In honor of school starting and our recent Bus Tours this summer we wanted to feature Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Has your child discovered the character Pigeon by Mo Willems yet?

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon Books.

We’re excited to welcome you to the Virtual Book Club for Kids featuring Mo Willems!

Each Virtual Book Club for Kids Co-Host will be sharing their own Mo Willems inspired post today!  That’s 16+ Activities to go with his books!

Water Color with Pigeon and the Bus

To start our Mo Willems fun we first drew the bus inspired by Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. Then we printed out coloring pages provided for free on the Mo’s website. Then it was time to paint!  

Using crayons or markers would work too but sometimes it’s that little extra element that makes a project seem special to a child. Once it was dry it make the perfect backdrop for our ABC Game!

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Letter Activity

Finding a match is a fun way to being to learn letters and letter sounds with a child. Use some images to discover which letter starts with that letter. We gather a few sets of letters as most usually have just one of each letters.

You could also very easily print out on paper or on your computer different types and colors of letters to add variety to the sorting game for kids.

Ask your child What Letter can get on this Bus?

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Create Your Own Name Bus 

We used some special letters to practice forming the letters in my daughter’s name, spouse, siblings. Another way we will use it soon it to from Word Families. Words that rhyme like -at -an -op -it will be a fun place to start to learn to read and rhyme. You could make word cards to for your child to copy onto the bus.

Ask your child What letters belong in your name?

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Create Your Own Family Bus

Who’s in your family? Create a special bus for Pigeon to drive with your family inside of it! My 3-year-old had fun using watercolors to paint our hand-drawn bus and including our family members inside too!

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Mo Willems Printables

We printed out a Pigeon from one of Mo Willem’s Websites Pigeon Presents! There are a bunch of resources on the Grown Up’s Section. While you’re there check out the Bus Facts Page. We hand-drew the bus to use for this project.

Here are a few more fun ways to learn to draw with Mo Willems.  

Here’s a quick video of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”

Check out this Knuffle Bunny Costume Idea for Kids

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Printables, Activities and Crafts!

• Handprint Pigeon 
• Paint Chip School Bus 
• Pigeon on a Bus Snack
• Bus Craft 
• Letter B for Bus 
• Pigeon Activity Guide from Mo Willems 
• Pigeon Needs a Bath Activity Ideas and Video
• 50+ Mo Willems Activities  
• Check out Mo’s Interview on the Today Show  and why he feels our kids need to be doodling! 

How to Join the Virtual Book Club for Kids 

We’d love to see the Mo Willems inspired activities that you do with your child or class!   Come share your activity Idea and photos on our VBC Facebook Page or in the Comment Section.

Mo Willems Activities from the Virtual Book Club for Kids Co-Hosts

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Activities 

• Cardboard Box Bus Craft & Number Game for Kids by Toddler Approved
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Activity by Coffee Cups and Crayons 
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: Puppets, Crafts and Storytelling by Playing with Words 365
• Letter B is for Bus Craft by Royal Baloo
• Pigeon Rhyming Race Activity by Growing Book by Book 
• Pigeon Handprint by Mama Miss 

Knuffle Bunny Activities 

• Mo Willems Inspired DIY Bunny Costume Felt Headband by The Educators’ Spin On It 
• Knuffle Bunny Activity Mats by ready-set-read 

The Duckling Gets a Cookie Activities 

• Counting Chocolate Chips – Duckling Get a Cookie by 3 Dinosaurs
• Nut Free Alphabet Cookies by Rainy Day Mum
• Sticky Cookie Craft by The Pleasantest Thing
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie Math Games by Inspiration Laboratories
• The Ducking Gets a Cookie Printable Clothespin Activity by Lalymom 

September Featured Author: Mo Willems

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
• Knuffle Bunny
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie

You’ll find even more ideas shared for Books and Activities by following along!

Leave a comment below for us if you’re joining the Virtual Book Club for Kids!

You may also enjoy these activities…

affiliate links included in this article

DIY Bunny Costume with Felt

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Williams is a delightful tale of a little girl and her father on their walk to do laundry. A missing bunny creates tears the whole way home.  Mama knows what’s wrong and Daddy heads back to the laundry mat to retrieve a wet Knuffle Bunny. Trixie squeals with glee when her beloved bunny returns, “Knuffle Bunny!”

