Author/Illustrator Study

Author/Illustrator Study: 

Mo Willems 

Type: Group Project (with Yinxi Liu)

Format: Recorded Slide and Presentation

Topic Keywords: Mo Willems, Design Research, Children's Literature, Humor, Illustration, Critical Reading, Philosophy, Interpretation, Audience Engagement

Description:

My partner Yinxi Liu and I carried out a design research project focused on Mo Willems, a renowned children's book author and illustrator. Willems' work holds special meaning for me, as it introduced me to a new realm of children's literature, showcasing the power of simple language and humor to convey profound messages. Through our exploration of his works, we examined how Willems encourages young readers to actively engage with his stories, ask questions, and employ their imagination to fill in gaps. Our analysis of his language use, illustrations, and storytelling techniques allowed us to appreciate how his creations can foster language comprehension and critical thinking skills in children.

While we didn't have the chance to present our findings in class, the recorded slides offered an opportunity for me to revisit and reinforce my understanding of Mo Willems' work. Our research concentrated on his popular works, such as Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and the Elephant & Piggie series. We emphasized the importance of Willems' ability to use simple language and humor to communicate complex ideas and explored how his works could be employed in the classroom to teach notions like love, joy, and happiness, along with more challenging subjects such as failure, hatred, sadness, and the "desire to drive a bus". As an educator, I believe now it's crucial to acknowledge the value of integrating children's literature that is both entertaining and educational into the classroom.