The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!

This adventure is not as hilarious as previous Pigeon outings, but it focuses on the relatable mix of excitement and impatience kids may feel before going on a thrill ride. Mo Willems' award-winning Pigeon series is known for brilliantly connecting with kids through emotions, laughter, and the unexpected. While The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!, continues the tradition of relating to young readers and helping them learn to identify emotions, its title character is missing his signature persuasive tone.

Pigeon is historically a mischievous character always trying to wiggle his way out of situations that kids may want to avoid (the bath, school, going to bed) or snag himself something big (driving a bus or getting a puppy). Kids relate to him because he goes through so many of the emotions they too experience. Like them, Pigeon relentlessly (and hilariously) pleads to get what he wants, or escape what he doesn't, and it all culminates in a delightful twist. In this latest book, the relatable feelings and surprise ending are still present, but Pigeon isn't trying to persuade anyone of anything. The result is a story that's all around less funny than its predecessors and an ending that falls a little flat. Kids will surely still delight in getting to spend more time with a beloved character, but this might not be one they'll ask for again and again.