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Elephant & Piggie #1
Today I Will Fly!
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.
Today, I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to the characters. Piggie is determined to fly. But Gerald the elephant knows that's impossible--isn't it?
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
Today, I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to the characters. Piggie is determined to fly. But Gerald the elephant knows that's impossible--isn't it?
57 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2007
185 people are currently reading
11344 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
231 books4,113 followers#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
December 19, 2020
Piggie decides that she will fly today. Being a pig, she cannot actually fly, and her friend Gerald tries to inform her of this. No matter what reality says, Piggie will find a way though.
As someone who has now read all of the Elephant and Piggie books with my daughter, I've got to say the first one in the series actually feels very different from the others. In the first book, Gerald (the elephant) seems more impatient with Piggie than usual and there's a bit more sarcasm in this one. My daughter even commented last time we read it that Gerald "is having a bad day." That phrase sums up this one nicely. That said, there's a nice lesson about getting help in this one and the last couple of pages Gerald seems to be his usual enthusiastic (around Piggie at least) self.
The book is amusing, but Williams would go on to make much better books with these characters. 3/5 stars.
June 17, 2018
Piggie is determined that she will fly, telling Gerald as much. Being a level-headed elephant (are there other kinds?), Gerald reminds Piggie that it is not possible and that she had best come to that realisation. Still, Piggie does all she can to fly and engages the assistance of her friends. Alas, still no flight, but her determination leaves Gerald to wonder if he, too, might be able to fly. By the end, Gerald is ready to give it a try, leaving Piggie to play the level-headed one. Neo read this one to me and did so well. It would appear that he has read it before in school, as he sped through this one, laughing as he tried to ‘appear’ to be able to predict what would come next. Seeing him happy while reading is the best Father’s Day present I could obtain, so we’ll let this one pass ;-)
May 15, 2010
Early readers can be such a pain. They have to be easy to read, so they include a lot of very short, repetitititive sentences. I bet you can quote Dick and Jane here: See Spot. See Spot run. Run, Spot, run! Run, run, run! Short, easy to read, lots of practice with those three words... and boring as HECK. Who wants to read that more than once?
Or they do the same thing, but with rhyming: See the cat. The cat is fat. The fat cat sat. Sat on the mat. The fat cat sat on the mat. See the rat!
Ye gods. Now your kid will always be able to read -at words, but they'll read them all in a dreadful monotone, ill-suited for anything other than the phone book. Gotta indoctrinate them young to think reading is dull and boring!
Well, there is hope. Elephant and Piggie! This series does everything right.
First of all, the text is all dialog. Exciting, funny dialog with LOTS AND LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!! Ever see a first grader write? EVERY! SENTENCE! NEEDS! AN! EXCLAMATION! POINT!!!! YES IT DOES! You can't help but ham it up when you read, no matter HOW much you hate reading.
And when there is repetition - as there needs to be, to help children practice - it's natural. Piggie will say something, and then Elephant will repeat it in a disbelieving way. Or Elephant will say something and Piggie will repeat it to agree with him. Elephant: You need help. Piggie: You are right. I do need help.
Secondly, the pictures are active and engaging and funny and dramatic. Not much distracting detail, either. But while the pictures are so active and engaging and funny and dramatic, they provide a LITTLE bit of help to the shaky reader... but not so much that they think they can look at the picture and not bother with those troublesome words.
Thirdly, the books are just interesting. When you're learning something now, you have to do it more than once. It's good for kids to re-read the same books over and over again... and I'm sure it saves the teacher money on stocking her classroom shelves! But what child, honestly, wants to read a beginning reader again? It's boring! They read it once, are you happy? Now they want to get to the good stuff!
I promise you, kids will want to read these books over and over again. I don't know through educational experience, no... but I know through watching my own two nieces. I know through looking at adults eagerly picking up these books to read. Adults! There's just something about them.
Mo Willems has the magic touch, I'll tell you that.
Or they do the same thing, but with rhyming: See the cat. The cat is fat. The fat cat sat. Sat on the mat. The fat cat sat on the mat. See the rat!
Ye gods. Now your kid will always be able to read -at words, but they'll read them all in a dreadful monotone, ill-suited for anything other than the phone book. Gotta indoctrinate them young to think reading is dull and boring!
Well, there is hope. Elephant and Piggie! This series does everything right.
First of all, the text is all dialog. Exciting, funny dialog with LOTS AND LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!! Ever see a first grader write? EVERY! SENTENCE! NEEDS! AN! EXCLAMATION! POINT!!!! YES IT DOES! You can't help but ham it up when you read, no matter HOW much you hate reading.
