Mo Willems

Mo Willems
Mo Willems

Mo Willems (born February 11, 1968) is an American writer, animator, and children's books author/illustrator.

Contents

Early life

Willems was raised in New Orleans, graduated from Trinity Episcopal School, and attended the Isidore Newman School. He graduated cum laude[1] from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He married Cheryl Camp in Brooklyn, New York, in 1997.[1] Willems now resides with his family in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Career

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.[2]

Returning to New York, he kicked off his career as a writer and animator for Sesame Street, where he earned six Emmy Awards for writing during his tenure from 1993 to January 2002.[3] 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's Kablam, and Sheep in the Big City for Cartoon Network.[4] 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,[4] 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"[5] — and to his pigeon character as "one of this decade's contributions to the pantheon of great picture book characters."[6]

Three of Willems' books have been awarded a Caldecott Honor: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2004), Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (2005), and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity (2008).[7] Recently he has been creating the Elephant and Piggie books, an early reader series about a friendly elephant and pig. Elephant and Piggie won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009, and a Geisel Honor in 2011.[8] In 2010, Willems introduced a new series of books featuring Cat the Cat, also aimed at early readers.[9]

He has made several appearances on NPR's All Things Considered as the show's "radio cartoonist" since 2008.[10]

Willems' books have been translated into a number of languages, spawned animated shorts that have twice been awarded the Carnegie Medal (Knuffle Bunny, 2007,[11] and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, 2010[12]), and been developed into theatrical musical productions. His illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.[13]

Bibliography

Mo Willems, 2011

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

As author

  • Pigeon series
  • Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale — Caldecott Honor 2005
  • Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity — Caldecott Honor 2008
  • Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion
  • Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct
  • Leonardo, the Terrible Monster
  • Time to Pee!
  • Time to Say "Please"! — a book about manners (2005, Hyperion Books)
  • You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons — a compilation of cartoons Willems drew while taking a year-long backpacking trip around the world (2006, Hyperion Books)
  • Elephant and Piggie series
    • Today I Will Fly!
    • My Friend is Sad
    • There is Bird on Your Head!
    • I Am Invited to a Party!
    • I Will Surprise my Friend!
    • I Love My New Toy!
    • Are You Ready to Play Outside?
    • Watch Me Throw the Ball!
    • Pigs Make Me Sneeze!
    • Elephants Cannot Dance!
    • I Am Going!
    • Can I Play Too?
    • We Are In a Book!
    • I Broke My Trunk!
    • Should I Share My Ice Cream?
  • Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
  • Big Frog Can't Fit In: A pop-up book
  • Cat the Cat series
    • Cat the Cat, Who Is That?
    • Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly
    • What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound?
    • Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep!
  • City Dog, Country Frog (2010, Hyperion Books)

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? Thanks and Giving All Year Long Everyman for Himself Bizarro World Rush Hour: Reckless Guys Write for Guys Read

As animator

References

  1. ^ a b "New York Times: Weddings: Mo Willems and Cheryl Camp". The New York Times, Style Section. 1997-09-28. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/style/weddings-mo-willems-and-cheryl-camp.html. 
  2. ^ Pigeon Presents: You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons
  3. ^ Mo Willems' biography
  4. ^ a b Mo Willems at the Internet Movie Database
  5. ^ Garner, Dwight (2005-05-15). "New York Times Book Review: Inside the List". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/books/review/15TBR.html. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  6. ^ Handy, Bruce (2006-11-12). "New York Times Book Review: Churlish Critters". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/books/review/Handy.t.html. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  7. ^ American Library Association: Caldecott Medal and Honor Books
  8. ^ (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award: Past Winners
  9. ^ "A Conversation With Mo Willems". School Library Journal. 2009-11-18. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699633.html. 
  10. ^ National Public Radio (NPR): Stories featuring Mo Williams
  11. ^ Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video: Past Winners
  12. ^ Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video: Current Winner, 2010
  13. ^ National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature: Mo Willems

External links


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  • Willems — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Diane Willems (* 1985), deutsch belgische Schauspielerin Emilio Willems (1905–1997), deutsch amerikanischer Soziologe und Ethnologe Florent Willems (1823–1921), belgischer Maler Frederik Willems (* 1979),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Willems — is a surname, and may refer to:* Colton Willems (b. 1988), a golf player * Dirk Willems (d. 1569), an anabaptist martyr * Florent Joseph Marie Willems (1823 1905), a Belgian painter * Jan Frans Willems (1793 1846), a Flemish writer * Ko Willems… …   Wikipedia

  • Willems — Willems …   Wikipedia Español

  • Willems, Nord — Willems is a town and commune in the Nord département , in northern France …   Wikipedia

  • Willems — Willems, Jean François, geb. 11. März 1793 in Bouchout bei Antwerpen, betheiligte sich an dem poetischen Vereine in Lier u. stand seit 1809 bei einem Notar in Antwerpen. Er beschäftigte sich hier fortwährend mit der Poesie in Vlämischer Sprache u …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Willems — Willems, 1) Jan Frans, fläm. Philolog, Geschichtsforscher und Dichter, der »Vater der Vlamingen« genannt, geb. 11. März 1793 in Bouchout unweit Antwerpen, gest. 24. Juni 1846 in Gent, ward früh schon durch die Rederijkerkammer in Lier zum Dichten …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Willems — Willems, Jan Frans, fläm. Philolog, Geschichtsforscher und Dichter, geb. 11. März 1793 zu Bouchout bei Antwerpen, gest. 24. Juni 1846 zu Gent, ein Hauptführer der national fläm. Bewegung …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Willems — Jean François, geb. 1793 zu Bouchout in der Provinz Antwerpen, gest. 1846 als Beamter in Gent, war die Seele der Bewegung in Belgien zu Gunsten des vlämischen Elements und hochverdienter Mitarbeiter am »Belgisch Museum«, Herausgeber des »Reineke… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Willems, Pierre — • Philologist (1840 1898) Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Willems — Willems, Williams Formes flamande et anglaise correspondant au nom de personne Guillaume, d origine germanique (will = volonté + helm = casque) …   Noms de famille

  • Willems —  Pour l’article homonyme, voir Willems (homonymie).  50° 37′ 58″ N 3° 14′ 21″ E …   Wikipédia en Français

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