LS5603-Genre 1-DON'T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE!

Bibliography
Willems. Mo. DON’T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE!. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786837462

Characters
The main character of the book is a pigeon. The pigeon is an interesting choice since it is not widely used in this role. The supporting character is the man. He normally gives some kind of direction to the reader to engage them in the story.

Plot
The main conflict in the book is that the pigeon wants to stay up late and the man asks the reader to not let the pigeon stay up late. This is a scenario that plays out in most homes in the evening. Children can relate to not wanting to go to bed even though an adult has asked them to lie down. The pigeon eventually tires himself out and starts to yawn and fall asleep. In the end the man thanks the reader for not letting the pigeon stay up late.

Setting
The setting is not explicitly known in the text or illustrations. The man states in the beginning the topic of staying up late so the reader assumes that it is night.

Theme
This book is part of the Pigeon series by Mo Williems. In the story the pigeon reacts and verbalizes as a child might in the same situation. It is comforting for children to see their struggles and situations in literature so they realize that others can experience the same events.

Style
The author uses the text as a series of statements or questions that the pigeon is posing to the reader. It is as if the reader is to respond to the pigeon as the story is being read. The statements are things that you would expect a child to say to an adult in the same situation.

Illustrations
The illustrations are very simple. The background is a solid color, but is not the same on every page. The pigeon is simply drawn with a heavy black outline and one oversize eye. The pigeon also looks as if a child could have drawn the picture. The illustrations are very appropriate to the story and by changing the pigeon’s eye and body placement he is able to convey a variety of emotions.

Cultural Markers
There is not a distinct culture represented in the story. Hot dogs, TV, a megaphone and sleeping with a bunny were the only distinct items.

Awards and Recognitions
Positive Review – Children’s Literature
Positive Review – School Library Journal
Positive Review – Kirkus Reviews

Other
Students in my first grade classroom love to read the “Pigeon” books. They enjoy talking back to the pigeon and interacting with the story. They ask for me to read them again and again.