Book Descriptions
for My Friend Is Sad by Mo Willems
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Gerald the Elephant and Piggie are best friends who help each other out. In My Friend Is Sad , Piggie is perplexed to find Gerald feeling low. Piggie dons a variety of costumes—cowboy, clown, robot—in an attempt to cheer him up. Nothing seems to work until Piggie returns as herself. Gerald is overjoyed and explains to Piggie how sad he was because she missed so much excitement. This funny look at friendship and communication is repeated in There Is a Bird on Your Head! when a small bird alights on Gerald’s head, much to his chagrin. Looking to Piggie for advice and sympathy, he gets a play-by-play instead. First there’s a second bird, and then, “They are making a nest!” Finally, “You have three eggs on your head.” When frustrated Gerald explodes in anger, Piggie calmly suggests that Gerald use his words and simply ask the birds to leave. He does, and they do, only to relocate on Piggie’s head. These humorous episodes are illustrated with Mo Willems’ friendly cartoon-like style and pastel hues, complete with dialogue bubbles that convey Gerald and Piggie’s words and emotions. (Ages 4–7)
CCBC Choices 2008. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
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 My Friend is Sad, elephant Gerald is down in the dumps. Piggie is determined to cheer him up by dressing as a cowboy, a clown, and even a robot! But what does it take to make a sad elephant happy? The answer will make even pessimistic elephants smile.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In My Friend is Sad, elephant Gerald is down in the dumps. Piggie is determined to cheer him up by dressing as a cowboy, a clown, and even a robot! But what does it take to make a sad elephant happy? The answer will make even pessimistic elephants smile.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.