Kids author Mo Willems and The Pigeon stare down the future in a new book
NEW YORK (AP) — Author Mo Willems has sold millions of books and won many awards, but the accolade that means most to him is when a parent says their child read aloud for the first time from one of his books.
The author, illustrator and animator, 57, is best known for his bestselling picture books like the Caldecott Award-winning 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!' and 'Knuffle Bunny.' His latest book, 'Will the Pigeon Graduate?' may look like it's aimed at children, but the titular Pigeon's fear of failure and an uncertain future are sure to resonate with people of all ages, especially during graduation season.
Willems and his trusty friend The Pigeon (charmingly represented by puppeteer Bradley Freeman Jr.) recently sat down with The Associated Press for an interview about graduating, 'Sesame Street,' and the purpose of life. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
AP: How did graduation come to mind for a book topic?
WILLEMS: As I am getting older, which I am, I'm getting into a new part of my life. And I'm wondering, am I equipped to be living in this part of life? And as I ask that question and I don't have the answers, then I think, well, what is that metaphor that kids are going through? And graduation seemed like the perfect thing. I'm graduating to a new stage in my life, and kids do this all the time. You graduate to tying your shoe. You graduate the first time you read.
THE PIGEON: Like driving a bus.
WILLEMS: Yeah, well, except for driving a bus. That is something you cannot graduate to, if you're a pigeon, but thank you for contributing to the conversation.
THE PIGEON: Of course.
AP: People may think this is just for graduates, but could it be about any transition?
WILLEMS: I think it's about asking yourself, 'Am I equipped for something that scares me?' The real world is scary. We're always asking ourselves those questions. And often the answer is … I don't know. And that's something that might feel uncomfortable to sit with, but it's also something that's very, very exciting. So like right now, I'm doing an interview with you and a giant pigeon. Is this gonna work out? If I'm going to get a little bit philosophical, I would say often we're trying to give the answers, and I think kids get exhausted from it. I want to give them the questions. I want them to have a chance to live with these questions themselves and work their way into an answer rather than telling them, 'Oh, you'll be fine.'
AP: Mr. Pigeon, what is your favorite part about collaborating on this book?
THE PIGEON: I really like how all of the books are about me. I like how I'm on, like, almost every page. You know, all of these books go through an approval process, and I get sent advanced — I call them screeners, nobody likes when I call them that! — but I get to look at them. And if I'm not on the first page and the last page, it does not get approved.
AP (to Willems): Can you reflect on your nine seasons as a writer and animator on 'Sesame Street,' winning six Emmys and helping to develop 'Elmo's World'?
WILLEMS: My love of puppets, my love of sketch comedy, my love of counting to 40 — all these things that I really, really love — came from 'Sesame Street'! And when it came time for me to make books, one of the things that I got to do that we didn't get to do on 'Sesame Street' at the time was write about failure. Write about not driving the bus rather than driving the bus. So on one level, it was like going to grad school. I loved it. I learned so much. I met all of these great puppets and puppeteers. On the other, the restrictions of the show allowed me to find my own voice.
AP: Obviously, one of the book's messages is you have to believe in yourself.
WILLEMS: I don't know. I'm glad that you think that that's one of the messages because you brought something to that book. I only write 49% of the book. You put the meaning in the book; if the book is meaningful, that is because you are putting yourself within it. I try not to have messages as much as I can. I really try to live in the question.
AP: Mr. Pigeon, do you think your participation in this makes you a little bit of a philosopher?
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
THE PIGEON: Yeah, I think there's a lot of very powerful things going on up here in this little bird brain. There's a lot of really deep questions, like, I don't know, can I drive the bus, maybe? You know, wondering maybe if I can stay up late? That would be really great.
WILLEMS: These are all fundamental Greek philosophical questions.
THE PIGEON: And what is the purpose of life?
WILLEMS: What is the purpose of life? Why are we here? Why are people mean? Why are people nice? Can I drive the bus?
