Will the Pigeon graduate?

PreS-Gr 1--The winged wonder with the sassy style is back as the urban dwelling bird reaches a milestone: graduation. The book progresses through the moments before graduation with clever use of the environment: stage stairs morphing into mountains or valleys to illustrate the intensity of reaching the point of graduation. Getting an education is no mean feat. Pigeon is here to handle the joys of getting through school while also panicking in fear of the future, in classic Pigeon fashion. This is a perfectly planned book release, as the generation that grew up with Pigeon's adventure is reaching graduation milestones. What's more comforting than having this familiar character accompanying them through this huge step? VERDICT A great replacement for Oh, the Places You'll Go as a graduation gift.

Success comes at last for the bright-eyed Pigeon. A clever, tongue-in-cheek ersatz colophon reveals that this graduate has been awarded a "Master of Ornery-thology, Bachelor of Arts of Persuasion with a Minor in Major Freak-outs (summa cum loudly)." Fans will be glad that the Pigeon's tireless, abundant optimism is finally being ceremoniously recognized. On the cover, the Pigeon wears a mortarboard at a jaunty angle, commenting, "I have the hat!" Of course, dressing the part is essential. But also, "I did the work. I paid attention to the little details. I took some BIG steps." The Pigeon encountered obstacles (not shown, but many memorable ones will come to mind for the Pigeon's followers). And the Pigeon is plagued by worries familiar to many students who are about to graduate: "WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?!? What will I do? Who will I be?" The Pigeon appears in every frame, in close-ups and in poses variously thoughtful, confident, or slightly distressed. Our hero's simple big eyes and wings are, as ever, remarkably expressive. "Oop!" In one scene, while walking off the dais, diploma in wing, the Pigeon comes to what seems like the edge of a chasm. At last, our hero takes flight with other graduates. Willems' popular characters Gerald and Piggie are there to look on admiringly. An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.