ARE YOU READY TO PLAY OUTSIDE? by Mo Willems

1. Bibliography
Willlems, Mo. 2008. ARE YOU READY TO PLAY OUTSIDE? New York: Hyperion Books. ISBN 9781423113478

2. Plot Summary
The two characters (Piggie and Gerald) plan to play outside, but it begins to rain.  Piggie gets upset because it is raining.  He notices some earth worms that are enjoying the rain.  After he throws a fit, hr finally decides he likes the rain and then the rain stops.  Piggie gets upset again because he wants to play in the rain.  So to make Piggie happy, Gerald sprays water from his trunk to portray rain.

3.  Critical Analysis
The illustrations of this fictional story are line based and simple enough that children can recreate a drawing for a story connection.  The pictures help to tell the story.  The white spaces help the children to focus on the character and do not have distractions due to unnecessary pictures.

The book is very simple for small children to understand.  Each child has experienced rain and not being able to play in the rain.  This helps to create a connection to all children who have experienced not being able to play outside during the rain.

The story also mentions earth worms and show that they come out during the rain.  Gerald's character shows compassion by feeling sorry for Piggie.  Gerald holds his ear up over Piggie to protect him from the rain.  This shows the children what a good friend would do.

4. Review Excerpts
~Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, 2009
~Starred review in BOOKLIST: "Accessible, appealing, and full of authentic emotions about what makes friendships tick, these titles will put a contemporary shine on easy reader collections."
~Starred review in THE BULLETIN: "These books will easily take their place alongside Seuss and Eastman as classics in the beginning-reader genre."

5.  Connections
~After reading the story to children, they mentioned that they liked the story and to play in the rain also.
~Activities could be brainstorming things to do in the rain, making a timeline of the story, and researching earth worms and what they do when it rains.
~We could also discuss why parents do not always let their children play in the rain.  We could focus on thunderstorms, temperature, and other possible dangers.

Other Works by Mo Willems include:
~CAN I PLAY, TOO? 
~ELEPHANTS CAN NOT DANCE!
~HAPPY PIG DAY!