Should I Share My Ice Cream? (An Elephant and Piggie Book)

Children will delight in this perfect drama for hot weather. Gerald is excited about his “awesome, yummy, sweet, super, great, tasty, nice, cool ice cream” cone. But worry sets in with thoughts of his best friend, Piggie will have to he share his treat with her? As Gerald wrestles with the pros and cons, observant readers will notice that the ice cream is melting fast. By the time he decides in favor of sharing, it has melted into a puddle at his feet, and Gerald realizes that he “blew it.” But timing is everything, and Piggie shows up at that moment with a cone of her own and happily shares it. “Not my plan,” thinks Gerald, but he also realizes that this arrangement is fine. Willems’s simple text allows beginning readers independent success, even though the text and illustrations also work well as a read-aloud. Fans of the series will not wish to miss this offering, and adults can use the simple story to speak about sharing, friendship, and making decisions in a timely manner. Another winner. Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL SLJ”

The endless line of moral dilemmas presented by Willems’ Elephant & Piggie series continues with this ode to the classic conflict between generosity and greed. Wow, is Elephant ever excited about his ice cream cone! (He is so excited his very word balloons are in cone shape.) But will have to he find Piggie and give her some before it all melts? Swift changes in text and image size provide much of the humor, though nothing is funnier than Elephant’s rationalizing: “Sharing a flavor Piggie does not like would be fallacious.” Is it even conceivable to get tired of these books? – Daniel Kraus Booklist”

Mo Willems (www.pigeonpresents.com), a number one New York Times best-selling writer and illustrator, has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions (for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Fallacious Identity). Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! used to be also an inaugural inductee into the Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame. And his celebrated Elephant & Piggie early reader series has been awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal on two occasions (for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outdoor?). Other favorites include Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and City Dog, Country Frog, illustrated by Jon J Muth.

Mo began his career on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards.