Humor

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!

By: Mo Willems

Publisher Info: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008

Description: Readers will love following The Pigeon along in this humorous story as he begs for a puppy. The Pigeon is very convincing...but will his infatuations with puppies get the best of him? 

Evaluation: This story provides a hilarious example of how our emotions can get the best of us. Students may relate to wishing they had something cute like a puppy or another new pet. The Pigeon shows how although he loves the idea of a puppy, actually seeing one in person makes him change his mind! He may not want a cute puppy, but he does not really need it. 

Usage: This book would be great for preschool through first grade students (ages 3-6). Teachers could use this for teaching wants vs. needs or even relating to character emotions. 

Interupting Chicken

Author: David Ezra Stein

Publisher: Candlewick Press 

Description: Little Red Chicken is eager and energetic but she can't help interrupting bedtime stories (like Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Chicken Little) to “help” the characters, and Papa can't ever finish the story. Ultimately, she tries telling her own story. 

Evaluation: This is a very clever story with very detailed illustrations and with a warm heart, it delivers laughs while modeling listening skills. Ideal for ages 4–8, grades K-2 and perfect for bedtime or classroom. Great for teaching kids that are prone to interruptions! 

Usage: This humorous plot offers excellent opportunities to teach reading comprehension, such as predicting what will happen next, identifying story structure, and retelling events in sequence. In addition to literacy skills, the book supports social-emotional learning by addressing topics like self-control, listening, and empathy. Teachers can lead discussions about how it feels to be interrupted and the importance of waiting your turn to speak. It’s also a great introduction to using dialogue and expressive punctuation in writing.