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Quick answer: If your child loves Elephant & Piggie, try Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Knuffle Bunny, then Frog and Toad Are Friends, Fly Guy and I Want My Hat Back. All are funny, simple books with big expressions and few words.
Mo Willems's Elephant & Piggie books feature two best friends who show big feelings in speech bubbles, making them perfect for beginner readers. They are short, funny and full of heart. The books below offer similar easy readers, silly characters and picture books with giggles.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! | Mo Willems | Ages 3-7 | interactive humour |
| Knuffle Bunny | Mo Willems | Ages 3-7 | lost toy |
| We Are in a Book! | Mo Willems | Ages 4-8 | Elephant & Piggie |
| Waiting Is Not Easy! | Mo Willems | Ages 4-8 | Elephant & Piggie |
| Frog and Toad Are Friends | Arnold Lobel | Ages 4-8 | gentle friendship |
| Fly Guy | Tedd Arnold | Ages 4-8 | silly friendship |
| I Want My Hat Back | Jon Klassen | Ages 3-7 | dry humour |
| Duck! Rabbit! | Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld | Ages 3-7 | optical illusion |
| Press Here | Herve Tullet | Ages 2-6 | interactive book |
| Bink and Gollie | Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee | Ages 5-8 | early chapter book |
| Mercy Watson to the Rescue | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 5-8 | a pig and toast |
| The Cat in the Hat | Dr. Seuss | Ages 3-7 | silly rhyme |
| Green Eggs and Ham | Dr. Seuss | Ages 3-7 | only 50 words |
| Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes | Eric Litwin and James Dean | Ages 2-6 | cool cat |
| Go, Dog. Go! | P. D. Eastman | Ages 3-6 | action words |
1. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
The pigeon begs readers to let him drive. Kids love shouting no.
Best for: interactive humour.
2. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
A toddler loses her beloved bunny. Funny and sweet.
Best for: lost toy.
3. We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
The friends discover they are in a book. Clever and silly.
Best for: Elephant & Piggie.
4. Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
Piggie has a surprise, and Gerald must wait. Funny and relatable.
Best for: Elephant & Piggie.
5. Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Two friends share small adventures. A calm, classic first reader.
Best for: gentle friendship.
6. Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
A boy has a pet fly who can say his name. Funny and short.
Best for: silly friendship.
7. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
A bear searches for his missing hat. Deadpan and surprising.
Best for: dry humour.
8. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
Two voices argue about what they see. Playful and clever.
Best for: optical illusion.
9. Press Here by Herve Tullet
Readers press, shake and tilt the book to change the dots. Fun and imaginative.
Best for: interactive book.
10. Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Two very different friends share small adventures. Short and charming.
Best for: early chapter book.
11. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
A pig loves buttered toast and saves the day. Gentle humour.
Best for: a pig and toast.
12. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
A mischievous cat brings chaos to a rainy day. Bouncy rhymes.
Best for: silly rhyme.
13. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Sam-I-Am tries to get a grump to eat green eggs. Written with just 50 words.
Best for: only 50 words.
14. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean
Pete keeps going whatever happens to his shoes. Sing-along fun.
Best for: cool cat.
15. Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman
Dogs of all kinds go and stop. Fun repeated phrases.
Best for: action words.
How to Choose
For more Willems choose Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! or Knuffle Bunny. For easy readers pick Frog and Toad, Fly Guy or Bink and Gollie. For deadpan humour read I Want My Hat Back. For interactive fun try Press Here or Duck! Rabbit! Elephant & Piggie is built for reading aloud, so these picks suit shared reading. Elephant & Piggie books have won several Theodor Seuss Geisel Awards, which honour the best beginning readers, and children can act out the dialogue with two voices. Reading with a friend or parent makes it extra fun.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elephant & Piggie?
A series of easy readers about two best friends, Gerald the elephant and Piggie.
Who wrote it?
Mo Willems.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 4 to 8.
How many books are there?
Twenty-five.
Are they good for new readers?
Yes, with short words and speech bubbles.
Is the series finished?
Yes, the final book was published in 2016.
Are they good read-alouds?
Yes, two people can read the two parts.
What should we read next?
Try Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! or Frog and Toad.
Which book here is best for Elephant & Piggie?
Try Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems, which suits readers looking for Elephant & Piggie.
Which book here is best for dry humour?
Try I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, which suits readers looking for dry humour.
Which book here is best for early chapter book?
Try Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, which suits readers looking for early chapter book.