Follett Early Learning

Horn Book (May/June, 2006)

In this second follow-up to the popular Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (rev. 7/03), young readers are charged with the responsibility of making sure the groggy-looking bird doesn't stay up late. The pigeon pulls out time-honored excuses ("It's the middle of the day in China!") and some creative new reasons to stay up, too ("Studies show that pigeons hardly need any sleep at all!"), but his progressively bigger yawns leave no doubt that he will be nodding off soon. Using the earlier books' expressive black line drawings with a subdued nighttime palette, Willems even gives the pigeon his own "knuffle bunny," cradled protectively under his wing as the pigeon finally falls asleep. Story-hour audiences will recognize some of their own bedtime behavior but will greatly enjoy acting the grownup in this comically endearing read-aloud.

Horn Book starred (Fall 2006)

In this third book about the pigeon, young readers are charged with the responsibility of making sure the groggy-looking bird doesn't stay up late. Willems uses the earlier books' expressive black line drawings with a subdued nighttime palette. Story-hour audiences will recognize some of their own bedtime behavior but will greatly enjoy acting the grownup in this comically endearing read-aloud.

Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 2006)

The pigeon with Attitude is back, trying every persuasive trick in his arsenal to convince readers to let him stay up late. After his 2004 outing with the hot dog, the presentation reverts to the original direct-address format, the pajama-clad bus driver asking readers to take care of things while he brushes his teeth. The pigeon ("First of all, I'm not even tired!") alternates bombast with plaintiveness as the page backgrounds change from the familiar dusty pink to a deep, restful blue. The inevitable end is never in doubt, as our persistent hero fights off yawn after colossal yawn, increasingly bleary-eyed despite his determination to stay up late. Readers will easily recognize themselves in the pigeon, even as they will delight in sending him to bed-the fact that he sleeps with a stuffed knuffle bunny will add to the intertextual fun. If this offering necessarily lacks the freshness of the original, its wholehearted sense of fun more than makes up for any hint of formula. Sure to provide excuses to stay up late ("C'mon! What's five minutes in the grand scheme of things?") to countless giggling kids. (Picture book. 3-6)

School Library Journal (April 1, 2006)

PreS-Gr 2-The star of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Hyperion, 2003) returns in another irresistible tale. Hurrying away to brush his teeth, the pajama-clad bus driver implores readers not to let his feathered friend stay up late. Youngsters are thrust into the role of caregiver as the puerile pigeon attempts to talk his way out of the inevitable, coming up with requests that range from manipulative ("I hear there's a good show about birds on TV tonight. Should be very educational") to cajoling ("Y'know, we never get to talk anymore. Tell me about your day-") to classic ("Can I have a glass of water?"). Meanwhile, the fowl fights yawns and tries to keep his wide eye open, despite a drooping lid. Defying drowsiness to the last, he finally falls asleep, clutching his stuffed bunny tightly under his wing. Set against comfortably faded pastel backgrounds, the cartoon artwork focuses tightly on the main character, with his comments presented in dialogue balloons. The black-crayon lines speak volumes, as the pigeon's body language and the positioning of his ever-expressive eye humorously convey each nuance of the text. Children will be charmed by this bedtime treat, which will have them laughing out loud at the pigeon-and at themselves.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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