Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

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Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the box set you buy when you want to actually help a kid become a reader, not just fill a bookshelf.

Mo Willems understands something fundamental: early readers need books that are simple enough to decode but emotionally rich enough to care about. Gerald and Piggie deliver both. The anxious elephant and optimistic pig navigate universal kid dilemmas—sharing, trying new things, being a good friend—with humor and heart that never talks down to kids.

The format is brilliant for building confidence. Large text, expressive cartoon illustrations, mostly dialogue in speech bubbles. Kids can perform these, act them out, and feel like real readers fast. There's a reason these won multiple Geisel Awards and have a 4.9 on Amazon.

The 25-book collection means you're set for the entire early reading journey. Yes, they're simple. That's the point. And honestly, the friendship dynamics are sophisticated enough that adults don't hate reading them 47 times. If you have a kid ages 4-7, this is one of the best reading investments you can make.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 3-7, especially kids learning to read independently. The sweet spot is kindergarten through early second grade when kids are decoding words and building confidence. Younger kids (3-4) will love having these read aloud, and older kids (6-7) will feel accomplished reading them solo.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

98

Models genuine friendship between two very different personalities—Gerald the anxious elephant and Piggie the carefree pig. Shows cooperation, emotional support, and healthy conflict resolution across all 25 books. The dynamic of 'Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to' is a beautiful depiction of how friends balance each other out. Zero chaos, pure kindness without being saccharine.

Imaginative

88

Mo Willems uses minimal text and expressive illustrations to let kids fill in emotional nuance. The simple format (often just speech bubbles) invites kids to perform the stories, act them out, and imagine themselves in the characters' shoes. Titles like 'I'm a Frog!' and 'Elephants Cannot Dance!' encourage creative play. Not wildly inventive in plot, but the format itself sparks imagination in early readers.

Safe

100

Completely safe for all ages. No scary content, no surprise trauma, no mature themes whatsoever. These are books designed for the earliest readers (reading levels F-H, DRA 10, ages 3-6). Zero concerns about inappropriate content. Books are exactly what they appear to be: gentle friendship stories.

Enriching

92

Exceptional for early literacy—won two Theodor Seuss Geisel Awards and five Honors specifically for beginning readers. The books teach emotional vocabulary, empathy, perspective-taking, and social problem-solving through relatable scenarios. Kids learn to decode both text and facial expressions. The repetitive structure builds reading confidence. Scholastic recommends for grades K-2. These books genuinely help kids become readers while teaching friendship skills.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Mo Willems is a genius at capturing real friendship dynamics—one friend worries, one doesn't, and they balance each other perfectly
Designed specifically for beginning readers with simple text, expressive illustrations, and speech bubbles that beg to be performed out loud
Won multiple Geisel Awards (the Caldecott of early readers) because these books actually work—kids go from struggling to confident
Teaches emotional intelligence and social skills without a hint of didacticism—just two friends navigating ice cream dilemmas and trumpet concerts
The box set with bookends is a genuinely perfect gift that will get used for years, not shoved in a closet

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What to Watch For

These are EARLY reader books—if your kid is already reading chapter books, they'll blow through these in an afternoon (though they might still enjoy the humor)
The simplicity is the point, but some parents expect more complex plots for the price of a 25-book set
Kids often want to read these over and over and over, so prepare for 'Can I Play Too?' on infinite repeat

Conversation Starters

"Gerald worries a lot and Piggie doesn't worry much. Which one are you more like? Do you have a friend who's different from you like that?"
"In 'Should I Share My Ice Cream?' Gerald has a whole internal debate. What do you think about when you're deciding whether to share something special?"
"Piggie tries lots of things that seem impossible, like flying. What's something you want to try even if it seems hard?"
"These two are really different but they're best friends. What makes someone a good friend even if they're not exactly like you?"

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Elephant and Piggie