TL;DR: Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems is the gold standard for early readers. These books use humor, expressive illustrations, and "performance reading" to turn kids who hate practicing phonics into kids who can't stop reading. They aren’t just books; they are social-emotional masterclasses disguised as slapstick comedy.
Quick Links for the "I Need a Gift Now" Parent:
- The "Starter" Book: Today I Will Fly!
- The Funniest One: There is a Bird on Your Head!
- The Meta-Masterpiece: We Are in a Book!
- The Next Step: Unlimited Squirrels
If you have a child between the ages of 4 and 7, your house probably looks like a Mo Willems fan club. There’s a high probability you’ve been asked to play the role of Gerald (the anxious, slightly neurotic elephant) while your child takes on the role of Piggie (the exuberant, slightly chaotic pig).
For years, early reader books were, frankly, soul-crushingly boring. We grew up on "See Spot Run," which has the narrative tension of a lukewarm glass of water. Mo Willems changed that by realizing that kids don't just want to decode words; they want to feel something. They want to laugh, they want to feel the high stakes of a lost toy, and they want to feel the power of being "in" on the joke.
The series consists of 25 books (plus a "Reading Together" spin-off series) featuring two best friends: Gerald and Piggie. Gerald is big, careful, and prone to overthinking. Piggie is small, impulsive, and optimistic.
The books are written entirely in speech bubbles. There is no "he said" or "she said." There is no background art—just the characters on a plain white or pastel page. This minimalism is a stroke of genius because it forces the child to focus on two things: the text and the characters' body language.
The obsession usually starts when a kid realizes they can "act" the book. Because the font size changes based on the characters' emotions—huge letters for yelling, tiny letters for whispering—kids intuitively learn about inflection and tone before they even know what those words mean.
1. The Power of "The Silly"
Kids spend most of their day being told what to do by adults. In Elephant & Piggie, the characters are often doing things that are objectively ridiculous, like trying to fly or dealing with a bird nesting on their head. This "silly" isn't just fluff; it's an engagement hook that makes the hard work of learning to read feel like a reward.
2. Radical Relatability
Gerald and Piggie deal with the exact same drama your first grader deals with at recess.
- Should I Share My Ice Cream? is a literal internal monologue about the ethics of sharing versus personal desire.
- I’m Invited to a Party! captures the paralyzing anxiety of "what do I wear?" and "will I fit in?"
- Wait! (officially titled Waiting Is Not Easy!) is perhaps the most accurate depiction of toddler/early-elementary patience ever put to paper.
3. Visual Literacy
Because the backgrounds are empty, kids become experts at reading facial expressions. They learn that a slight tilt of Gerald’s eyebrow means he’s worried, or the way Piggie’s ears droop means she’s sad. This is a foundational skill for both reading comprehension and real-world empathy.
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If you're building a home library, you don't necessarily need all 25 (though your kid might disagree). Here are the standouts:
This is the "Inception" of children's literature. Gerald and Piggie realize they are being watched by a "reader." They discover they can make the reader say words out loud (like "Banana!"). It's a brilliant way to teach kids about the relationship between an author, a character, and a reader.
This is pure slapstick. It’s the perfect book for "performance reading." When Gerald loses his mind because a bird (and then its spouse, and then its babies) decides to live on his head, kids lose theirs laughing. It’s a great one for a parent and child to read together, alternating characters.
This book tackles the "big feelings" of a friend leaving. Piggie says she is "going," and Gerald has a full-blown meltdown because he thinks she’s leaving forever. It’s a great conversation starter about transitions and how to handle the end of a playdate.
This is the final book in the main series. It’s a "curtain call" where Piggie tries to thank everyone they’ve ever met in the series. It’s sweet, a little meta, and a perfect way to wrap up the collection.
- Ages 3-4 (Pre-Readers): They will memorize these books. You will read them so many times you’ll see Gerald in your dreams. At this age, focus on the pictures and the "acting."
- Ages 5-6 (Emergent Readers): This is the sweet spot. The repetitive vocabulary and clear visual cues give them the confidence to say, "I can read this myself."
- Ages 7+ (Fluent Readers): They might "outgrow" the reading level, but they rarely outgrow the humor. These often become the books they read to younger siblings or use as a "comfort read" when they're tired.
Mo Willems is a former Sesame Street writer and animator, so he knows how to translate these characters to screens without losing the magic.
During the 2020 lockdowns, Mo Willems hosted a series of "Lunch Doodles" through the Kennedy Center. These are still available and are incredible for kids who want to learn how to draw Gerald and Piggie. It’s high-quality, intentional "slow media."
If you're looking for an app that isn't "brain rot," this is a solid choice. It's essentially a digital version of the books' humor, allowing kids to interact with the characters. It’s not a "must-have," but it’s a safe, ad-free environment for fans.
There is a specific way to read these books that makes them "work." If you read them in a flat, monotone voice, you're doing it wrong. You have to commit to the bit.
When Gerald is yelling, you yell (within reason). When Piggie is whispering, you whisper. By modeling this "expressive reading," you are showing your child that reading is an active, emotional experience, not a chore.
A Note on the "Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!" Series: You’ll see books with the E&P branding that are actually written by other authors (like The Cookie Fiasco or The Itchy Book). These are introduced by Gerald and Piggie in the first few pages. They are generally excellent and follow the same high-energy, high-humor format, but they aren't "core" Mo Willems. They are a great way to branch out once you've exhausted the main 25.
Elephant & Piggie are the "gateway drug" to a lifelong love of reading. They prove that you don't need complex vocabulary to tell a complex emotional story.
If your child is struggling with the "boring" books coming home in their school folder, go to the library and grab I Will Surprise My Friend!. The moment they realize they can read the "POW!" and "Eek!" bubbles on their own, the "reading click" usually follows shortly after.
- Do a "Character Audit": Ask your kid who they think they are more like—Gerald or Piggie? (It’s a great way to see how they perceive their own personality).
- Try a "Reader's Theater": Grab two copies of Elephant & Piggie and assign parts. You be the Elephant, they be the Pig.
- Explore the "Pigeon": If they love the humor, move on to Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!.
Ask our chatbot for more early reader book recommendations based on your child's interests