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Dear Mo, Okay, I don’t love you. That would just be weird since I don’t even know you. I do love your books though. A lot. Love, a fan
See the photograph? It’s me and my five year old with Mo last night at the Tattered Cover Book Store. Mo read from his newest books, Knuffle Bunny Free and Elephant and Piggie We Are In a Book.
Knuffle Bunny Free. Let’s discuss. It’s the end of the Knuffle Bunny books which I, for one, am still trying to cope with. Sigh. I won’t spoil the ending if you haven’t read it but be forewarned, you will need tissues.
Are the Knuffle Bunny stories true? Mo says, “Yes, everything I wrote was true except for the parts I made up.“ Listen to Mo and Trixie talk about the book and see for yourself.
Why photographs (which are actually computerized) with cartoons? Mo said that he hates drawing backgrounds. Sure, sure. H added that it’s much easier for kids to take photographs of their own house and use that from which to write their own stories.
Knuffle Bunny Writing Idea from Mo: Make your own Knuffle Bunny type of story. Take photos of your house and your room and your favorite stuffed animal and put together a story.
Mo also said to the kids, “Writing is the only time you get to lie. If you life really, really well, it’s a good thing.“
We Are in a Book is the latest Elephant and Piggie book. You’ll notice the first page starts with “thank you” – that’s for when you read it again. It is hilarious.
And, finally, Mo’s latest Cat the Cat book is Let’s Say Hi to Friends Who Fly. We LOVE this series because my five year old can read it! (And it’s not nonsense like many early readers.)
Here are a few more Mo links: Games and coloring pages. Archive post: author’s study on Mo Willems. Three cheers for Mo Willems!
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Melissa Taylor is a mom and educator from Denver who is passionate about playful learning. Thanks for visiting the site!
11 Comments
Melissa,
I’m so jealous. I wish I could have made it to the TC.
In my picture book presentations for adults (teachers and writers) I talk a lot about Mo and his books. As a matter of fact – he’s kind of the star. I talk a lot about the story extending off the page and how important that is to a kid’s love of reading.
Confession – I cried at the end of KNUFFLE BUNNY FREE. Then I made my youngest (who’s almost 18) read it, and we cried together.
Thanks for the great post.
Jean
@Jean – I cried TOO!
Melissa, it was you who introduced me to Mo Willems (an honest to goodness truth!) and our lives have been so much better for it. The Elephant and Piggy series just livens up our bedtime reading and we have a revolving group out from the library at all times. My eldest adorable says we need to make them permanent additions to our home library and I couldn’t agree more!
How lucky are you? That’s a great picture and it’s always so exciting for kids to meet the author of their favorite books. Makes books even more fun to read. We haven’t read We Are in a Book yet. Looks super fun and silly.
@jean -I cried too – and was kind of mad that it was all we’d have from Knuffle Bunny.
Thanks @Janelle and @Heidi!
Sigh. Mo. There’s no one like Mo.
My son, a film student in college, uses the same thinking when making his animated films. Sometimes he reverses the process and the characters are photographs and backgrounds are animated.
You got to meet Mo Williams…I am so jealous! What a great picture and experience. Does the Tattered Cover Book Store have such wonderful authors on a regular basis? I wish I lived closer to Denver.
@Audrey, you are so right – he’s amazing.
@Robin, that sounds really fun! Does he have any on You Tube we could see?
@Cary, Yes, Tattered Cover is the book store of book stores – it’s amazing. Wish you lived closer, too!
Melissa
I’m jealous! Of you meeting Mo, AND getting to go to the Tattered Cover. I miss that awesome place!
I was also fortunate to meet Mo @ The Books of Wonder in NYC 11/9. I was so inspired, I wrote 2 children’s books within a week. My 6 year old LOVES the Elephant and Piggie books. It meant so much to him that he meet Mo and get his book signed. I love that book by the way. WHen he read “Banana!” The kids went wild! (I’m sure the same response when he read the book to your group also,) I usually Ghostwrite and primarily write communication tools for parents and children, but seeing him inspired me to do more… I love Mo too! (You know what I mean, lol.)
[...] I LOVE author and illustrator Mo Willems. If you’re not yet a fan, um, WHY NOT? [...]