Thanks to you...

I just returned from NYC for meetings, photo shoots, pals, and talking to and with folks at SCBWI's bi-annual conference in addition to bumping into a bunch of animation pals on the street.

Great fun.

While I was away,  thanks to you, Knuffle Bunny Free spent it's 16th week on the NYTimes Bestseller list at #6 and was #10 on the Indie Bestseller list for Children's Illustrated.  Elephant and Piggie's We Are in a Book! is #9 on their Children's Interest list.

Thanks for the wonderful support and keep it tuned here:  there are lots of cool bits of news coming up in the next few weeks.

Speaking to writers both published and aspiring to be published this weekend made me reflect on my past and ambitions.  25 years ago my goal was to be the funniest person in the history of forever.  Now, my goal is much more daunting: to be a competent parent.  Not reaching my first goal doesn't bother me, but the second one is worth fighting for.

I'm off!

To NYC for work and a panel at the SCBWI conference.  I'm also hoping to walk by NYU, where they currently have an exhibit of my drawings in the windows on LaGuardia Place and West 3rd, in the student union where I started out doing my first improv gigs in 1986. Here are some pictures:

Check 'em out if you're in the area.

Snowy Days

Metal Work is fun!

Yay deadly fire sparks!

Sculpture Maquettes...

I've been cutting up a storm lately. Here are some maquettes and ideas for future metal sculptures:

It's great fun cutting paper.  Why not give it a try?

Thanks to you...

Knuffle Bunny Free holds on in this weeks NYTimes Bestseller list at #10 for week 15!  Huzzah!

Also congrats to all of the Caldecott winners and honorees on this list, especially pal Bryan Collier for his awesome Dave the Potter.

Thanks to the Texas Library Association for placing Cat the Cat Who is That? on their 2x2 list of suggested books for age 2 to 2nd grade!



This week, the Modesto Bee had nice things to say about the Geisel award winner and honorees.

February Appearances...

 

Next month, I'll be making two appearances in two countries in support of Elephant and Piggie's latest adventure, I BROKE MY TRUNK! and my French-language books.

I'll be reading and signing at the following locations:

Montreal, Canada:

*New location*

Event Date: February 20, 2011

Event Time: 2:00pm

Event Location: Livres Babar Books

46 St. Anne Street

Pointe Claire, QC

H9S4P8

514.694.0380

 

Holyoke, MA

Event Date: Friday, February 25, 2011

Event Time: 7:00pm

Event Location: Barnes and Noble

7 Holyoke Street

Holyoke, MA 01040

(413) 532-3200

I hope you'll come on by if you're in the neighborhood!

Stay tuned for March 2011 dates which will include signings, panel discussions, theater, and fun in Northampton, MA; Amherst MA; and Paris, France.

Bunny Goes for a Drive...

Nice Words/ Nice things...

This week's nice things said have mostly been about Elephant and Piggie's We Are In a Book! being awarded a Geisel Honor (it's a thrill to see it with a sticker).  We Are In a Book! also finds itself at #14 on this weeks Indie Bestseller list, Children's Interest.

Not to be outdone, thanks to you, Knuffle Bunny Free spends week 14 on the NYTimes Bestseller list at #6! Huzzah!

More good news from the American Library Association this week as their Notables lists were announced.

I'm happy to report that both We Are In a Book! and City Dog, Country Frog have been named Notable Books and the animated versions of  Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog have been named Notable videos. This is a big thrill.  Many thanks to ALA and the Notables committee!

Meanwhile, The Examiner.com put We Are In a Book! on their best of the year, while the Glenn Falls Post-Star liked Elephant and Piggie in 2010, but their favorite was I Am Going!

In the world of blogs, past-partner-in-crime and Codename: Kids Next Door creator Mr. Warburton recaps an impromptu New Year's Eve in Northampton with myself, Holly Black and Venetian attired* pals thanks to being snowed in from LA.  He also follows up with a doodle filled recap of an afternoon of pal-filled fun at Knuffle Manor.

Thanks for all the kind words, emails, and Tweets over the last week!


*Funny that no one thought to wear Venetian Blinds to the Venetian New Years Party.  Maybe it was too cold...

Happy MLK Day!

 
Let's hear it for the dream of America becoming a true Meritocracy.

New DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! Musical!

Tomorrow night (Jan 15) will see the opening of the Emerald Theater of Chicago's brand new musical production of DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!
 
The show will run through April 10 in the windy city.  For a peek backstage at rehearsals, check this out.

For those of you outside of Chicagoland, the Kennedy Center's production of KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY MUSICAL is back on tour for another year.  The schedule is here.

I hope you'll enjoy the show(s)!

"Let's get down to buisness. Can I go to space?" (Yay Pigeon Fan Mail!)

Here's a batch of recent Pigeon fan mail favorites by YOU! (click to enlarge any image)

 Uh oh!

 Awwwww!

 Haaaaaaaa!

 I love that he wants to 'get down to business'!

 Yee-haw!

Huzzah!

If you or your class wants to share some awesomeness, please send it to:

Mo Willems Fan Mail
c/o Laura Schreiber
Hyperion Books for Children and Pigeons
114 5th Ave 14th fl. New York, NY 10011

Please be patient as it takes a while to get the mail forwarded to me.

Teachers, a cover letter with the grade of your students is appreciated.

Please note, I cannot accept packages or books to be signed and returned.