The Pigeon is no bird brain. Since the beloved character created by Mo Willems strutted onto the kids’ books scene in 2003, the feathered fellow has tried to persuade young readers to indulge him in any number of pursuits, from driving a bus to getting a puppy and taking the reins from Santa on his sleigh. He has pleaded for reprieve from taking a bath and reluctantly been induced to share his hot dog. Next spring, the Pigeon will face his ultimate academic test: graduating from school.
In Will the Pigeon Graduate?, the 10th picture book featuring the Pigeon, he encounters the challenge of finishing what he started. Willems told PW that the latest installment of the series ups the stakes for his intrepid hero. “The Pigeon must face the unknown. That’s heavy stuff for any bird,” he said.
In the decade-plus since readers met the Pigeon, his wily ways have charmed readers, pulled in by Willems’s cheeky storytelling style. The existing collection has sold more than seven million copies in North America; books in the series have been translated into 20 languages and inspired theatrical productions, museum exhibits, and animated specials.
As the series has progressed, said Willems’s long-time editor, Tracey Keeven, “It’s interesting to see how each book reveals a little bit more of Pigeon’s complex character. He has Pigeon-y layers. In this book, Pigeon looks ahead to the future and he’s a little afraid. As readers, we get an honest, emotional peek at what lies under those oft-ruffled feathers.” In this new installment, readers learn that although the ever-confident Pigeon is outwardly impressed with himself, he may actually have some self-doubt.
Ten years into the series, Keeven said that the Pigeon’s original fans are now young adults, and Will the Pigeon Graduate? resonates with where they now find themselves in life as they head out into their own futures. “The Pigeon’s first audience is now an adult demographic—and they are absolutely sharing their childhood Pigeon love with today’s picture book set,” she said. “The Pigeon’s appeal has crossed generational lines from the beginning, though. Picture books are by design a shared reading experience. The Pigeon has been charming caregivers, educators, and librarians from the start. He’s got a charisma that spans the ages.”
Including the Pigeon books, Willems has published 70 books for children, including the Caldecott Honor-winning Knuffle Bunny and its sequels, and the Elephant & Piggie early reader series. Will the Pigeon Graduate? was sold in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. in a deal negotiated by Union Square & Co. and Hidden Pigeon Company, the multiplatform kids and family content company co-founded by Willems, a three-time Caldecott Honoree, two-time Geisel Award-winner, and five-time Geisel Honoree. He began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards.
Will the Pigeon Graduate? by Mo Willems. Union Square Kids, $18.99 March 4, 2025ISBN 978-1-4549-6043-0
