the pigeon an appealing character worthy of three picture books. Is it the way he's drawn? Is it his personality?
Have you ever felt mad when a brother, sister, or friend got something you didn't get?
What's funny about getting mad when you don't get a cookie?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Mo Willems
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Hyperion Books for Children
- Publication date : April 3, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 7
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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