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Elephant & Piggie #19
A Big Guy Took My Ball
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. In A Big Guy Took My Ball! Piggie is devastated when a big guy takes her ball! Gerald is big, too...but is he big enough to help his best friend?
60 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
39 people are currently reading
1427 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
231 books4,121 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
July 3, 2018
Elephant and Piggie reach new heights with this book, sure to have the young reader curious and laughing in equal measure. Piggie comes to her friend to explain that a big guy took her ball. Gerald wants none of this bullying behaviour and agrees to come to Piggie’s aid. He pushes his trunk into the air and rushes over, only to discover that ‘big guy’ is an understatement. However, with a couple of smooth sentences and an open mind, Gerald is able to diffuse the situation and bring Piggie something she needs, as well as creating a new friend for them both to enjoy. As Neo’s bedtime story, this was a great piece to remember the past year at school. He told me that there were bullies, but that when you are nice to others, they sometimes want to be your friend. Oh Neo, if only that were true for all people who put on an air of bossiness!
February 29, 2020
These Mo Willems learn-to-read books are so witty -- visually as well as verbally. The complex facial expressions and body language of the characters belie the simplicity of the line drawings. And the stories and character (read: human) interactions are nuanced and maybe a little subversive. This one in particular exceeded expectations.
February 17, 2023
واقعا چرا خوندمش؟!🤔
ولی خوب یک طنز خوبی داشت😅
ولی خوب یک طنز خوبی داشت😅
January 24, 2019
The “big guy” reveal made me LOL
June 14, 2013
I've enjoyed every Elephant and Piggie book Mo Willem has published. True, sometimes it's merely strong liking and not absolute LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. But the series as a whole are practically perfect in my estimation! Mo Willems does everything exactly right time and time again.
This adventure starts with Piggie telling Gerald a story. She found a ball, a big ball. It was the best ball ever. She was having so much fun until a "big guy" came and took "her" ball. It was AWFUL. Piggie is outraged. Gerald is a friend, a good friend. If someone has picked on Piggie, he should do something to help, right?! Gerald was perhaps expecting a "big guy" around his own size...or at least closer to his own size. He wasn't expecting a HUGE WHALE. But what Piggie and Gerald discover is a very large, but somewhat sad whale. The whale is telling Piggie thank you. Thank you for finding and returning the ball. But the whale is without doubt sad. Why? The whale is LONELY. Can Gerald and Piggie help?!
I loved this book. I liked discovering the real story. A good reminder that there is always more than one side to any story! It was also great at showing problem solving! I think my favorite scene was:
"Would you like to play "Whale Ball" with us?"
"What is "Whale Ball"?
"We do not know!"
"We have not made it up yet!"
This adventure starts with Piggie telling Gerald a story. She found a ball, a big ball. It was the best ball ever. She was having so much fun until a "big guy" came and took "her" ball. It was AWFUL. Piggie is outraged. Gerald is a friend, a good friend. If someone has picked on Piggie, he should do something to help, right?! Gerald was perhaps expecting a "big guy" around his own size...or at least closer to his own size. He wasn't expecting a HUGE WHALE. But what Piggie and Gerald discover is a very large, but somewhat sad whale. The whale is telling Piggie thank you. Thank you for finding and returning the ball. But the whale is without doubt sad. Why? The whale is LONELY. Can Gerald and Piggie help?!
I loved this book. I liked discovering the real story. A good reminder that there is always more than one side to any story! It was also great at showing problem solving! I think my favorite scene was:
"Would you like to play "Whale Ball" with us?"
"What is "Whale Ball"?
"We do not know!"
"We have not made it up yet!"
June 24, 2013
Mo Willems has always had a knack for complex expressions in cartoonish characters, but A Big Guy Took My Ball elevates this skill beyond anything we've seen from him before: Piggie's crushed, thousand-mile stare at the loss of her big ball (it was, after all, "SO FUN"), Gerald's righteous fury and eventual cowed reaction to the Big Guy in question, and the Big Guy's own wordless, slumping disappointment from his introduction are all marvelous.
Elephant and Piggie stories are always fantastic for reading aloud, especially with two readers. A Big Guy Took My Ball is already a particular favorite at my bookstore's storytime, though, given the aforementioned mastery of expressions, a fun visual twist, and the potential to let loose your best Ellen-DeGeneres-as-fish-speaking-whale impersonation.
Elephant and Piggie stories are always fantastic for reading aloud, especially with two readers. A Big Guy Took My Ball is already a particular favorite at my bookstore's storytime, though, given the aforementioned mastery of expressions, a fun visual twist, and the potential to let loose your best Ellen-DeGeneres-as-fish-speaking-whale impersonation.
June 19, 2013
I read each new Elephant and Piggie book with a bit of trepidation: after all, how can Willems keep writing such wonderful stuff? Surely he's going to plateau here, right?