And when there is repetition - as there needs to be, to help children practice - it's natural. Piggie will say something, and then Elephant will repeat it in a disbelieving way. Or Elephant will say something and Piggie will repeat it to agree with him. Elephant: You need help. Piggie: You are right. I do need help.
Secondly, the pictures are active and engaging and funny and dramatic. Not much distracting detail, either. But while the pictures are so active and engaging and funny and dramatic, they provide a LITTLE bit of help to the shaky reader... but not so much that they think they can look at the picture and not bother with those troublesome words.
Thirdly, the books are just interesting. When you're learning something now, you have to do it more than once. It's good for kids to re-read the same books over and over again... and I'm sure it saves the teacher money on stocking her classroom shelves! But what child, honestly, wants to read a beginning reader again? It's boring! They read it once, are you happy? Now they want to get to the good stuff!
I promise you, kids will want to read these books over and over again. I don't know through educational experience, no... but I know through watching my own two nieces. I know through looking at adults eagerly picking up these books to read. Adults! There's just something about them.
Mo Willems has the magic touch, I'll tell you that.
July 13, 2017
The teaching point behind this story is admirable, and the team work is sweet.
September 20, 2019
Pigs cannot fly! And this is a fact! hahaha
November 8, 2021
Enjoyed the online reading by Astronaut Megan McArthur on board the International Space Station.
Read
April 3, 2025As a Superman, I feel quite challenged.
February 11, 2018
Pig is an optimist who is convinced she can fly. Her friend Elephant is much more down-to-earth. He is sure she will never get off the ground.
Will she prove him wrong?
Very cute, very simple, very entertaining.
I see why Willems has achieved rock star status among children's book authors.
Will she prove him wrong?
Very cute, very simple, very entertaining.
I see why Willems has achieved rock star status among children's book authors.
September 9, 2013
Another wonderful Willems book that kept both my 5 yr old and twin 3 yr olds fascinated. Not enough words to be even a reading level 1 book, Willems still has a way about him to bring the reader into his wonderful world. These books are ones my whole family loves. And a fellow friend on GR recently told me that the pigeon was hidden in each book and we now love to look for him too! Fun for all and a great addition to any children's library! And later in the day I caught my kids trying to fly! Watch out for this one! :)
January 13, 2015
Funny and cute. I loved every face Piggie makes :)
December 13, 2016
This books wasn't so awesome because isn't about reading but i can easily say that "Elephant & Piggie" will become in one of my favorite kids series. Isn't ultra deep, but doesn't need it. Has a message, in this particular case "Don't give up" but shows that not everything can be as you wish and it doesn't mean that you muns't try, but doesn't try to make you swallow to the force. And is super cute, the constrast between the personality of both characters is so fun and i belive that these two animals can be friends...so :D
January 17, 2015
Ideal book for beginner readers say, first- and second-graders with easy vocabulary, cute illustrations. Fun stories with endearing characters. These books will be read again and again.
Piggie & Gerald. Gotta love'em. Gerald, because of his reactions and because he comes off as a bit neurotic, reminds me of the Ferocious Beast (from books like Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: The Big Scare and the kids' cartoon of the same name). And what can I tell you about Piggie other than she (yes: Piggie's a female) is free-spirited, loves to have fun, and will do her darnedest to get Gerald to relax and not be so uptight.
Guest appearances by a random dog and a pelican!
Piggie & Gerald. Gotta love'em. Gerald, because of his reactions and because he comes off as a bit neurotic, reminds me of the Ferocious Beast (from books like Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: The Big Scare and the kids' cartoon of the same name). And what can I tell you about Piggie other than she (yes: Piggie's a female) is free-spirited, loves to have fun, and will do her darnedest to get Gerald to relax and not be so uptight.
Guest appearances by a random dog and a pelican!
November 12, 2008
This book is FANTASTIC. Seriously, a must-read. Check out the facial expressions - exceptional. I aspire to own the whole collection one day. (I'm totally serious.)
January 22, 2020
This is the third book in this series that I've read. What caught my attention here was the whole "when pigs fly" idea. Let me explain: I have a friend who teaches at Toledo School of the Arts which has, as their mascot, a flying pig. You see it was always claimed that Toledo wouldn't have a school of the arts until pigs flew. Clearly, at least in Toledo Ohio, pigs are flying. So when this little volume tumbled onto my counter, I had to read it.
It's delightful. Willems approaches the subject of belief and faith in the same wonderful way that other subjects have been approached. The author never losses sight of the way children view the world and still gives the material a sophisticated underpinning that grounds the fantasy in reality. I'm hooked, I'll definitely be reading more of these books.
It's delightful. Willems approaches the subject of belief and faith in the same wonderful way that other subjects have been approached. The author never losses sight of the way children view the world and still gives the material a sophisticated underpinning that grounds the fantasy in reality. I'm hooked, I'll definitely be reading more of these books.
June 12, 2018
Another cute story by Mo Willems. In this one, Piggie is sure she'll be able to fly, but Gerald keeps trying to (figuratively) shoot her down -- what a naysayer. But Piggie gets some help, and although she doesn't fly on her own, she's still up in the air :)
A nice story about perseverance, as well as friendship and teamwork.
A nice story about perseverance, as well as friendship and teamwork.
June 5, 2019
Great series for kindergarten age kids .... very silly books.
February 8, 2021
De los favoritos de mi peque...
March 5, 2022
I feel I'm in a very small minority of people who like/dislike this book.
I do not get it. The art style is basic and the text is very straightforward and repetitive. Which it's for kids, so that's fine, I understand that. There is just something viscerally annoying about this book that grates on my nerves. Probably how many pages there are, but it's still so skimpy in content. Thankfully my husband has taken over reading this one.
I get Piggy being super optimistic. I understand the Elephant is not so much and is trying to help keep Piggie's expectations in check. Maybe I feel like friends (which they are supposed to be) should be a little more supportive or encouraging of their friend's dreams/ambitions.
Or. I may be reading sexism undertones into this as well. Piggie is referenced as a girl and the Elephant as a boy. Piggie gets help from other animals, while Gerald just sits there. In the end, Gerald expects things to be easy/solved for him to now achieve what Piggy did. Oh well. It's a kid's book and thankfully isn't one of Baby's favorites.
I would not recommend this book and would not gift it either.
I do not get it. The art style is basic and the text is very straightforward and repetitive. Which it's for kids, so that's fine, I understand that. There is just something viscerally annoying about this book that grates on my nerves. Probably how many pages there are, but it's still so skimpy in content. Thankfully my husband has taken over reading this one.
I get Piggy being super optimistic. I understand the Elephant is not so much and is trying to help keep Piggie's expectations in check. Maybe I feel like friends (which they are supposed to be) should be a little more supportive or encouraging of their friend's dreams/ambitions.
Or. I may be reading sexism undertones into this as well. Piggie is referenced as a girl and the Elephant as a boy. Piggie gets help from other animals, while Gerald just sits there. In the end, Gerald expects things to be easy/solved for him to now achieve what Piggy did. Oh well. It's a kid's book and thankfully isn't one of Baby's favorites.
I would not recommend this book and would not gift it either.
June 11, 2025
This is the first book in the Elephant and Piggie series, but we've read several of the other books in this series since it's not important to read them in order.
As always, our oldest reads Gerald's dialogue and I read Piggie's dialogue (plus any extras). We love the repetition, the expressions, and the emotional roller coaster that each story depicts. Fun!
This story was selected as one of the books for the March 2013 - 21st Century Picture Book Characters discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
June 2022 update: Just got ahold of this book again and it brought back fun memories of reading this with our girls.
As always, our oldest reads Gerald's dialogue and I read Piggie's dialogue (plus any extras). We love the repetition, the expressions, and the emotional roller coaster that each story depicts. Fun!
This story was selected as one of the books for the March 2013 - 21st Century Picture Book Characters discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
June 2022 update: Just got ahold of this book again and it brought back fun memories of reading this with our girls.
May 27, 2008
Willems' very dry humor works perfectly in his Elephant and Piggie easy readers. Lots of white space makes these approachable for those learning to read and the format for each page is similar without being boring. Words are all in speech bubbles with the different colors indicating which character is speaking. The illustrations are very simple and yet emotions are clearly communicated to the reader. Today I Will Fly is not my favorite of the series as Gerald appears to be fairly dismissive in the first half before redeeming himself by the end of the book, but this is still miles better than most of the easy reader junk being published. Simply an excellent series of easy readers, here's hoping there will be more in the future!
August 22, 2013
Room 108 LOVED this book. We chose it as our Literacy Week Book! We decorated our door to look just like the front cover of this book and are working on a readers Theatre production to perform for other students.
