Elephants Cannot Dance! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) [Hardcover]

Mo Willems (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Elephant and Piggie

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

 

In Elephants Cannot Dance! Piggie tries to teach Gerald some new moves. But will Gerald teach Piggie something even more important?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mo Willems is the New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of picture books and early readers that have changed the face of children's literature. He has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions, and two of his Elephant and Piggie early readers have received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal. His most recent picture book is Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, of which the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books wrote: "Willems continues to be a master at conveying an amazing amount of emotion and humor using ... minimal elements" in a starred review.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First Edition edition (June 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423114108
• ISBN-13: 978-1423114109
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Performing Arts > Dance
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Performing Arts > Dance
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Elephants > Fiction

More About the Author

A three-time Caldecott Honor winner for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Mo Willems has also won two Geisel Medals for There is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside? And his books are perennial New York Times bestsellers. Before he turned to children's books, Mo was a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards. Mo lives with his family in Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We love this series :), June 15, 2009

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elephants Cannot Dance! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (Hardcover)

There aren't many easy reader series out there that are as funny as the Elephant and Piggy books. These have very simple illustrations and a lot of very emotional turns of phrase, so hopefully you can start from the beginning keeping kids from developing that awful droning readaloud voice so many children have.

The trouble in this book is that no matter what Piggy does to teach Gerald how to dance, he cannot - it says so in the book of what elephants can do. Eventually he gets frustrated and throws a tantrum... which is quickly adopted by the local squirrels as "the Elephant dance". Guess Elephants can dance after all :)

Best moment? Has to be when Piggy says "Jump when I say three" and Gerald is a full two pages behind the beat.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully humorous and wise, June 27, 2009

By 

Kirsten G. Cutler (Santa Rosa, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elephants Cannot Dance! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (Hardcover)

Mo Willems is a wonderful author for children. He captures the concerns of children in nuanced and humorous text, and the illustrations are just incredibly beguiling. His new book, "Elephants Cannot Dance" is another winner.

Gerald is convinced that "elephants cannot dance" but Piggie responds, "You are kidding me." Gerald says, "Look it up" and hands Piggie a book detailing "What Elephants Can Do". I don't want to give away any more of the delightful repartee. Read it and enjoy!

Creating easy readers that adults can enjoy reading must be extremely difficult. Mo Willems creates them superbly.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Day Aesop - Or really cool books, July 15, 2009

By 

E. C. "dinol" (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Elephants Cannot Dance! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (Hardcover)

Mo Willems uses Piggie and Gerald to tell the most important lessons in life: friends are more important than things; when life gives you lemons, make lemonade; be proud of being you (this book); and honesty is the best policy.

A pig, an elephant, some squirrels, and a couple of worms are some of the characters that make these books so absolutely lovable. Any Piggie and Gerald book would be a safe buy.