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Why Mo Willems’ Pigeon Books Are Preschool Gold + Easy Crafts for the Classroom

If you’ve ever read a Mo Willems book out loud, you already know: his stories spark joy. And no character captures the chaotic, lovable energy of preschoolers better than The Pigeon.

From throwing tantrums about bedtime to begging to drive a bus (spoiler: it’s a no), Pigeon is hilarious, dramatic, and completely relatable to young children. That's why Mo Willems’ Pigeon series is a staple in many preschool classrooms—it teaches social-emotional lessons with humor and heart.

If you're a preschool teacher or parent looking for fun read-alouds that double as behavioral teaching tools, look no further. This post will walk you through the best Pigeon books, share tips for engaging preschoolers during read-alouds, and give you craft and activity ideas perfect for circle time or learning centers.

The Pigeon is everything a preschooler understands: loud, persistent, emotional, curious, and often hilarious. Mo Willems taps into real childhood behavior in a way that feels authentic and empowering—not preachy.

Through Pigeon’s outrageous antics, kids learn about:

- Impulse control

- Emotions like frustration or disappointment

- Empathy and understanding

- Decision-making

- Boundaries and rules

Best of all, Willems’ bold illustrations and interactive storytelling style make every book a performance, not just a story.

Here are some must-read titles from the Pigeon series to add to your classroom library or parenting bookshelf:

📚 Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

The book that started it all. Pigeon tries everything to convince the reader to let him drive the bus—begging, bribing, even throwing a fit. Perfect for discussing rules and safety.

Classroom Tip: After reading, role-play following and breaking rules. What happens if we drive the bus without permission?

📚 Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Bedtime battles? This is your go-to. Pigeon does everything possible to avoid sleep, from asking for a snack to making excuses. A fun way to discuss bedtime routines and the importance of rest.

Craft Idea: Make a “Pigeon Pajama Party” craft! Have kids design pajamas for the Pigeon and create bedtime routine charts.

📚 The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!

Pigeon and Duckling learn about sharing, and it’s not easy. This story is a gentle way to introduce conflict resolution and compromise.

Activity: Have kids pair up and role-play sharing a toy or snack. Follow up with a drawing of something they like to share.

📚 The Pigeon Needs a Bath!

Dirty? Pigeon disagrees. This book hilariously handles hygiene and personal care—perfect for preschoolers just learning the importance of washing up.

Sensory Craft: Create a “bath bin” with toy Pigeons, soap, bubbles, and water for sensory play.

📚 The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?

Duckling uses manners. Pigeon… not so much. This book is excellent for teaching politeness, using words like please and thank you, and managing jealousy.

Craft Idea: Design and decorate paper cookies, then sort them by color, size, or "who gets one." Incorporate math skills!

📚 The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!

Pigeon is a bundle of anticipation and nerves, which makes this book a great conversation starter about big emotions, bravery, and trying new things.

Activity Idea: Create a class “emotion chart” using Pigeon’s faces. Ask: How do you feel when you try something new?

Here are easy and engaging Pigeon crafts that reinforce themes from the books while building fine motor skills:

🎨 Make Your Own Pigeon Puppet

Using a paper lunch bag or popsicle stick, kids can create their own Pigeon puppet. Use for storytelling, retelling, or emotion expression.

✂️ Pigeon Feelings Wheel

Create a wheel featuring different Pigeon facial expressions (happy, sad, frustrated, excited, tired). Children can spin and match how they feel. Great for SEL circle time!

🚌 Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive… THIS?!

Draw a big school bus or train on poster board. Let kids decide what other silly things Pigeon shouldn't drive (a rocket? a shopping cart?). Add speech bubbles to support literacy.

🍪 Cookie Sorting or Counting Game

Inspired by The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?, create printable cookie cutouts and have kids sort by shape or color, or count out “cookies” for each character.

Each book lends itself naturally to a mini SEL lesson. Here’s how to get the most out of them:

Ask open-ended questions: “How do you think Pigeon feels?” or “What could he do instead?”

Encourage predictions: “What do you think Pigeon will try next?”

Use dramatic voices and pauses to make the read-aloud more interactive and fun.

Pair with real-life moments. After recess, read The Pigeon Needs a Bath! to segue into handwashing.

The Pigeon books by Mo Willems are more than funny read-alouds—they’re behavioral blueprints for preschoolers. Each dramatic meltdown or emotional explosion is a mirror for young kids trying to navigate their big feelings. And best of all, they laugh while they learn.

Whether you're a preschool teacher planning circle time or a parent reading before bed, adding Mo Willems’ Pigeon books to your rotation brings both giggles and growth to your little learners.

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