But no, he keeps on producing terrific new titles with these lovable characters. I love the simplicity of his art--like the pink cheeks on Gerald when he sees the "big guy" for the first time. I love the pacing in this book. I love the friendship dynamics between Elephant and Piggie and all their cronies. Willems just gets the 5-year-old.
But no, he keeps on producing terrific new titles with these lovable characters. I love the simplicity of his art--like the pink cheeks on Gerald when he sees the "big guy" for the first time. I love the pacing in this book. I love the friendship dynamics between Elephant and Piggie and all their cronies. Willems just gets the 5-year-old.
December 10, 2018
What a great book ! I’ve just about exhausted my Indigenous children’s book exploration so now I’m diving into some picture books in my school’s library. Great message, well illustrated and award winning. There’s definitely cross over appeal for Comics fans.
March 12, 2019
Another good one from Mo Willems! What type of animal could be bigger than Gerald the elephant...
September 26, 2020
Elephant and Piggie make yet another friend.
March 8, 2025
i will not elaborate on why i read this
June 24, 2025
Theo likes the voice I do for the whale.
December 8, 2015
This is a great book that young kids starting in preschool to elementary school can relate with. This is a funny story of a playground mixup that the readers can easily relate themselves with. It is a clever book that teaches misunderstandings and conflicts.
Willems, M. (2013). A big guy took my ball! New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
Willems, M. (2013). A big guy took my ball! New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
July 8, 2013
Once again, we love, love, love Mo Willems! This was a great one that held the attention of all my children, both the 5 yr old and my 3 yr old twins. Not enough words to merit a level one reader book but a wonderful story that's a fun read for both children and adults alike. Two thumbs up!
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February 24, 2014A whale of a tale!
February 21, 2016
Review to come :)
February 14, 2018
Funny! Piggie wants Gerald to help him get his ball back from a big shark. Another great friendship story. Illustrations will have you laughing big time! I would buy for my school. Highly recommended for Grades K-1.
February 23, 2018
Piggie's ball has been taken by someone very big. Can Elephant get it back. great big and little themese. toddler and up
June 28, 2018
I love these two. Elephant and Piggie in French bring me so much joy!!!
June 16, 2019
Piggy found out that the big guy who took her ball was the one who bought the ball so piggy said why don’t we play a game so they did
February 9, 2020
My favorite part was when piggie thought, "my hero!" about elephant.
June 30, 2023
Very emotional and inspiring their friendship was.
September 30, 2025
Expressive art mixed with a charming story and a good sense of humor
November 3, 2019
عنوان ترجمه فارسی: وال بال بازی!
June 24, 2019
This is such an important story of how we all think “facts” based on our perceptions without actually knowing. Both sides were thinking negative of the other side when all It took was courage from one
To talk to the other. How important it is for us not to judge based on what we see, and rather on what is in the heart.
Leila: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟: the pig said a big guy took my ball. In the end, they were friends
To talk to the other. How important it is for us not to judge based on what we see, and rather on what is in the heart.
Leila: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟: the pig said a big guy took my ball. In the end, they were friends
February 22, 2021
Text-to-World Connection
A Big Guy Took My Ball is a book about misunderstandings. In this short story, Piggie finds a big ball that is taken away by a "big guy". However, we soon learn that even though Piggie's assumptions concerning the Whale who took the ball seem to be incorrect as the Whale is also looking for someone to play with but no one will play with them. This is a fantastic book that teaches us that we shouldn't always make assumptions based on what people look like right off the bat. The Whale in this story just wanted some friends to play with, but because of his size was misunderstood as a bully.
A Big Guy Took My Ball is a book about misunderstandings. In this short story, Piggie finds a big ball that is taken away by a "big guy". However, we soon learn that even though Piggie's assumptions concerning the Whale who took the ball seem to be incorrect as the Whale is also looking for someone to play with but no one will play with them. This is a fantastic book that teaches us that we shouldn't always make assumptions based on what people look like right off the bat. The Whale in this story just wanted some friends to play with, but because of his size was misunderstood as a bully.
May 5, 2018
Personally, I am a great admirer of the books of Mo Willems because through his short stories can address issues and conflicts that end up being resolved. This book is about a little piglet who is looking for his friend the elephant to help him retrieve the ball that a big guy grabbed. Taking into account the types of books, this is considered an animal stories. The story is written in simple sentences, with dialogs locked inside a speech bubble of the color corresponding to the character. This book also establishes the stereotype that the bigger ones have more fun and vice versa. This is a book in which you can work with the concepts of comparative and superlative adjectives. In addition, This story can be used to generate ideas and solutions to a conflict The illustrations are made on a white background, where the main characters in pink and gray predominate. Young children would be interested in this story as it is the eruption of a common conflict within the classroom. The teacher can discuss with children the similarities and common interests issues despite the differences, the conflict that is generated by judging others by their appearances. In addition, the teacher can refer to how fun it is to do activities and play with other children
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June 7, 2015http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...
