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

Mo Willems (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: June 9, 2009 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | 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

#1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems started his career on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards for his writing before changing the face of children's literature with his groundbreaking picture books. Mo has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions (for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity) and his acclaimed Elephant and Piggie early reader series received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008. He lives in Western Massachusetts

same as above

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1 edition (June 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423114108
• ISBN-13: 978-1423114109
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Performing Arts > Dance
  • #10 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Elephants
  • #16 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pigs

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

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

By Ulyyf

Format: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.

7 of 7 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.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

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

By Kirsten G. Cutler

Format: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.