September Appearances

I'll see you at the Schulz Museum this weekend in Santa Rosa, CA, which reminds me that the fall is coming and I'll be hitting the road for a few, fun visits on the east coast.  Each event will be very different, which is cool.

Remember to check with the venue regarding signing policies, etc. and to confirm the schedule.  The information below is the best that I have at the time.

Friday September 16, starting at 8:30 am
Pittsburgh, PA: "A Day with Mo Willems"


Duquesne University, Power Center Fifth Floor Ballroom 1015 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

This is a program for educators and children.  I'll be reading to kids in the morning, then speaking to teachers and their ilk at a luncheon.  A signed book is included in the program and there will be other books available for sale.  Should be good fun.


You must register with the University to attend. Registration is here.

A sweaty Mo, borough president Marty Markowitz, and loveable scamps.

Sunday September 18,  11 am

Brooklyn, NY: "Brooklyn Book Fest"

BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL, 209 JORALEMON STREET



The Brooklyn Book Festival is always a favorite place to see some old neighbors and author pals.  I've been there every year except for last year, so I'm looking forward to reading and signing and watching and buying books and having a ball.


This event is open to the public.

That's it for September, but don't worry October will be a busy month including a very special sculpture installation and a mini-tour for Elephant and Piggie's upcoming HAPPY PIG DAY! (including a real elephant at one venue!) So, if you're around New Jersey, Philly, Washington DC, and Boston stay tuned.

Speaking of Boston, here's a very nice review of HOORAY FOR AMANDA AND HER ALLIGATOR in the Boston Globe where they say:

"Mo Willems is to our era what Margaret Wise Brown was a half century ago...Amanda and Alligator join the ranks of other great children’s book best friends: Frog and Toad; George and Martha; Dog and Bear. Hooray for them, and for Mo Willems."

Yup, that's me blushing.
 

Really Good Grief!

I'm off to California to see family and friends and, if you're in Sonoma County, YOU at the Charles Schulz Museum on Sunday June 28 at 1pm.  But don't be afraid to show up early. The museum is awesome and they'll be showing some of my animated cartoons before the reading and serving free Ice Cream (while supplies last) in honor of Elephant and Piggie's SHOULD I SHARE MY ICE CREAM?  I'll also be featuring NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED, which was drawn with one of Charles "Sparky" Schulz's actual nibs!

A signing will follow the presentation.

Speaking of museums, here is a sneak peek at some odd bits of metal that will be assembled into a sculpture at a museum on October 1st.  What will it look like? Here's a hint.  Stay tuned for mo' info...

Fabricator Sam Ostroff figures out where to put the eye...

This stuff is HEAVY.

Proud Papa.

And last week, Nelson Willems, star of CITY DOG, COUNTRY FROG and first collector of dog artist Tilamook Cheddar made a cameo appearance in pal Hilary Price's Rhymes with Orange comic strip:

If you are in Chicago over the next 3 Sundays, why not head over to Millennium Park for a FREE performance of Emerald City Theatre's DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!  That's at Noon on Sunday August 21 & 28 and September 4.

Finally, thanks to you, Elephant and Piggie's SHOULD I SHARE MY ICE CREAM? will spend next week on the NYTimes Bestseller list at #8 for it's 8th week.

Thanks, you!

Visits, Doodles, News...

Lots of news and bits this week.  Let's start with some dinner doodles and chalkboard wall drawings from a few recent guests.

Old pals David Wain and Ken Marino stopped by Knuffle Manor for some R and R while putting finishing touches on an upcoming film they wrote (David is directing).  I've known (and in David's case worked with) these guys since 1987 and had dropped by the set when on tour for Knuffle Bunny Free, so it was fun to catch up as we doodled during dinner.

Here are some of the results:

David's rival to the Pigeon, Sheep Chicken.

Not only is David's wife Zandy a great actress, she can DRAW!

David's self-portrait

Ken's portrait of David.

Then it was time to draw on the Chalkboard walls.  Trixie went first:

But the night belonged to David's 3 year old kid, who tore it up with classic doodles based on characters we suggested!

A "Smiffy-plip"

A "Zango", "Blup", and "Dangy-wangy"

A "10-legged Schmiffle"

Huzzah! A great time was had by all.

Why not get together with some pals and have a big old group draw sometime soon? It's fun.

In reviewing news, the SacBee has a nice mini review of Elephant and Piggie's SHOULD I SHARE MY ICE CREAM? where they say:

Mo Willems' genius for capturing young readers pivots on his uncanny talent to pack emotional complexity into a short drama that's easy to read.

 Thanks, SacBee.

And thanks to you, SHOULD I SHARE MY ICE CREAM? returns to the NYTimes Bestseller list next week at #8!

Thanks, you!

The folks over at Real Simple Magazine take time in their current issue call CITY DOG, COUNTRY FROG among the "soon-to-be classic" saying:

"As you may know from his droll Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Willems is unfailingly hilarious. But in this heartfelt tale of a canine-amphibian bond, he shows depth as a writer. Muth’s soft watercolors set the mood for a tearjerker about friendship and change—with a finale that’s far more sweet than bitter."

Wow.  Thanks, Real Simple

I'm also happy that HOORAY FOR AMANDA AND HER ALLIGATOR! will be included in this fall's Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators in NYC.  This is always a great exhibit and I'm thrilled to see so many familiar names and pals on the roster including Silver Medalists Lane Smith and Kadir Nelson.  The exhibit opens in late October and runs through the end of the year.  If you're in NYC, check it out!

Don't Let the Pigeon Play!

Here are few cool Pigeon games that have come through the studio lately:

The Pigeon Match-ominos.  Matching game and dominos.

You KNOW I love the Pigeon Bands!

The Pigeon Wants a Puzzle! 4 different Pigeon-y puzzles in a wood box!

Huzzah!

You can find Pigeon games and toys at your favorite store, or at areyougame.com.  If you don't see all of the stuff on their site yet, contact University Games for more info!

Another fun thing that recently made it into the studio, my preview copy of Elephant and Piggie's next adventure, HAPPY PIG DAY!  It came out real nice.  I'll be touring the East Coast in October to celebrate its release.

 

Speaking of Elephant and Piggie, thanks to you, two of their adventures made it onto the NYTimes Bestseller list last week.  WE ARE IN A BOOK! came in at #10 and SHOULD I SHARE MY ICE CREAM? at #7.

 

Thanks, you!