by Moe Zilla

Created on: May 23, 2009

It's the first "Pigeon" book without "don't" in its title. Mo Willems had already warned his young readers "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" and "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!" But the books proved so popular, it was time for a second sequel - and a change in formula. So what problems await the impetuous blue bird when "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog"?

The Pigeon is already excited on the book's first page. (He says "Yummy!" three times and dances around on the page, savoring the smell.) But he's confronted by a kind of anti-pigeon - a tiny yellow duckling who seems interested in the Pigeon's newly-found hot dog. "Is that a 'hot dog'?" asks the young duckling, innocently.

"Not A hot dog; MY hot dog," the Pigeon replies confidently...

The Pigeon never gets what he wants - that's been established by the two earlier books. So when he closes his eyes in anticipation, it's inevitable that something will happen. "I have a question," the duckling interrupts, then points out that he's never tasted a hot dog before. The Pigeon starts to answer - describing hot dogs as "a taste sensation....a celebration in a bun!" And he's dancing around excitedly when he realizes that duckling may want to taste it, too!

Willems' drawings are always funny, and the duckling looks a lot like the Pigeon, but smaller. It's got an enormous circle eye, with a big blue pupil inside it. But this gives it an innocent look, and along with the dialogue, establishes the duckling as someone to root for.

"This hot dog is MINE," the Pigeon says firmly. "I found it!" But instead of arguing, the duckling politely agrees. (In fact, the duckling's behavior is exemplary after all the begging and tantrums the Pigeon popularized in its previous two books!) So that's not the problem, the Pigeon decides, and opens his mouth for the tasty hot dog.

And then the Duckling asks him another question.

The Pigeon throws his trademark tantrum - and soon there's another cloud of black cloud crayon marks over his head, signaling his anger. "MINE! MINE! MINE!" the Pigeon shouts, scrunching his eyes and flapping his wings. He mocks the ducklings questions, and paces around in a Pigeony tizzy. "'Finders, keepers,' is what I say," the Pigeon argues, perhaps more to himself. But then he collapses to the ground - feet in front of him, and admits "I can't take it anymore." And this book ends with the Pigeon doing something you've never seen him do before.

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