Meet the author Mo Williams in this short video by Harper Collins. Find out where he learned to write children’s books, what important topics he likes to write about, and more!

The following activity, DIY Bunny Costume Headband is a great way to tie literacy and life skills together into an at home project for grade school children. I supervise all sewing projects and help thread needles, otherwise, my 8 year old and 4 year old sew independently. Adults could of course make one as well.

Make A Knuffle Bunny Inspired Costume Headband

Supplies Needed:

• Light green, black, and white felt
• Needle
• Thread
• Ruler
• Scissors

Directions to Make the Bunny Costume Felt Headband:

1. Cut a green felt rectangle 23 inches by 3 inches. This will fit most children’s heads.

2. Cut 2 green ears, 2 small white circles, 2 tiny black circles for the pupils, 6 teeny tiny pictures for the whisker / freckles (not pictured below)

3. Assemble the pieces in their places.  Glue or pin in place.

4. Using a straight stitch, sew the pieces together.  Switch thread colors as needed.  Match like colors if possible.

5. Try the headband on. Pin closed where it would make the best fit for your child.  Using a straight stitch, attach

Story Extensions for Knuffle Bunny

Story Retelling

Now that you have made a Knuffle Bunny Headband, the kids can re-enact the story.  One child (or you) can be Trixie, the little girl who lost her bunny at the laundromat. The other child can be Knuffle Bunny.  It’s ok if your Knuffle Bunny speaks. Think about what his voice would sound like and what things he would say.

Let your children explore their creativity in the story retelling activity.

• “Where are you TRIXIE?”
• “There is tooo much water in here. GLUG.”
• “YEAH! Thank you Daddy for finding me.”
• “I LOVE YOU TRIXIE!”

What Would YOU Do?

In this activity children will be asked to think about positive ways to communicate when they are upset. In Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

 Trixie gets upset because the grown – ups do not understand her. Communication is so very important with our family members.  Have the children make a list of things they could do if they lost their special toy; ask with their words, draw a picture, point to the place where you usually keep it, use hand signs, and show a sad face. This is a great time to remind them of the classic saying, “You get more bees with honey!”

Make sure to buy (or check out from the library) your copy of Knuffle Bunny and some of Mo Willems other kid-favorite books:

You may also enjoy these activities with your child…

Stop by here to find out how to make an owl costume headband AND DIY Duckling Costume Headband!!!!

Check out Kim’s Pigeon and Bus Inspired Activities 

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Duckling Costume Felt Headband

The Duckling Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems is a picture book for the young reader about Ducking, his friend Pigeon, and a nut cookie. Duckling is the model for politeness, whereas Pigeon lists all the things he has asked for, but never received.  It ends with a gesture of friendship – sharing.  And another polite request for another cookie (without nuts!).

The following activity, DIY Ducking Costume Headbandis a great way to tie literacy and life skills together into an at home project for grade school children. It is a great addition to a dress up bin or even a Halloween costume for children.

I do supervise all sewing projects and help thread needles, otherwise, my 8 year old and 4 year old sew independently. Adults could of course make one as well.

Supplies Needed:

• Yellow, black, grey or light blue and white felt
• Needle
• Thread
• Ruler
• Scissors

Direction to Make the Duckling Costume Felt Headband

1. Cut a green felt rectangle 23 inches by 3 inches. This will fit most children’s heads.

2. Cut 2 white circles around 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Set these circles on top of the black felt and cut 2 black circles slightly bigger in size.  2 grey or light blue ovals for the pupils.  1 beak shape.

3. Assemble the pieces in their places. Glue or pin in place. Set the eyes wider apart than you think.  They will look ok when they are wrapped around a head and not laying flat like pictured.

4. Using a straight stitch, sew the pieces together.  Switch thread colors as needed.  Match like colors if possible.

5. Try the headband on. Pin closed where it would make the best fit for your child. Using a straight stitch, attach.

Story Extensions for The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!

Story Retelling

Now that you have made a Duckling Headband, the kids can re-enact the story. Think about what his voice would sound like and what things he would say. Let your children explore their creativity in the story retelling activity.

Some great phrases from the book:

“May I have a cookie please?”

“Oh, THANKS!”

“So I could give it to you!”

Make your OWN story

Use the character and create your OWN story. Have them act it out in a performance for the family!

Talk about using Manors

Practice using please and thank you.

Discuss what it means to ask politely for something.

Make sure to buy (or check out from the library) your copy of Knuffle Bunny and some of Mo Willems other kid-favorite books:

Are you a Mo Willems fan? Have you read Cat the Cat yet? These are for young readers. Find out more about these books and Mo Willems in this video.

Did you miss the Mo Willems inspired bunny costume headband?

Or here to find out how to make an owl costume headband

Let’s let our kids READ – MAKE – and PLAY!!!!

This game is ideal for a toddler activity, preschool activity, and even Kindergarten activity.  

Here’s how to play…

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Dinosaur Shapes Game

Materials 

• Playdough
• Cardstock Paper 
• Contact Paper or Laminator  
• Markers or Crayons
• plastic knife
• rolling pin 

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems 

Directions

1. Read the story Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. Discuss the story and the characters in the story.  Now it’s dinosaur time!

2. Draw a dinosaur onto a piece of Cardstock Paper or construction paper. {Below is a link if you need help} For older kids I would have them draw the dinosaur themselves with some guidance from you. When you draw the dinosaur and the head, neck, body, legs, and tail but do not add any details on the back to allow for the playdough game pieces.

3. Cover the dinosaur with Contact Paper or send it through a Laminator to create a playdough workmat.

4. Get out various colors of Playdough  for the shapes.  Use a plastic knife and plastic rolling pin like in this playdough tool kit  to create the various shapes including circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and diamonds.   This is the time to model for them how to do it and encourage them to work on those fine motor skills.  

We used a different color for each shape to help us for the next part of this game.

For extra fun, you can try this Hatching Dinosaur Craft or this Dinosaur Ice Excavation Sensory Activity!

5. Now that you have many pieces of a shape cut out add them onto the dinosaur to create the back design for ways a dinosaur can protect themselves. Ask your child to practice lining them up all the way down from the head to the tail one by one using those fine motor and counting skills.

6. Switch it up and do a different shape on the dinosaur.

7.  CHALLENGE: For the bigger kids at home challenge them to create a pattern with their shapes on the dinosaur.  

My 5 year old came up with square square  triangle triangle circle for her first pattern… my mind was blown.  I totally thought she’d do the typical AB pattern with square triangle square triangle. My guess is maybe they have been working on patterns recently at preschool, because we haven’t been. She sat and made pattern for quite a long time, I could tell she really enjoyed making the shapes and doing this activity.

We added a dinosaur connect the dots for even more fun!

After this project, your child may enjoy making a paper plate dinosaur or playing this dinosaur shadow matching activity too!

LOVE MO WILLEMS BOOKS?  Check out this post about the Pigeon and the Bus book activities and MORE!

You can sneak in some dinosaur learning with this Dinosaur Counting Mats Free Printable.

You might enjoy these additional Dinosaur Activities plus our Virtual Book Club for Kids Ideas below… 

• Watch a Read Aloud Video of Goldlocks and the Three Dinosaurs
• Watch how to Draw a Dinosaur by Art for Kids Hub
• Explore more Dinosaur Math Games 
• Create your own DIY Dinosaur T-Shirt 

More Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs Activities

• Dinosaur Alphabet Board Game  ::  Mom Inspired Life
• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs Sensory Retelling  ::  Growing Book by Book
• Hot Chocolate and Pudding  ::  Sugar Spice and Glitter
• Dinosaur Ice Egg Preschool Experiment  ::  Preschool Powol Packets
• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs Gross Motor  ::  3 Dinosaurs
• LEGO Norwegian Flag  ::  Mama Miss
• Build a Trap for Dinosaurs  ::  Inspiration Laboratories
• Dinosaur Letters  ::  The Pleasantest Thing
• How Many?  Questions for Dinosaur Math  ::  Rainy Day Mum
• Paper Plate Dinosaur Name Craft :: Toddler Approved

Did you know that Mo Willems has published a new Pigeon book? The adorable little pigeon needs a bath in this new story.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems 

Learning to Tell your Own Story

I’m a big fan of his books and how they encourage our children to tell their own stories. {Click here to find out more about how and about Mo himself}  Here’s a peek in this video at Mo himself drawing a very dirty pigeon and perhaps an author who needs a little bath too!  

Extending the Story Line

You could easily extend this book into many more from your own child with why the Pigeon is dirty and how he finds a way to get clean again. Or even the things he encounters when he’s dirty. Or with his bath.  It’s a a topic that all kids love to talk about.

