Mo Willems

When Willems was about 3 years of age, he took interest in cartoon artwork, drawing and creating his own characters. Willems enjoyed writing stories about his characters to share with others. However, he was disappointed when adults would praise his work politely, as he wanted feedback on the quality of his stories. To fix this dilemma, Willems wrote comedic stories, following the notion that even polite adults would not fake a laugh. When adults laughed, Willems assumed his story was good, and if the adults only gave polite comments, Willems assumed his story needed improvement.{{Citation |title=Authors, and Artists for Young Adults |url=http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&action=e&catId=GALE%7CQVPTBT566364334&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CK1603001565 |volume=71 |year=2006 |contribution=Mo Willems |place=Detroit |publisher=Biography in Context}}

After graduating from Tisch, Willems spent a year traveling around the world drawing a cartoon every day, all of which have been published in the book You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pigeonpresents.com/book-info.aspx?bid=24 |title=Pigeon Presents: You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons |access-date=January 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504010909/http://pigeonpresents.com/book-info.aspx?bid=24 |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Returning to New York, he started his career as a writer and animator for Sesame Street(nine years), where he earned six Emmy Awards for writing during his tenure from 1993 to January 2002.[http://mowillemsfaq.blogspot.com/2007/10/q-can-you-give-me-your-biography.html Mo Willems' biography] The segments he wrote and animated for the show included a series of short segments featuring the recurring character Susie Kabloozie, and her pet cat, Feff. During this period he also performed stand-up comedy in NYC and recorded essays for BBC Radio along with making a promo for Cartoon Network and animating the opening for a show on Nickelodeon. He later created two animated television series: The Off-Beats for Nickelodeon and Sheep in the Big City for Cartoon Network.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929738/ Mo Willems at the] Internet Movie Database Sheep in the Big City was a success with the critics but ultimately failed to attract sufficient viewership and was canceled after two seasons. Willems later worked as head writer on the first four seasons of Codename: Kids Next Door, created by one of his colleagues from Sheep, Tom Warburton. He left the show to pursue his writing career.

Since 2003, Willems has authored numerous books for young children, many of which have garnered significant critical acclaim. The New York Times Book Review referred to Willems as "the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's"{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/books/review/15TBR.html|work=The New York Times|title=New York Times Book Review: Inside the List|date=May 15, 2005 | first=Dwight | last=Garner | access-date=May 12, 2010}} — and to his pigeon character as "one of this decade's contributions to the pantheon of great picture book characters."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/books/review/Handy.t.html|work=The New York Times|title=New York Times Book Review: Churlish Critters|date = November 12, 2006 | first=Bruce | last=Handy | access-date=May 12, 2010}} He also creates the Elephant and Piggie books, an early reader series about a friendly elephant and pig. In 2010, Willems introduced a new series of books featuring Cat the Cat, also aimed at early readers.{{cite news|url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699633.html|title=A Conversation With Mo Willems|date=November 18, 2009|publisher=School Library Journal}}

Willems' books have been translated into around 25 languages, spawned animated shorts that have twice been awarded the Carnegie Medal (Knuffle Bunny, 2007,[http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/carnegiemedal/carnegiepast/index.cfm Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video: Past Winners] and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, 2010[http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/carnegiemedal/index.cfm Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video: Current Winner, 2010]), and been developed into theatrical musical productions. His illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.[http://www.nccil.org/experience/artists/willemsm/index.htm National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature: Mo Willems] He made several appearances on NPR's All Things Considered as the show's "radio cartoonist" in 2008.[https://www.npr.org/search/index.php?searchinput=mo+willems National Public Radio (NPR): Stories featuring Mo Williams]

In 2019, Willems was named the Kennedy Center's first education artist-in-residence.{{Citation|title=PBS NewsHour {{!}} Children's author Mo Willems on sparking creativity and joy {{!}} Season 2019|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/mo-books-mo-readers-1576620978/|language=en|access-date=March 23, 2020}} In 2020, the Center sponsored a series of virtual lunch doodles with Mo Willems as a way of keeping children entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-quarantine-what-to-watch.html|title=What to Watch, Read and Listen To During Your Coronavirus Self-Quarantine|date=March 23, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 23, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2005, his book Leonardo, the Terrible Monster was named a Time Magazine Best Children's Book; it was also awarded a Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/mowillemsauthorguide/awards-and-honors|title=Awards and Honors – Mo Willems – Author and Illustrator|website=sites.google.com|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