Do yourself a favor and read this book! In fact, read all the Piggie and Elephant books.
Do yourself a favor and read this book! In fact, read all the Piggie and Elephant books.
May 15, 2019
One of the best things about kiddos is the day they say, "I want to read this, to you."
Ellie discovered the Elephant and Piggie books through her school librarian. The pictures are great and the story is perfect for emerging readers. It is the sort of book she can read to me every night for a week without either of us getting bored.
Ellie discovered the Elephant and Piggie books through her school librarian. The pictures are great and the story is perfect for emerging readers. It is the sort of book she can read to me every night for a week without either of us getting bored.
May 25, 2009
We can't get enough of elephant & piggie books at our house. Great for starting readers and parents too!
January 13, 2015
Mo Willems is one of my favorite authors. I love this book because it is a quick read but is so fun at the same time. I love his use of simple sentences, humor, and speech bubbles.
November 28, 2016
I'm very surprised this is the first in the series, but it is very good!
March 27, 2024
Mo Williams is supreme in the children's books world. No other comment.
June 8, 2020
This whole series very popular now with both kiddos. Will comment later on some other books in it.
September 16, 2023
Gerald and Piggie were two very different people, despite their friendship. Ebullient Piggie was enthusiastic - in this case, for the idea of flying - while Gerald was more cautious... more skeptical. Piggie's determination to fly plays off quite humorously against Gerald's determined belief that she cannot. When she does, after a fashion, Gerald's conception of what is possible is changed. But does that mean he can fly too?
The release earlier this month of The Thank You Book , the twenty-fifth and final entry in Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie series, has prompted me to finally embark upon a project I had long thought of undertaking. Namely: reading this entire series in order. I have a signed copy of Today I Will Fly!, obtained at a talk given by Mo Willems in Dublin while I was studying there, so this is a welcome starting point for me. I enjoyed Willems' humor here - the way he plays his two friends off against one another, how he captures the back-and-forth of two very different characters. His art ably captures the emotional pitch of each scene, with something as small as a change of eyebrow orientation communicating quite a bit about the state of elephant and pig. I've seen these books praised by reading teachers, and I can see why. The story is appealing, the language simple but engaging - ideal material for readers who are just beginning!
The release earlier this month of The Thank You Book , the twenty-fifth and final entry in Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie series, has prompted me to finally embark upon a project I had long thought of undertaking. Namely: reading this entire series in order. I have a signed copy of Today I Will Fly!, obtained at a talk given by Mo Willems in Dublin while I was studying there, so this is a welcome starting point for me. I enjoyed Willems' humor here - the way he plays his two friends off against one another, how he captures the back-and-forth of two very different characters. His art ably captures the emotional pitch of each scene, with something as small as a change of eyebrow orientation communicating quite a bit about the state of elephant and pig. I've seen these books praised by reading teachers, and I can see why. The story is appealing, the language simple but engaging - ideal material for readers who are just beginning!
December 9, 2014
This story is about the friendship between Gerald and Piggie, they are the best of friends. Gerald is more sensible and realistic where Pigge is imaginative and hopeful. Even though Gerald thinks it is impossible for Piggie to fly and even with all of his negative comments, Piggie does end up flying!! Of course with a little bit of help.
The book is pretty repetitive which would be easy for younger children to work on their reading skills in the classroom. The illustrations are very simple yet you are able to see the emotions of the characters very easily. The text is large with lots of negative space, this will aid younger students as well when they are just beginning to read. I believe children will easily relate to this book that contains the theme of persistence and believing in a dream. When you are younger you want to be so many different things and achieve so many different goals in your life and this is what that book encompasses. Dreaming about goals in life! Loved reading this book, reminds me of when I wanted to be an Pilot when I grow up.
The book is pretty repetitive which would be easy for younger children to work on their reading skills in the classroom. The illustrations are very simple yet you are able to see the emotions of the characters very easily. The text is large with lots of negative space, this will aid younger students as well when they are just beginning to read. I believe children will easily relate to this book that contains the theme of persistence and believing in a dream. When you are younger you want to be so many different things and achieve so many different goals in your life and this is what that book encompasses. Dreaming about goals in life! Loved reading this book, reminds me of when I wanted to be an Pilot when I grow up.
April 5, 2015
There are hundreds of registered breeds of pigs, none is a true pink. Pigs come in a variety of colors and patterns. Several colors constitute some of the most common among pig breeds: White, black, orange/red, spotted. Thought you might want to know :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews