by Moe Zilla

Created on: May 16, 2009

There's a secret joke in "The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!" - and also a surprise ending. On the title page, the blue pigeon is writing a very long list of all the things he wants - but at the top of that list is "Drive a Bus!" It's a shout-out to the Mo Willems' book which launched the pigeon's series. And it turns out that this book is just as funny as the five that came before.

"Oh, hello," says the pigeon - talking to the reader again on the very first page. "How are you?" the pigeon asks politely, ducking his head coyly. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking." And he's leading up to something...

"By the way, do you know what I want?"

Number three on the pigeon's list of wanted things was "Stay up late!" - another shout-out to an earlier Willems' book. (And number four was a throw-away joke - the pigeon had also wanted "real estate.") But the formula is always the same. The eager pigeon tries to convince you, the reader, to grant a favor which you probably shouldn't. The pigeon describes this one as "what I've wanted forever....at least since last Tuesday." And there's big bold letters when he shouts out "a puppy!" (Then he bounces around the next page shouting "Puppy! Puppy! Puppy!")

Willems also draws the picture, and they seem to have gotten better. The pigeon strikes poses that are even sillier than the earlier books, closing his eyes proudly or rubbing his beak thoughtfully. He eyes the reader suspiciously, accusing them of thwarting his happiness. "Oh, don't worry. I'll take care of it!" the pigeon says, as he closes his eyes in casual confidence.

The pigeon promises to water the puppy once a month, and then looks startled as though challenged when the reader turns the page. ("Everyone knows that puppies need plenty of sunshine and water!") He's eager to play tennis with the puppy. He acts out his love for puppies, as little hearts surround the text. And like all the pigeon books, he throws an angry tantrum. "I'm a puppy-lovin' pigeon!" he says at one point.

But the real surprise a second character appears in this book - and it's signaled by the appearance of the word "Woof." The pigeon is genuinely surprised. "Is it possible? Have my dreams come true?" Sure enough, an enormous dog appears in the book - and now Willems draws a new expression for the pigeon...terror! The pigeon had no idea that a puppy would be so large by a pigeon.

And in the book's last pages , he announces that he's changed his mind!

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