Pigeon Themed Books by Mo Willems

Pigeon Themed Activities and Gift Ideas for Kids

• Printables for Pigeon Activities 
• Mo Willems Virtual Book Club for Kids with Activity Ideas 
• Mo Willem Movies 
• Mo Willem Books
• Mo Willem Inspired Toys
• Mo Willems Fabric 
• Mo Willems Pinterest Boards 
• Video of Mo Reading The Pigeon Needs a Bath

To Discover more Activities to go with Mo’s Book Visit our Virtual Book Club for Kids

Mo Willems is a popular focus for our Virtual Book Club for Kids!

The fun thing about studying different authors is you get the chance to learn something new about them.

As my daughter and I did a little searching to learn about Mo Willems we discovered all sorts of things about him. Plus he has so many great books that my daughter couldn’t wait to read.

We were surprised to discover that he used to write for Sesame Street where he earned six Emmy Awards for his writing.

Mo Willems is the author of groundbreaking picture books, including

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late!
• The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
• Time to Say “Please”!
• Leonardo, the Terrible Monster
• Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct.
• Elephant & Piggie Books
• Knuffle Bunny
• Big Frog Can’t Fit In, City Dog and Country Frog
• Cat the Cat; Who is That?

Let’s get to know Mo Willems in person!

Mo Willem Videos for Kids

One of my goals for my daughter is to get to know a few authors on a more personal level. 

Here are a quick video of Mo discussing how he gets inspired with his stories.  I think it’s important for young readers and writers to see that writing is a process and it takes time to get inspired and to challenge yourself to create a terrific story. 

We searched to get to know Mo Willems a little bit better as an author.  We found out that his books inspired us to write our own stories.  We’ve been working on writing stories in Kindergarten all year long so I felt this would be a great fit for my daughter to get inspired with her own stories.

“I designed my characters so that they could be easily drawn to create your own story.”

Mo Willems

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.

New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET and then remain online to be streamed afterwards.  Check back each weekday for new LUNCH DOODLES!

Here’s a few fun videos about Mo Willems books

• Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus
• Cat the Cat Explanation
• City Dog, Country Frog

One of the things I like best about his stories is the characters. They are so easy to identify to and also to recreate on your own.  Once I viewed his videos from above I realized that this was his intent all along… to inspire future illustrators and writers.   

Learning how to draw from an illustrator is a great way to learn how to draw. My daughter spent some time learning how to recreate the characters from Mo Willems’ books.

Now that she has mastered illustrations she was ready to create her own versions of some of her favorite Mo Willems inspired characters and stories. Notice the addition of eye lashes to the characters to make them her own, female versions. 

Plus I encourage her to illustrate more so we used a quick tip for writing with smaller children. 

We allowed her to dictate her story to us as we typed them out onto the computer. It’s an instant way of teaching your child what they are saying has meaning and that they can create their own stories. I encourage you to try it with your little ones, they’ll love it! 

Make sure you use a large font for their eyes to be able to follow easily.

Resources for Mo Willems Books
Mo Willems Author’s Site
Teacher’s Resources
Finger Plays
Mo Willems Book Event Kits from GO MO
Go Mo for Games  Activities and Books

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

Here are some of our favorite Mo Willems Books…Which Mo Willems book  is your favorite?

Mo Willem Book Activities

• Counting Chocolate Chips – Duckling Get a Cookie by 3 Dinosaurs
• Nut Free Alphabet Cookies by Rainy Day Mum
• Sticky Cookie Craft by The Pleasantest Thing
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie Math Games by Inspiration Laboratories
• The Ducking Gets a Cookie Printable Clothespin Activity by Lalymom
• Mo Willems Inspired DIY Bunny Costume Felt Headband by The Educators’ Spin On It
• Knuffle Bunny Activity Mats by ready-set-read 
• Cardboard Box Bus Craft & Number Game for Kids by Toddler Approved
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Activity by Coffee Cups and Crayons
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Puppets by Playdough to Playto
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: Puppets, Crafts and Storytelling by Playing with Words 365
• Letter B is for Bus Craft by Royal Baloo
• Pigeon Rhyming Race Activity by Growing Book by Book
• Pigeon Handprint by Mama Miss 
• Duckling Felt Costume Headband for Playtime
• Knuffle Bunny Felt Headband

Resources for Teaching Art to Kids