Elephant & Piggie Review #6: We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems

We Are in a Book!
by Mo Willems
2010 | 57 pages | Easy Readers

I often have mixed feelings about books that break the fourth wall, but this one is absolutely brilliant. Gerald and Piggie discover that they are characters in a book, and that as such, they can make the reader say things. They laugh themselves into hysterics over making the reader say "Banana" and repeat this joke several times, choking on sobs of laughter as they fall over crying with joy. But then Gerald learns that the book ends, and out comes his flair for the dramatic. "I have more to give!" he says, and counts down the final pages of the book with much fear and tears. Piggie has the solution, though - if the reader will agree to read the book again, the fun doesn't have to end.

I can think of no greater tribute to the joy of reading than a book that invites the reader to step inside of it and interact one-on-one with the characters. As Willems has done previously in the Pigeon books, he creates a wonderful read-aloud experience for kids reading to the adults in their lives, as well as for adults, like me, who read to kids on a regular basis. )See how I used this book at story time by clicking here.)

This is my absolute favorite Elephant & Piggie book, and it will be really hard for any others in the future to live up to it!

This is my sixth post in a 7-week series about the Elephant & Piggie books. Previous reviews are listed below:

My Friend is Sad
There is a Bird on Your Head!
I Will Surprise My Friend!
Pigs Make Me Sneeze
Can I Play Too?

Next Saturday I will conclude this series with a review of Should I Share My Ice Cream?

I borrowed We Are In a Book! from my local public library.