Two animated versions of his books were awarded Carnegie Medals (Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!){{Cite web|url=http://mowillems.weebly.com/awards--honors.html|title=Awards & Honors|website=Mo Willems|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

Elephant & Piggie books won two Theodor Seuss Geisel Medals, for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?, and five Geisel Honors, for We Are in a Book!, I Broke My Trunk!, Let's Go for a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball!, and Waiting Is Not Easy!American Library Association, Association for Library Service to Children: [http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward/geiselawardpastwinners (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award Winners and Honor Books, 2006–Present.] His 2009 I Love My New Toy! earned him a Golden Kite Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scbwi.org/awards/golden-kite-award/125854-2/|title=SCBWI {{!}} Past Golden Kite Recipients|language=en-US|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

The Pigeon Needs a Bath was awarded the Best Picture Book award by Goodreads in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-picture-books-2014|title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Picture Books!|website=Goodreads|access-date=March 23, 2020}} The Thank You Book was awarded the same award by Goodreads in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-picture-books-2016|title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Picture Books!|website=Goodreads|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

Willems won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For A Children's Series six times for his work on Sesame Street between 1995 and 2001.

In 2019, Willems was named the Best of Brooklyn, during the Brooklyn Book Festival.{{Cite news|last=León|first=Concepción de|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/books/brooklyn-book-festival.html|title=Brooklyn Book Festival Names Mo Willems 'Best of Brooklyn'|date=June 19, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 23, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2020, Willems recorded an audio book, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!, for which he was nominated for the Audie Award for Young Listeners.{{Cite book|last=Willems|first=Mo|url=https://sno-isle.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1863118121|title=The pigeon has to go to school!|date=2019|publisher=Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group|isbn=978-1-368-04645-9|location=New York|oclc=1052902462}} The same book had Willems on the NY Times Bestseller list for 11 weeks running.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2019/09/29/picture-books/|title=Children's Picture Books – Best Sellers – Sept. 29, 2019 – The New York Times|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 23, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

He married Cheryl Camp in Brooklyn, New York, in 1997.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/style/weddings-mo-willems-and-cheryl-camp.html|publisher=The New York Times, Style Section|title=New York Times: Weddings: Mo Willems and Cheryl Camp|date=September 28, 1997}} They reside in Northampton, Massachusetts.{{cite web |title=Mo Willems: Northampton – Children's Book Council |url=http://www.cbcbooks.org/cbc_event/mo-willems-northampton/ |website=The Children's Book Council |access-date=June 16, 2021}}

Willems has worked on a number of books on his own, as well as submitting work for other compilations.

