The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
By Mo Willems


In the newest of the Pigeon books by Mo Willems, the duckling asks the reader, very sweetly, for a cookie. He is given a cookie (coming down through the top of the next page), and he notices the cookie has nuts. The pigeon comes along and finds out that the duckling got the cookie just by asking. A big fit ensues, in which the pigeon lists all of the many things he's asked for and never received. Finally at the end of the book, the duckling gives the pigeon the cookie, which completely floors and delights the pigeon. After the pigeon leaves, the duckling asks for a new cookie-- but this time with no nuts!


Though this book was cute, it was, in my opinion, not Mo Willems at his best. I expected to laugh out loud at this story, like I do for most of Mo Willems' books, but I really didn't laugh until the last page. The pigeon's raging over not getting things he asks for is not nearly as cute as some of his other tantrums, and it doesn't mirror a toddler as well either. However, the illustrations are still endearing and manage to convey a lot of emotion with very little detail.


I will also mention that, at least for parents, this book will be more entertaining if you've read the other books in which the pigeon and the duckling interact. A good portion of the pigeon's frustration in this book comes from the history of his relationship with the duckling. Just not as funny if you aren't familiar with that history!


I do recommend this book, but not as highly as most of Mo Willems' others. If you're a die-hard pigeon fan, you'll probably still want to read this book, but if you're picking up Mo Willems for the first time and seeking to be convinced of his genius, this is not the book to start with.


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