What are the odds that I’d get through fourteen years of raising kids before discovering the awesomeness that is between the covers of Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books? And even then, I didn’t discover them so much as I followed the lead of my six-year-old, who had brought one home from the school library.
Thursday is “library day” in his Kindergarten class; a day they get to tromp down the hall, around the corner, up the central staircase into THE LIBRARY. Larger than the children’s room at our public library (which is also quite nice and bright, well-stocked, and naturally kid-friendly), the elementary school library is a treasure he’s been looking forward to for years.
The class spent the first month of Kindergarten learning all about the library and how to use it:
- The basic parts of a book – cover, spine, author’s name, etc.
- Selecting a book – use one of the colorful placeholders (plastic ruler) to mark where on the shelf the book lives. If he decides against the book, it’s easy to return it to the correct spot on the shelf
- Reading books – turn the pages gently by the corner, not with the flap-flap-flap of the full palm method
- Caring for books we borrow – each child was given a special bag (now slightly wrinkled) to carry his books to and from school. We keep library books on the family room hearth so they can be easily found when they’re due back
I’m sure there are other guidelines he learned, but these are the basics that he shared with me (I have to pull details out of this kid; his 8-year-old sister? I sometimes have to ask her to give someone else a turn to talk!).
After a month of learning “all about books and how to use the library,” he was allowed to borrow a book to bring home for the week. He burst through the door that afternoon, “I got Elephant and Piggie! I got Elephant and Piggie!,” very enthusiastic about reading the book, even before snack.
That week we read I Love My New Toy. Then we read it again. And again. Yes, and again. In this story, Elephant (Gerald) breaks a new toy belonging to Piggie (Piggie). The two show a range of emotions through body language, facial expressions, and words; Piggie is angry and sad; Gerald is embarrassed and apologetic. When a friendly squirrel scampers by and comments on the cool break-and-snap toy (and snaps it back together), Elephant and Piggie grin, both a little embarrassed, and decide they’d rather play with each other than the toy, anyway.
It’s a simple story that mirrors a young child’s real life – getting upset at a friend when a toy is accidentally broken, and realizing that the friendship is better than any toy. The emotions are real, and Elephant and Piggie show that it’s okay to express their feelings.
Week One with Elephant and Piggie was such a hit that LM6 brought home another one last week – My Friend is Sad, in which Piggie tries to cheer up Elephant by disguising herself as first a cowboy, then a clown, and finally, a robot. Nothing works. Piggie, as herself, returns to the glum Elephant and asks “why so sad?” Elephant replies that he had seen a cowboy, a clown, and a robot … and that he’s sad Piggie hadn’t been there to enjoy them. In one final scene, Piggie whispers “you need glasses.”
Today LM6 borrowed Today I Will Fly, in which Piggie proves anything is possible with a little help from your friends. We just love these books – they’re funny, reflect reality in the simplest ways, and the sparse text makes it easy for my young son to “read” (from memory) them to himself and to me. What a way to boost his confidence.
Oh, speaking of confidence, he got his very own library card from our public library last week. I had to work a little to convince the circulation desk – they really want the kids to be able to write their names (first and last) legibly. There were two spots on the form where he had to write it, plus one on the white strip on the card itself. I pulled the “he’s allowed to borrow books from the school library; please let him empower himself by having the privilege here, too” line, and they acquiesced. After a page of practice (he has mastered his first name, and can spell P-O-O-P, but our last name throws him), he copied the letters I had written for him, and is now a card-carrying member of our public library system!
Yay for LM6 — How very grown-up to have his own public library card.
I’ve never heard of these books but they look fabulous.
What a great post! Don’t you love the enthusiasm they have at that age? Now, if you’d only changed your last name to Poop, he could have gotten a library card a while ago.
Have you read the Knuffle Bunny books? He might be too old for them but I think they are hilarious! My daughter loves them as well and she’s 5.
Oh and the Pigeon books are pretty hilarious as well.
My daughter and I like these books as well but there aren’t nearly enough of them. She goes through them too fast. She liked the Pigeon books
when she was younger. I thought they were a hoot.
How exciting to have such an enthusiastic reader. The series sounds really good. I’m glad he was able to get a library card. In the library I work at we give cards to all residents, from newborns on up. Since we loan board books, audiobooks, dvds, etc. print literacy is not a requirement. We do have parents/guardians of children under 12 take responsibility for their children’s borrowing (ie loss/damage).
In Lexington you only have to write your first name ! (Shame on those stingy librarians in Concord–Me no likey) Glad he’s enjoying the library at school ! Andrew is enjoying the Paddington stories ( read to him) and the Henry and Mudge series ( on his own).
I adore these books! I have no children in my life and yet, I read them anyway
Beth F – we’re very taken with them — I just can’t understand how they slipped by me all these years!
Kathy – When he turns 18 he can have whatever last name he wants (hopefully he’ll have outgrown that particular spelling obsession!)
Julie – thanks for the suggestion, we’ll check out Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon!
Ti – we bought two today, for a birthday party tomorrow … he’s very excited to share them.
Shonna – I wondered about that – what about a patron who CAN’T write?! I think it’s a magical age when they’re supposed to understand the responsibility (?). I’m glad it worked out, in any case!
Kristine – Henry and Mudge (I read) are favorites here, too. I didn’t have to raise a HUGE ruckus, but I did have to push a bit. I wonder what the official policy is (and WHY it is)
Erin – that’s quite an endorsement!
his own library card; great job LM6!