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In this post you will find links and resources for a Mo Willems Author Study. These books and activities are appropriate to share in a classroom or for your homeschool! This guide provides book recommendations, reading resources, author links, and project ideas.
The engaging and hilarious books by Mo Willems will entertain young writers and inspire young artists as you laugh along with his memorable characters. Emerging readers from preschool through early elementary ages will love these engaging and delightful stories.
Related Article: Benefits of an Author Study and How To Create Your Own
Book List
I would recommend starting with your child’s favorite Mo Willems books along with at least two new titles or series to explore. Willems’ books are funny, fun, and surprising for young readers. You may want to choose a few books to read over and over or explore many books in the same series!
  Elephant and Piggie, We Are in a Book! |   Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! |   Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs |
  Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale |   Leonardo the Terrible Monster |   Nanette's Baguette |
  That is Not a Good Idea! |   Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator |   Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct |
For a full list of titles see Mo Willems’ Amazon Page
Meet Mo Willems
Mo Willems’ Official Website has fun and games, activities and downloads featuring all your favorite characters. Don’t miss the Mo Doodles – a blog by Mo Willems where he talks about the fun happenings and goings-on of being an author.
Wikipedia is another source for information about Willems’ life and books or read from a list of recent and past interviews on Mo’s website.
Meet Mo Willems on YouTube
Author Activity
Use your printable pack to make a timeline or author biography about Mo Willems. Look up facts together or have an older child research on her own. Be sure to check the author bio in your books!
Read in Different Ways
Mo Willems books are fantastic early readers. So snuggle up side-by-side and giggle at these hilariously lovable shenanigans. Since you’ll be enjoying several titles, try a few other ways of reading (or re-reading) and see the characters and settings come to life!
Watch a Read-Aloud on YouTube
Watch Mo Willems make slop after you read I Really Like Slop as well as talk about his other characters and illustrations on the Elephant and Piggie YouTube Channel.
Find more of Mo Willems’ books read alouds on YouTube.
Read Along
Look for picture book kits or read-along CDs at your library.
Or purchase Audible books from Mo Willems’ official Amazon store to read along with your favorite titles.
Love listening to audio books?
Start with two free books from Audible.
Activities and Projects
A list of ideas about what to write, play, and create to bring your Author Study together. These activities will go well with your printable.
Write
Write a fan letter to the author telling him about your Author Study and your favorite book!
Mo Willems Fan Mail
c/o Rock Dove
Hyperion Books for Children (and Pigeons)
125 West End Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10023
Write to the Pigeon on Twitter! Mo Willems doesn’t tweet, but Pigeon does! Practice your writing and typing (or texting) skills with Pigeon.
Write a new story featuring the characters and themes from 2 or more of the stories you read. What if Goldilocks stumbled into the Three Pigeons house? Or if Elephant and Piggie tried to drive the bus?
Play
Host a character party! Check out the event kits from Pigeon Presents! Grown Up Stuff for a party featuring your favorite characters. Use the invitations and checklist from your printable pack to plan your party!
Play online games featuring your favorite characters on Pigeon Presents Fun and meet all of the characters online on Pigeon Presents Pals.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Run this App! is available for iOS and features silly games, drawing, and some favorite stories.
Create
Learn to draw the characters from Mo Willems himself! A tutorial for Piggie is on YouTube.
Make a new Elephant and Piggie story using free printable coloring pages or draw your own. Add your own speech bubbles to create the storyline.
“Go bananas being an artist” with Mo Willem’s We Are in an ART-ivity Book. Sure to inspire your budding artist or cartoonist.
Don’t forget to pick up your
free 8 page printable pack!
What’s your favorite Mo Willems book? Leave a comment below.
See More Free Author Studies on this site
Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.
My Grandson is almost 5 and loves Mo Williams. I was wondering if there was a way he could get a note from Mo Williams. His name is Alex and lives in Philadelphia. I am grandma and I live in Wisconsin and this is a great books to share on zoom and checking in time!
Thanks!
Ruth J
Hi Ruth, his fan club is taking email at the moment. Check this site for details: http://mowillemsfaq.blogspot.com/2007/10/q-can-i-send-you-letter.html