• Pigeon series
• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2003) — Caldecott Honor (2004), Charlotte Zolotow Commendation{{cite web |title=Charlotte Zolotow Award Books |url=https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=221 |website=CCBC |publisher=University of Wisconsin – Madison |access-date=October 15, 2018}}
• The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (2004)
• The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! (2005)
• The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! (2005)
• Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! (2006)
• The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (2008)
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (2012) — Irma Black Honor (2013)
• Don't Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book! (2012)
• The Pigeon Needs a Bath! (2014)
• The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! (2019)
• The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! (2022)
• Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon (2023)
• Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! (2023)
• The Pigeon Explains! (2024)
• Will the Pigeon Graduate? (2025)
• Knuffle Bunny series
• Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (2004) — Caldecott Honor (2005), Charlotte Zolotow Honor 2005
• Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity (2007) — Caldecott Honor (2008)
• Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion (2010)
• Knuffle Bunny Across America (2024)
• Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct (2006)
• Leonardo, the Terrible Monster (2005) — Charlotte Zolotow Commendation
• Time to Pee! (2003)
• Time to Say "Please"! (2005)
• You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons (2006)
• Elephant & Piggie series
• Today I Will Fly! (2007)
• My Friend is Sad (2007)
• I Am Invited to a Party! (2007)
• There Is a Bird on Your Head! (2007) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal (2008)
• I Love My New Toy! (2008)
• I Will Surprise My Friend! (2008)
• Are You Ready to Play Outside? (2008) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal (2009)
• Watch Me Throw the Ball! (2009)
• Elephants Cannot Dance! (2009)
• Pigs Make Me Sneeze! (2009)
• I Am Going! (2010)
• Can I Play Too? (2010)
• We Are in a Book! (2010) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2011)
• I Broke My Trunk! (2011) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2012)
• Should I Share My Ice Cream? (2011)
• Happy Pig Day! (2011)
• Listen to My Trumpet! (2012)
• Let's Go for a Drive! (2012) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2013)
• A Big Guy Took My Ball! (2013) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2014)
• I'm a Frog! (2013)
• My New Friend Is So Fun! (2014)
• Waiting Is Not Easy! (2014) — Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (2015)
• I Will Take a Nap! (2015)
• I Really Like Slop! (2015)
• The Thank You Book (2016)
• Elephant and Piggie Presents series (written by other authors)
• We Are Growing! (2016)
• The Cookie Fiasco (2016)
• The Good for Nothing Button (2017)
• It's Shoe Time! (2017)
• The Itchy Book! (2018)
• Harold & Hog Pretend for Real! (2019)
• What About Worms?! (2020)
• I'm On It! (2021)
• It's A Sign! (2022)
• Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (2009)
• Big Frog Can't Fit In: A Pop-Out Book (2009)
• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (2012) — Irma Black Honor (2013){{cite web |url=https://www.bankstreet.edu/center-childrens-literature/irma-black-award/list-winners/ |title=Past Winners (Irma Black Award)|website=www.bankstreet.edu |publisher=Bank Street College of Education |access-date=May 8, 2016}}
• That is NOT a Good Idea! (2013) — Irma Black Medal (2014)
• Don't Pigeonhole Me! (2013)
• Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator! (2011)
• Cat the Cat series
• Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (2010)
• Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly (2010)
• What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound? (2010)
• Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep! (2010)
• City Dog, Country Frog (2010) — Charlotte Zolotow Honor
• The Story of Diva and Flea (2015), illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
• Nanette's Baguette (2016)
• Sam, the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World (2017)
• Welcome (2017)
• A Busy Creature's Day Eating (2018)
• Unlimited Squirrels series
• I Lost My Tooth! (2018)
• Who is the Mystery Reader? (2019)
• I Want to Sleep Under the Stars! (2020)
• Guess What!? (2021)
• The FRUSTRATING Book! (2022)
• Because (2019), illustrated by Amber Ren
• Opposites Abstract (2021)
• Are You Big? (2024)
• Are You Small? (2024)
• Me and Other Bunnies (2025)

• The Man Who Yelled (1990; student film)
• Ira Sleeps Over (animator) (1991)
• A Child's Garden of Verses (layout) (1992)
• Iddy Biddy Beat Boy (director) (1993)
• Cartoon Network "Closedown" (design) (1993)
• Beavis and Butt-Head (layout and design) (1993–1994)
• Sesame Street (various shorts, including Suzie Kabloozie and I'm an Octopus) (1993–1999)
• Another Bad Day for Philip Jenkins (1994)
• Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger (animator) (1995)
• Crazy Owen (promo for Cartoon Network) (1995)
• Nickelodeon "Rhino ID" (design) (1996)
• The Off-Beats (creator) (1996–1998)
• Short Films by Short People (show open) (1997)
• An Off-Beats Valentine's (1999)
• Life (1999; 6-minute short)
• Sheep in the Big City (creator) (2000–2002)
• Codename: Kids Next Door (writer) (2002–2008) (writer)
• LazyTown (writer) (2004)
• Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: Z.E.R.O. (writer) (2006)
• Sit Down, Shut Up (character designer) (2009)
• Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience (2022){{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/29/arts/television/naked-mole-rat-hbo-max.html|title=Naked No More: A TV Rodent Teaches Families About Tolerance|date=June 29, 2022| first=Laurel | last=Graeber |work=The New York Times|access-date=July 10, 2022|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Mo Willems}}

• {{official website }}
• {{IMDb name|id=0929738|name=Mo Willems}}
• {{LCAuth|n2002115023|Mo Willems|58}}
• Mo Willems Papers. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.

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Category:1968 births

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