My Friend is Sad

Book title _____My Friend is Sad __________

Author, Illustrator _________Mo Willems___________________

Publisher, Year ___Hyperion Books for Children, 2007_________

Bibliography

Willems, M. (2007). My friend is sad: an Elephant & Piggie book. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Plot summary

In this adventure, Piggie notices that their friend, Gerald the Elephant is sad. Piggie does all they can to cheer up their friend. Piggie dressed up as a cowboy, a clown, and a robot. None of these seems to cheer up Gerald. It isn’t until Gerald sees Piggie is when he cheers up. Gerald tells Piggie all the amazing things they saw and wished that Piggie was there to see them with him. Piggie tells Gerald that he is here now and the two enjoy each other’s company.

Critical Analysis

This story is one of the many adventures of an elephant named Gerald and Piggie. Though the story is under sixty pages, the characters can express themselves with little dialogue and through actions. This can be seen as Gerald tells his friend all the amazing things he saw and reenacts them. When Gerald is excited, the words are capitalized so the audience can have another way to understand that Gerald is excited besides through the illustration. Just by their interactions illustrated in the book, it is shown that Piggie will do whatever they can to make their friend happy. Piggie is very active and animated while Gerlad is not. Gerald is shown to be more sad and worried until his friend is there. Even in the back of the book where it talks more about the two and other books about them, it describes that these two are opposite of one another but are best friends. This is an important message to inform children, that it is okay to have friends that are different than you. Gerald is a large, grey, elephant with glasses who is gloomy in this book. While Piggie is a small, pink, pig with bountiful energy. Though they may be different, their differences are what make their friendship work.

What is most impactful about this book is the message about having someone to be a friend means a lot to someone, especially when it comes to sharing an adventure with rather alone. As shown in the book, there were so many things happening to Gerald, but what he wanted was his friend to be there to share them with. What great about this is the story could happen anywhere. The author does not specify where this is being taken place nor when. This can allow the intended audience to relate more easily to the characters.

Awards & Recognitions

2008 Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended (Up to Seven)

2008 Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award - Winner (Beginning Fiction)