Cookie Monster II, or Make Mine Without Nuts: The Duckling Gets A Cookie by Mo Willems

I DO NOT LIKE THE LOOKS OF THAT TITLE.

The voice is irrefutably that of the irascible and opinionated Pigeon, who would be the star of his own show wherever and whatever that means!

When the terminally cute little Duckling ask politely for a cookie (with a Scooty, scoot, scoot), he gets it right away from an unidentified hand.

OH. LOOK AT ALL THOSE NUTS.

But before the darling little duckling gets to take even an exploratory nibble, Pigeon appears, as usual in an imperious and fowl mood. Pigeon is incensed that Duckling got a cookie--and he didn't.

SOMETIMES I ASK TO DRIVE THE BUS. I'VE ASKED FOR A HOT DOG! I CAN'T COUNT THE TIMES I'VE ASKED FOR MY OWN PERSONAL ICEBERG....

BUT DO I GET WHAT I ASK FOR?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

But Duckling knows what he's doing. With an calculating look in his little baby blues, he innocently hands over the cookie to Pigeon, still in full fit and meltdown mode, gently pointing out that he only asked (politely) for that cookie (with NUTS) for ONE reason:

...SO I COULD GIVE IT TO YOU.

Pigeon is totally featherblasted with this outcome. His tantrum aborted in full rant, he regains his composure, thanks Duckling politely, and exits page right, with a satisfied Chomp!

Duckling has his own reasons, something up his little yellow wing feathers, so to speak, as he ever so politely asks for another cookie.

BUT THIS TIME WITHOUT NUTS.

This guy is a genius! Mo Willems' just published The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (Pigeon) (Hyperion, 2012) further demonstrates his mastery of the picture book medium. Willems can portray more human nature with one wry eyelid than some artists can put into an heroic-scale oil painting. Simple line and simple text belie the artistry in Willems' work, which defies description. Just click and buy the book, okay? You'll see!

For more laughs, catch "Rock Dove" on News at Eleven for more pigeon poop scoop on this book here.