School Library Journal
( July 01, 2013; 9781423174912 )
PreS-Gr 1-Once again Willems observes truths about human behavior through the eyes of Gerald, an elephant, and Piggie. The premise this time is that Piggie's recently acquired ball has been snatched by some unknown creature, one so big that Piggie begs Gerald to intervene. But Gerald's perceived power and genuine desire to help his smaller friend cannot provide him with sufficient courage once he sees that he'll have to confront an enormous whale. Outward appearance is rarely a true indicator of inner feelings, though, and the same reality is reflected in the whale, who turns out to be a gentle giant who is remarkably polite. Size should never be a factor in determining friendship, and Willems's two pals are happy to have a new playmate. The story engages readers with delightfully familiar cartoon illustrations and invites them to follow it independently by reading the speech bubbles. This title is a wonderful addition to the series; it's particularly useful for discussions of inside and outside traits, as well as the tricky topic of threesomes.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
I appreciate that the reviewer specified the story's theme/lesson (inside and outside traits) in the story that acts as a perfect discussion point for young students.
School Library Journal
( July 01, 2013; 9781423174912 )
PreS-Gr 1-Once again Willems observes truths about human behavior through the eyes of Gerald, an elephant, and Piggie. The premise this time is that Piggie's recently acquired ball has been snatched by some unknown creature, one so big that Piggie begs Gerald to intervene. But Gerald's perceived power and genuine desire to help his smaller friend cannot provide him with sufficient courage once he sees that he'll have to confront an enormous whale. Outward appearance is rarely a true indicator of inner feelings, though, and the same reality is reflected in the whale, who turns out to be a gentle giant who is remarkably polite. Size should never be a factor in determining friendship, and Willems's two pals are happy to have a new playmate. The story engages readers with delightfully familiar cartoon illustrations and invites them to follow it independently by reading the speech bubbles. This title is a wonderful addition to the series; it's particularly useful for discussions of inside and outside traits, as well as the tricky topic of threesomes.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
I appreciate that the reviewer specified the story's theme/lesson (inside and outside traits) in the story that acts as a perfect discussion point for young students.
June 12, 2015
1. Have you ever had someone take something that belonged to you? How did it make you feel? In this book "A big guy took my ball"
someone took piggies ball and he ask's Gerald to help him. We have been learning that the author writes the words and the illustrator draws the pictures. This is one of those special books where the author and illustrator is the same person! Does anyone remember reading "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" or "Don't let the Pigeon Stay Up Late"? The author an illustrator of those books was Mo Williams, and he is the author and illustrator of this book too!
2. * Activates children's thinking about their own experiences
* Activates background knowledge
* Connection to previous books read aloud by Mo Williams
3. This fits in my text set because it is about an issue many kids will run into (someone taking something) and how the student handles it. The ball turns out to be the whales and he wants someone to play with him, but no one will because his is so big. This book allows us to talk about how the characters handled the situation and talk about ways we could handle similar issues in our classroom and on the playground.
someone took piggies ball and he ask's Gerald to help him. We have been learning that the author writes the words and the illustrator draws the pictures. This is one of those special books where the author and illustrator is the same person! Does anyone remember reading "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" or "Don't let the Pigeon Stay Up Late"? The author an illustrator of those books was Mo Williams, and he is the author and illustrator of this book too!
2. * Activates children's thinking about their own experiences
* Activates background knowledge
* Connection to previous books read aloud by Mo Williams
3. This fits in my text set because it is about an issue many kids will run into (someone taking something) and how the student handles it. The ball turns out to be the whales and he wants someone to play with him, but no one will because his is so big. This book allows us to talk about how the characters handled the situation and talk about ways we could handle similar issues in our classroom and on the playground.
October 2, 2014
What can I say? I love them more and more with each book. Best illustration: Piggie's broken heart. Favorite part: hard to pick. I have a few. I read it aloud to my roommate, because all E&P books must be read aloud. :-) One day I will be able to memorize some of these books and then enact them with my E&P toys. However, as cute as the toys are, I don't think they'll ever be as cute as the illustrations. Nor could I be as brilliant as the illustrations.
Great lesson at the end, too.
9/18/13 I think I love this book the more I read it! And this time I got to read it to the kids and adults--and they loved it! I also brought in my E&P as guests to introduce the book. Too bad I didn't still have the whale that someone added to the Blue Dolphins Great Reads box!
9/29/14-10/2/14: I had this as an option during the Morningside school visits that I did this week. I read it in classes covering grades K, 2, 5, & 6. A huge success for all ages, but especially the older kids. They're never to old for a picture book, especially a great one!
Great lesson at the end, too.
9/18/13 I think I love this book the more I read it! And this time I got to read it to the kids and adults--and they loved it! I also brought in my E&P as guests to introduce the book. Too bad I didn't still have the whale that someone added to the Blue Dolphins Great Reads box!
9/29/14-10/2/14: I had this as an option during the Morningside school visits that I did this week. I read it in classes covering grades K, 2, 5, & 6. A huge success for all ages, but especially the older kids. They're never to old for a picture book, especially a great one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews