Mo Willems
Mo Willems, born 11 February 1968 in Des Plaines, Illinois, raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an American writer, animator, voice actor, and children’s book writer and illustrator. He is also a certifiable Force of Nature in reference to publishing. We list here the series of his that we carry. Yes, we know that he is prolific beyond these titles — one thing (or many things) at a time here. Willems, a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, worked for Sesame Street for nine years and has animated television series for Nickleodeon and the Cartoon Network. His books have been awarded multiple Caldecotts and more other awards than you could shake a stick at. Remarkable as his Picasso-esque illustrations are, his writing is extraordinarily honest and kind and thoughtful for children, which wins him a deep and passionate loyalty among our customers young and older. He is in great company as one of our top sellers of children’s books with colleagues such as Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Kevin Henkes, and newcomer Drew Daywalt.
I Broke My Trunk!
I Broke My Trunk!
Gerald the Elephant recounts to Piggie the crazy story of how he broke his trunk. When he was playing with Hippo, he had the idea to lift him with his trunk. As Gerald tells Piggie, "a hippo on your trunk is heavy." But there is more to it. Rhino shows up and he wants a turn, so Gerald lifts them both onto his trunk, and so on, until he has lifted Hippo, Rhino, and Hippo's big sister and her piano on his trunk. As readers expect, there is more to the story of Gerald's bandaged trunk than first imagined. Willems's now classic and predictable formula, complete with an uncluttered background, large-type word balloons, and expressive characters, is as effective as ever. The style may now be familiar, but the "Elephant & Piggie" stories remain fresh, amusing, and relevant to readers, who will sit on the edge of their seats as they eagerly anticipate the surprising turn of events. A winning addition to the series.