THE PIGEON: Can I have a hot dog?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
K-pop stars Jimin and Jung Kook of BTS discharged from military service as band's reunion nears
YEONCHEON, South Korea (AP) — K-pop superstars Jimin and Jung Kook are the latest and final members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The pair wore their military uniforms Wednesday, saluted and addressed fans who had assembled to see the pair after their discharge. They enlisted in December 2023, one day after RM and V did the same. The latter were discharged on Tuesday. They saluted upon their release Tuesday in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. V thanked fans Tuesday for their patience in waiting for him and RM's return and teased the band's reunion. 'If you can just wait a little bit longer, we will return with a really amazing performance.' The seven singers of the popular K-pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 after they finish their service. Six of the group's seven members served in the army, while Suga is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service. He will be discharged later this month. Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, was discharged in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea. The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren't subject to such privileges. However, in 2020, BTS postponed their service until age 30 after South Korea's National Assembly revised its Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties. ___ Sherman reported from New York.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen's broad grin was familiar. The wedding band on the quarterback's ring finger was brand new. As much as Allen hoped to talk about the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the newlywed couldn't escape questions about his headline-grabbing marriage to actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld in Southern California on May 31. 'We're back to football,' he said, before pointing to his ring finger. 'Got some hardware now. So, good to go.' Allen was otherwise short on details as part of his longstanding bid to maintain a semblance of privacy, even though pictures from the outdoor wedding were posted on social media mere minutes after the couple exchanged 'I do's.' There were pictures of Steinfeld wearing a strapless white gown walking down the aisle, the couple sharing a kiss, and Allen, in a black tuxedo, posing with friends and Bills teammates. It wasn't until being asked about what the past four months have meant to him — in which Allen was named NFL MVP in February, signed one of the league's richest contracts in March and got married in May — that Allen finally opened up. He called Steinfeld his best friend, and said she makes everything easier. 'That was the most important decision I'll make in my life and I made the right one,' Allen said. Western New York and the NFL have a new power couple, both of whom happen to be from California and began dating two years ago. There's the 29-year-old Allen, who in seven seasons has set most of the Bills scoring and passing records. His star has continued to rise while he has transformed the Bills into an AFC power, also building his profile through various national commercials. And then there's Steinfeld, 28, who first gained fame by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' She has since enjoyed numerous starring roles, most recently in the movie 'Sinners,' while also branching out into music. Amid the buzz, Allen brought the focus back to football as Buffalo opened a three-day mandatory set of practices. The quarterback skipped the team's voluntary sessions last week. Aside from taking his familiar spot leading the offense on the field, Allen spent time after practice being filmed to measure his footwork and mechanics. It's something Allen does several times a year to ensure he's not picking up bad habits. 'Making sure we're staying on top of those things and if there's something that we need to tweak for the better, we are going to try to do it,' he said. The same could be said of Allen's unflinching approach to dealing with the spotlight. Coach Sean McDermott credits the quarterback for staying true to himself. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'What I've seen is this truly genuine, authentic person who, yes, is in the limelight, yes, is one of the top players in our league, and maybe the top player in the NFL,' McDermott said. 'But he is so authentic, so down-to-earth, so relatable. I think that's really the connection and the cool piece about Josh is because he is who he is.' And yes, McDermott was among those in attendance at the wedding. 'I was very grateful to be there, No. 1,' McDermott said. 'Two, it was what you would expect of a wedding. Just great to see, and two really special families coming together.' ___ AP NFL:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Aaron Rodgers is off the free agent and dating markets. Steelers QB says he recently got married
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers added another ring to his collection before he even signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The four-time NFL MVP quarterback and Super Bowl champion said Tuesday after his first practice with the Steelers that he got married 'a couple months ago.' Rodgers was spotted wearing a ring on his left ring finger in a photo the Steelers shared after the 41-year-old signed a one-year deal to join the team for the 2025 season. When asked if the ring was an indication he was married, Rodgers replied, 'Yeah, it's a wedding ring.' He wore the ring on Tuesday while participating in drills with his new team. Rodgers has revealed little about his bride. During an appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show' last fall, he mentioned he was dating a woman named Brittani but offered no other details. His previous dating history includes long-term relationships with race car driver Danica Patrick and actors Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NFL:
