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Pigeon
Will the Pigeon Graduate?
From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes this class-ic graduation book.
The Pigeon had better graduate! He did the work! He paid attention to the little details! He overcame some BIG obstacles! The Pigeon’s got this . . . Or does he?
Do YOU think The Pigeon will graduate?
Grab your caps, don your gowns, and raise your hands for The Pigeon’s biggest adventure yet in this uplifting, hilarious, and inspirational graduation picture book from three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems. It’s a PhD* in fun!
(*Pigeon-y hilarious Diatribe)
The Pigeon had better graduate! He did the work! He paid attention to the little details! He overcame some BIG obstacles! The Pigeon’s got this . . . Or does he?
Do YOU think The Pigeon will graduate?
Grab your caps, don your gowns, and raise your hands for The Pigeon’s biggest adventure yet in this uplifting, hilarious, and inspirational graduation picture book from three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems. It’s a PhD* in fun!
(*Pigeon-y hilarious Diatribe)
40 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
3 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
231 books4,124 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 136 reviews
June 4, 2025
spoiler: the pigeon did graduate🎓
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March 8, 2025This feels like it was written as a high school/college graduation gift - the typical young audience for Pigeon books definitely won't get Pigeon's existential crisis about what comes after graduation.
May 30, 2025
10/10!
This dang book made me cry — did not know how much I needed to read this. ♥️
This dang book made me cry — did not know how much I needed to read this. ♥️
March 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s definitely more for older kids that are graduating at any level middle school/junior high, high school, college or tech school. The pigeon’s regular audience won’t understand this one but it does hit home.
March 14, 2025
I really related to The Pigeon
May 8, 2025
I suppose the original pigeon fans are graduating from college and grad school now, so this could be for them. But kindergarten or elementary school grads will not get this. It’s a straight-up graduation gift book, like Oh The Places You’ll Go, a gift book for new adults. It’s a decent pigeon-book entry in a nostalgic kind of way, but too existential for the target picture book audience of 3-5 year olds.
April 24, 2025
Well it is the season.
March 11, 2025
i would have given it 4 stars, but my 7 yr old insisted on 5.
June 6, 2025
Fun story about pigeon’s anxiety of graduating and going out into the world. Probably more for older kids than the traditional preschool age of Mo Willems’ pigeon books. Destined to be a graduation gift classic.
(My favorite part was when pigeon’s name was called when it was his turn to receive his diploma. His name was listed as “Pigeon, The”.
(My favorite part was when pigeon’s name was called when it was his turn to receive his diploma. His name was listed as “Pigeon, The”.
March 13, 2025
I get the feeling this book is geared toward those who grew up with the Pigeon books, who were tiny hatchlings when the bird was having his first adventures and are now ready to take flight. Expect this in many graduation gift baskets--whether for kindergarteners or college students!
June 20, 2025
It’s cute and I feel like it will become a new fave grad gift or book parents have teahers sign to give to their kids. But, overall, it didn’t quite feel like it had the same oomph of pigeon-ness that the other pigeon books have. I think it’s because pigeon was less chaotic in this one. Could it be that pigeon is growing up?! 🥹 Perhaps. But I am very interested in the new birds seen in the back. Is it possible we may get some new adventures with new characters? I’d be down for that too! ❤️ If you like the pigeon books, you should read this one too but if you haven’t read any pigeon, don’t start with this one. 😊
March 12, 2025
Real good one for all ages!
May 9, 2025
Read this with my friends who are also graduating college this year. It brought year to my eye. Such a beautiful full circle moment for those of us who grew up with Mo Willems books every night
May 15, 2025
For the besties 💓
June 27, 2025
Nice twist
June 5, 2025
Super cute! Pigeon going thru an existential crisis when graduating 😱
March 31, 2025
light mood reading
May 12, 2025
I dunno, kinda cute, but also seems like a cash grab.
Edit: after watching my Gr 12 students light up as they read this book to each other, I've got a more positive view of it. Nostalgia factor is high for these kids who grew up on Mo Willems books!
Edit: after watching my Gr 12 students light up as they read this book to each other, I've got a more positive view of it. Nostalgia factor is high for these kids who grew up on Mo Willems books!
April 22, 2025
Meh, this feels like it was just published so it could be gifted for graduation presents. It’s not funny nor will little kids ‘get’ it
June 30, 2025
The Pigeon is so excited to graduate, until he realizes he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next. The future is big and scary. Can he step into the unknown?
Do yourself a favor and don’t miss the fake copyright page with extra humor in it. I discovered the little nuggets Willems left in the last Pigeon book and now I always check those out. Pigeon’s fear of change and the unknown in this story is so universal, everyone from a preschooler going into Kindergarten to a PhD grad leaping into the next stage of the work world will identify with Pigeon’s anxieties, and hopefully they can laugh and learn along with this silly, hyperbolically emotive bird. My 11 and 7 year old nieces got to this before me and loved it. I read it and loved it. It has pretty universal appeal.
Do yourself a favor and don’t miss the fake copyright page with extra humor in it. I discovered the little nuggets Willems left in the last Pigeon book and now I always check those out. Pigeon’s fear of change and the unknown in this story is so universal, everyone from a preschooler going into Kindergarten to a PhD grad leaping into the next stage of the work world will identify with Pigeon’s anxieties, and hopefully they can laugh and learn along with this silly, hyperbolically emotive bird. My 11 and 7 year old nieces got to this before me and loved it. I read it and loved it. It has pretty universal appeal.
May 21, 2025
I like all the Pigeon books, but so far this one has been my favourite. Yes it's still a Pigeon book (and thus silly and lovely), but it also reminded me of his Opposites Abstract book, which strikes me more as an attempt to think of alternative points of view when it comes to life.
March 26, 2025
First sentence: Will the pigeon graduate? I had better graduate! I did the work! I paid attention to the little details. I took some BIG steps. Were there obstacles? Lots of them!
Premise/plot: The very first Pigeon book, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS, was published in 2003. It has been over twenty-years, closer to twenty-two years, since his first release. It is certainly possible that those graduating college in recent years--grew up hearing Mo Willems' Pigeon stories. So it is more than fitting that Pigeon stars in an incredibly relatable, inspirational story that would make a GREAT gift for graduates--high school or college.
My thoughts: I LOVED this one. I think it resonates for those who a) have follow Pigeon through his many, many, many adventures b) adults (of all ages) with life experience (whether you are looking back or looking forward). The ending was so BEAUTIFUL. The story itself was humorous YET relatable. Essentially it's a book about having to adult.
Premise/plot: The very first Pigeon book, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS, was published in 2003. It has been over twenty-years, closer to twenty-two years, since his first release. It is certainly possible that those graduating college in recent years--grew up hearing Mo Willems' Pigeon stories. So it is more than fitting that Pigeon stars in an incredibly relatable, inspirational story that would make a GREAT gift for graduates--high school or college.
My thoughts: I LOVED this one. I think it resonates for those who a) have follow Pigeon through his many, many, many adventures b) adults (of all ages) with life experience (whether you are looking back or looking forward). The ending was so BEAUTIFUL. The story itself was humorous YET relatable. Essentially it's a book about having to adult.
June 5, 2025
This is in the same vein as 'Oh, the places you'll go by Dr. Seuss. It's about the anxieties of graduation and what comes after. I love the illustrations he used to show such things.
I'm about to go to my nieces promotion ceremony. She has finished junior high and starts high school next year. That's crazy to me. She would never read a children's book, but I think this could be helpful for her. She knows everything, so I try not to give her any advice unless it's asked for because she doesn't listen anyway.
I do love the ending of this. Take the plunge. I guess there is nothing else to do. I'm not really a Pigeon fan, but this worked really well.
The artwork looked digital. It's used well.
Fans of Pigeon will love this.
I'm about to go to my nieces promotion ceremony. She has finished junior high and starts high school next year. That's crazy to me. She would never read a children's book, but I think this could be helpful for her. She knows everything, so I try not to give her any advice unless it's asked for because she doesn't listen anyway.
I do love the ending of this. Take the plunge. I guess there is nothing else to do. I'm not really a Pigeon fan, but this worked really well.
The artwork looked digital. It's used well.
Fans of Pigeon will love this.
July 14, 2025
Mo Willems is a masterful author and illustrator of children's books that are filled with fun and laughter and whimsy. The illustrations in this book capture a student's struggle to graduate perfectly. Even better are the other moments captured in the illustrations - the moment of utter panic when pigeon realizes that he is jumping off a cliff into the unknown. Is pigeon ready? Storytime audiences will laugh at the illustrations and pigeon's usual drama. Older kids, will appreciate what pigeon is expressing and identify. I think this is a great gift for a graduate of any age. Don't forget to read the publication information of the first page - this book was published with "Class, pomp, and extenuating circumstances" (the Oxford comma!) and it gets funnier from there.
December 17, 2025
I have to confess I'm a HUGE fan of Mo Willems and his Pigeon books, so this one was an instant five star read for me. My students love them just as much as I do. I first this discovered this author when his book "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" was recommended as a mentor text for my 5th grade students who were struggling with persuasive writing.
This book covers the pigeon's graduation and all the lead-up to it, the worries and fears, and then the "Now what do I do" that comes afterwards. This would be a great book to read to Kindergarten Students before their Kindergarten graduation. I realized as I was reading it that it would also make an excellent gift for the high school or college graduate to help commemorate their journey.
This book covers the pigeon's graduation and all the lead-up to it, the worries and fears, and then the "Now what do I do" that comes afterwards. This would be a great book to read to Kindergarten Students before their Kindergarten graduation. I realized as I was reading it that it would also make an excellent gift for the high school or college graduate to help commemorate their journey.
August 27, 2025
This perfectly encapsulates the excitement, anticipation, angst, worry, and uncertainty that many senior feel in one form or another during their last year in high school. As they feel that they stand on the precipice of a lot of unknowns, the ending of the book just made me gasp at the surprise and truth of it all. I would highly recommend this to parents and counselors of high school seniors!
Oh my, I will add this book to the list of books to read to high school seniors. Along with Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go and my personal favorite graduation book by Melissa Kruger, Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know, this is going onto that list. The. Perfect. Graduation. Book.
Oh my, I will add this book to the list of books to read to high school seniors. Along with Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go and my personal favorite graduation book by Melissa Kruger, Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know, this is going onto that list. The. Perfect. Graduation. Book.
May 7, 2025
Very cute book that captures the "Hooray! Now what?" feeling that comes with graduation. I agree with the many reviews that say this book is not well-suited to the usual, young, Pigeon loving audience, but I think that can be a strength. This book is a top contender for the popular Pre K–12 "time capsule" where notes from each year are written throughout to become a significant gift down the line at graduation. I think many future grads who grew up on the Pigeon books will appreciate the blast from the past in addition to reading notes from parents, teachers, coaches, etc.
May 27, 2025
I love the Pigeon! I love reading his stories. I love his sense of humor. I love his candor and his bravery. I love how he is able to identify his fears, work through them, and come out better on the other side. I love the messages about anxiety, accomplishment, and celebration. I love that it teaches kids that the unknown doesn't have to be scary. If anything, it should be exciting! The world is full of opportunities! Especially for a quirky young graduate who's ready for what's next. This would've been a nice read 5 1/2 years ago when I graduated college, lol!
May 30, 2025
I'm a class of 2024 graduate and a children's librarian, and I checked this book in this morning. It's adorable and tugged at my heartstrings a bit - I grew up on the Pigeon books, and so did my partner, who's graduating next week. This book immediately went into my Amazon cart as a graduation gift for him because it's simply too perfect to not buy it.
Now if you need me, I'll be crying in a corner because adulting is hard and I'm too sentimental for my own good. *insert sobbing noises*
Now if you need me, I'll be crying in a corner because adulting is hard and I'm too sentimental for my own good. *insert sobbing noises*
March 17, 2025
This is a blatant attempt to sell gift books for graduates. It will appeal to lower elementary children because of the familiar character, but the concepts involved are not preschool level. Metaphors such as big steps and obstacles illustrated with stairs are not immediately accessible.
Still, for those familiar with this beloved character, it may be enjoyed by older readers--especially graduating students who will identify with the sudden "Now what?" feeling.
Still, for those familiar with this beloved character, it may be enjoyed by older readers--especially graduating students who will identify with the sudden "Now what?" feeling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews