TheReadingWarehouse.com: Are You Ready to Play Outside?: Mo Willems

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Are You Ready to Play Outside?
Contributor(s): Willems, Mo (Author), Willems, Mo (Illustrator)

ISBN: 1423113470 ISBN-13: 9781423113478
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

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Binding Type: Hardcover - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: October 2008
Annotation: The optimistic Piggie and pessimistic Elegant are back. Piggie can't wait to go out and play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun? Full color.

Click for more in this series: Elephant & Piggie Books

Additional Information

BISAC Categories:
- Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
- Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes - Friendship
- Juvenile Fiction | Animals - Elephants

Dewey: E

LCCN: 2008029693

Lexile Measure: 140(Not Available)

Series: Elephant & Piggie Books

Physical Information: 0.5" H x 6.7" W x 9" (0.80 lbs) 57 pages

Accelerated Reader Info

Quiz #: 154562
Reading Level: 0.6 Interest Level: Lower Grades Point Value: 0.5

Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.

Publisher Description:
Winning unanimous rave reviews, Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie series continues to charm readers. Featuring two lovable and funny characters, an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and a cautious, pessimistic elephant, these books make reading irresistible to the beginning readers. Children who sat on their parents' laps to have Pigeon read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own.
Each book has been vetted by an early learning specialist (and many adorable early learners).
In "Are You Ready to Play Outside?," Piggie can't wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?

Contributor Bio(s): Mo Willems is the author and illustrator of such groundbreaking books as Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (Caldecott Honor winner 2004) and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Caldecott Honor winner 2003), leading the New York Times to declare him "the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the ?00s." Mo considers this series some of his most fun work.

Mo's deceptively simple art style was developed in his early career as a six-time Emmy Award?winning writer and animator for Sesame Street and the creator of Cartoon Network's Sheep in the Big City. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

same as above

Reviewed by Horn Book Guide Reviews (Horn Book Guide Reviews 2009 Spring)
Piggie is miserable when one drop of rain threatens his outside plans. Gerald, his elephant friend, tries to steady the mood, and two worms remind Piggie that rain doesn't mean the end of play. Young readers will enjoy acting out this newest drama, easily following the color-coded speech bubbles, laughing at the silly situations, and learning to look on the bright side. Copyright 2009 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Reviewed by Horn Book Magazine Reviews (Horn Book Magazine Reviews 2009 #1)
The more Elephant and Piggie books I read, the more my heart belongs to the long-suffering Gerald. In this latest installment, Piggie's mood changes from ecstatic to miserable when one drop of rain threatens his outside plans. While Piggie rants about the sudden storm, Gerald, his elephant friend, watches patiently and helps steady the mood with his broad ear acting as a handy umbrella. Midway through this drama, two new critters join the familiar friends -- worms. (Who doesn't love a happy worm, splishing and splashing in the rain?) The jolly worms remind pessimistic Piggie that rain doesn't mean the end of play. Our heroes soon emulate their invertebrate buddies, running, jumping, and skipping in the rain. Willems, who can make even the lowliest worm show deep emotion, is at his joyful best when Gerald and Piggie do a celebratory dance in the rain. Young readers will enjoy acting out this newest drama, easily following the color-coded speech bubbles, laughing along with the silly situations, and learning to look on the bright side while barely noticing the magic they are making: reading for the very first time. Copyright 2009 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Reviewed by School Library Journal Reviews (SLJ Reviews 2008 December)

PreS-Gr 2—In a refreshing reversal of their usual roles, the often-despondent Gerald proves to be a valuable friend to exuberant Piggie when her own naturally sunny disposition fails her. Fretful about the sudden rain that threatens to ruin an afternoon of running, skipping, and jumping, Piggie declares emphatically that she is "not a happy pig." Poor Gerald patiently weathers the rain and her brief tantrum and, as readers might expect, the pair soon make the most of the situation. Alive with movement and feeling, the illustrations tell the story, setting the tone and adding depth to the simple text. The words themselves are manageable for young readers, and these endearing and distinctly developed characters have great child appeal. With a cameo appearance by the Pigeon on the final endpaper, this is a winning addition to the author's canon.—Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN

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