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There's no doubt that Mo Willems has taken the world of children's literature by storm. Starting out in animation for
Sesame Street, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, a yearly sketchbook (more about this topic at MotherReader)
propelled Mo into the high stakes, action-packed world of kids' books. That first book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive
the Bus!, received an Caldecott Honor award. The next year Mo won another Caldecott Honor award for Knuffle Bunny,
a book featuring his Brooklyn neighborhood and his daughter. Since then, the books have kept flowing, with a new easy
reader series the latest addition. The man is smart, funny, and the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. With his new blog,
Mo Willems Doodles,
he's come over to the dark side, and I asked him a few questions for The Edge of
the Forest.
The Edge of the Forest: Why did you start your blog?
Mo Willems: That is a question I ask myself every morning before posting...
I suppose it's an extension of my Sketchbooks; an opportunity to throw artistic spaghetti on the wall and see what sticks.
Then again, it might just be a product of my enlarged ego.[1]
The Edge of the Forest: Do you read children's literature and if so, whose books have you been
reading lately?
Mo Willems: I like anything that's written and illustrated with a personal vision and a respect for its audience.
The Edge of the Forest: Where is your special place to write, draw, and think of new ideas?
(This is my 10 yr old's question for you.)
Mo Willems: I'm not picky, I'll yank an idea from anywhere at any time and squish it into one of my notebooks.
But, the trick of keeping that idea alive and nursing it to strength takes place in my Brooklyn studio.[2]
The Edge of the Forest: You've mentioned that your wife wrote arguably the funniest line in Knuffle Bunny,
"She went boneless." In what ways does your wife contribute to your work?
Mo Willems: My wife is funnier, more insightful, and looks better in high heels than I do. In addition to being a
sounding board for my books, she serves as CFO of The Mo Willems Studio, Inc.
Basically, our marital responsibilities have devolved into two distinct categories: I am occasionally funny and she does
everything else.
This is more stressful for me than you might think; if I am not slightly humorous by Wednesday, I may have to cook dinner
and no one (NO ONE!) wants that...
The Edge of the Forest: Since you seem to be invincible, what's your Kryptonite?
Mo Willems: Oh, I'm quite vincible. In fact, I was vinced just the other day, and it still stings.
If I can owe my professional success to anything it is that I'm extra-ordinarily lucky and quite ordinarily flawed.
If I were invincible, my stuff would only resonate with 'super people.'
The Edge of the Forest: Which part of your job do you like the most? Anything you hate?
Mo Willems: I treasure both the initial doodling and writing that comes with a new idea and the rendering of final
art after the story has coalesced.
Y'know, when I had my television show[3], I worked like mad writing, directing, doing voices, designing characters, dealing
with the Network, doing press, traveling, coping with my crew's eccentricities and police troubles, and fulfilling my
obligations at Sesame Street. When it was over, I realized that I'd forgotten to have any fun. [4]
Picture Books are a second chance[5] for me. So, while I occasionally yearn to spend my life squirreled away in my studio,
drawing while ignoring the travel, speeches, and business; I know that is impractical.
I simply have to have as much fun as possible no matter what I'm doing.
The Edge of the Forest: You are an engaging speaker. I'd attribute some of your success in this area to your work as
a stand-up comedian and your faith in your message. Do you have any advice for other authors facing speaking engagements?
Mo Willems: Well, firstly, I grimace at the idea of having a "message." And after—firstly, while I strongly believe
what I say[6], I hope I don't have anything to prove. I just try to be honest and trust
in my audience's sense of decency
and humor. [7]
Speaking to large groups is just like speaking to my mother, except that the large groups usually listen to me.[8]
The Edge of the Forest: How is the Pigeon handling being passed over for the beginning reader series?
He's pissed, isn't he?
Mo Willems: You want to make the Pigeon happy? Let him drive a bus. Otherwise, he'll gripe no matter what
you do...
The Edge of the Forest: This past year has been a great one in your career. You published two picture books—Don't
Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late! and Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct—along with your
cartoon travel diary from 1990, You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons. You created the video for
Knuffle Bunny along with your wife and daughter and then won the Carnegie Medal for it. You penned the first two
books of your easy reader series, and if rumors are correct, you discovered the cure for cancer. My God man, what's next?
Mo Willems: The coolest thing is that, besides a few projects already in the pipeline, I have no idea. I can only
hope that whatever's next will stick to my guiding principle: Always think of your audience, never think for your
audience.
Notes
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[1] I've seen a doctor about it. She thinks they may need to operate.
[2] When I first set up my current studio 5 years ago, it was so nice I worried that I'd never be able to get any work done in it. I've found that my general mismanagement and appalling disorganization has dispelled any concerns I might have had on that front.
[3] Sheep in the Big City
[4] Yay fun.
[5] Second? More like 93rd...
[6] Otherwise I wouldn't say it.
[7] And if they're humorlessly indecent, well, it's still better than stand-up in Jersey.
[8] Seriously.
______________________________________________
Mo Willems's Books for Young Readers
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Walker Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN: 1-8442-8013-6.
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!. Hyperion, 2006. ISBN: 0-7868-3746-2.
Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct. Hyperion, 2006. ISBN: 0-7868-3748-9.
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Hyperion, 2004. ISBN: 0-7868-1870-0.
My Friend is Sad: An Elephant and Piggie Book (Forthcoming Early Reader). Hyperion, 2007.
ISBN: 1-4231-0297-5.
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! Hyperion, 2004. ISBN: 0-7868-1869-7.
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! (Board Book). Hyperion, 2005. ISBN: 0-7868-3650-4.
The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! (Board Book). Hyperion, 2006. ISBN: 0-7868-3651-2.
Time to Pee! Walker Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN: 1-8442-8012-8.
Today I Will Fly: An Elephant and Piggie Book (Forthcoming Early Reader). Hyperion, 2007.
ISBN: 1-4231-0295-9
You Can Never Find a Ricshaw When it Monsoons: The World on One Cartoon a Day. Hyperion, 2006.
ISBN: 0-7868-3747-0.
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