The Pigeon Needs a Bath

Bibliography: Willems, Mo. (2017). The pigeon needs a bath! Scholastic. ISBN 978-1423190875

Plot Summary: The pigeon is dirty. He clearly needs a bath, but he feels he doesn't and finds excuses not to take one, until he finally gives in. 

Critical Analysis: The pigeon is the main character, and through most of the book, the only character, and he does a great job of carrying the story by himself. He has a great sense of who he is and what he thinks he needs, a characteristic that will resonate with many children.  The conflict is also relatable, as many children do not want to take baths and will find any way around doing it.  Willems uses simple, easy to read words in large print that will help support young readers. The illustrations are also fairly simple with basic colors, as most of the illustrations are just of the pigeon.  Yet Willems does an excellent job of making them eye catching and demonstrative of the pigeon and his various moods and attitudes.The reader can even see the "smell" and filth of the pigeon.  In the later part of the book, when we see the pigeon finally take a bath, he uses bright colors to alternate between various frames of the pigeon creating the perfect bathing environment, which helps to show the pigeon's process of procrastination and indecision. I found the book very entertaining and very relatable as even as an adult I may put off things that may initially seem irritating but end up being quite enjoyable.  A great book for young readers in the early stages of literacy, as well as a great read-together book for families right before bath time!

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal: "Pigeon fans will not want to miss this book, a "must add" to all libraries, for any reader appreciating the perfect art of persuasion."

BookList: "Pigeon’s many followers will be plenty happy with this latest offering, while parents of reluctant bathers will welcome its surreptitious endorsement."

Awards: Caldecott Artist

Connections:

(from pigeon-needs-a-bath-activity-kit.pdf) Have children (Prek-1) come up with their own list of excuses not to take a bath.

Other books by Mo Willems: The Pigeon Has to Go to School!    Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!  The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!

Have a discussion about other things you don't like to do and think of ways to make them more fun.



Plot 


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