Beloved children’s book author Mo Willems best known for Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus!
and the Elephant & Piggie series has a new book, The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!
His new picture book may be titledThe Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!
Union Square Kids
(out today), but Mo Willems admits he’s not a fan of the amusement park ride.
When asked about his creative process, Willems waves a black notebook.
“It’s filled with doodles and story breakdowns and characters.
My favorite book as a child
AnyPeanutsvolume, any compilation of thePeanuts.
And also a lot of books illustrated by a woman named Fiep Westendorp, who is a Dutch illustrator.
Fiep was amazing and was the great illustrator of the 20th century.
Those were my big childhood go-tos.
I tend to reread theGeorge and Marthabooks by James Marshall.
He kept all the diaries during thePythonyears.
They don’t need me to tell ‘em they’re not doing good work.
I have had a shamectomy.
I don’t feel anyone should be embarrassed for what they haven’t read.
My favorite fictional hero
I wished that I had the wisdom and the perseverance of Linus.
I always aspired to Linusness.
There has been some really good animation lately.Turning Redand thenThe Mitchells vs. Those were two very good pieces.
I really enjoyed them.
The song that always makes me feel better
The Girl from Ipanema.
I love Orchestra Baobab.
I also listen to a lot of classical.
I listen to a lot of piano jazz.
I mean I used to be much more of a snob about my music.
Now I’m much more open.
I would love to live in Michel de Montaigne’s winery chateau while he was there.
That would be pretty great.
What I’m reading now
I’m reading Michael Palin diaries, and really enjoying them.
And I’m reading a lot of Carlo Rovelli, the physicist.
I find his stuff just wonderful.
So, so interesting.
And he writes in such a charming way.
I mean, are there books that have changed my life?
I don’t think jealousy is the healthiest place for me to mix with admiration.
If I really love something, I wanna admire it.
I don’t wanna own it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
