Books like I Love My New Toy! — picked by fans

First of all, it’s part of the Piggie and Elephant series, and I think the whole series is wonderful. I am in awe of how Willems can use so few words and still create stories that are funny and poignant. I particularly like this book because Elephant is sad, and no matter what outrageous things Piggie does, Elephant remains sad.

However, what the book shows in the end is that it is Piggie’s friendship that makes the difference. What a great lesson for kids to see that simply being a good friend is an act of great kindness. 

The energy and enthusiasm of this series are so impressive. Mo Willems is a master at page layout and building astounding anticipation in all of his children's books. Elephant & Piggie stories are so perfectly distilled down to the simplest and most enjoyable elements that they are an absolute joy to read with young kids or on your own. 

My family loves to laugh, and we introduce our children to books that build the funny bone. For this reason, I have a copy of every picture book written by the delightful Mo Willems. Hands down, my favorite is Let’s Go for a Drive! Here’s the story: Elephant and Piggie amass the accessories necessary to spend a day tooling around town. We’re talking sunglasses, a map, an umbrella. They are set to go when they realize they don’t have a car. Somehow, the two friends make the best of it. Good news: There are 25 Elephant and Piggie books to enjoy again and again.

This simple, sweet, picture book, like others in the Elephant and Piggy series, deals with different animals who are trying to solve a problem together. I liked the book because it portrays how differences don’t matter when you care about another. To show how differences can be overcome and not be reasons to divide is wonderful, especially when the concept is shown to the very young reader.

My granddaughter also introduced me to Elephant & Piggie. Cautious, plan-ahead Gerald Elephant and free-spirited Piggie are best friends, kind and open about their emotions, but sometimes oblivious. We’ve read the more than two dozen tales in the series, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. The stories are designed for early readers. The text shows in cartoon balloons, with repeated phrases, but it doesn’t have the stilted quality and vocabulary limitations that sometimes bog down easy-to-reads.

Gerald is licking a very yummy ice cream cone when he thinks of Piggie. Should he share it with her? The yumminess makes him want to keep it to himself; but Piggie would love some. He wrestles with his conscience so long that the ice cream melts into a puddle.

I was so touched by this book, which very delicately recounts the story of a little pig named Alice who lives in Paris with her grand-mère. One day her grandmother passes on, and Alice must learn to mend her own broken heart by finding new friendship with someone who lives many miles away.

This gentle and humorous story is a testament to the healing power of friendship, even those that are long-distance.

The grass is not always greener on the other side, especially with these two friends. One wants to travel the world (deserts! mountains! tundra!), while the other wants to stay at home (swimming! baking! ice skating!). Rather than be envious of each other, they share their adventures via postcards and the recipient’s own experience is further deepened. Inspired by this exchange, for many years a friend and I would alternate being “Toot” or “Puddle,” sending postcards to each other about our adventures near and far.

I aspire to be like Charlotte A. Cavatica, the highly intelligent spider and creative artist here. When she weaves the words “Some Pig” into her web to help save her friend Wilbur the pig from slaughter, and the farmer tells his wife, “[W]e have no ordinary pig,” the wife quite rightly corrects him: “It seems to me we have no ordinary spider.” I love Charlotte not only for her extraordinary loyalty as a friend (working all night and sacrificing meals by devoting her web to messages about Wilbur), but for her devotion to words (“terrific” and “radiant” are impressive vocabulary for a spider, and highly suitable adjectives for a pig-rescuing project). 

Above all, I applaud Charlotte’s humility. After tirelessly creating her spun language masterpieces, she backs into a corner of the barn, allowing Wilbur to take the spotlight for her efforts. Even as she succeeds in garnering wide attention… show more.

I mean, not sure how much I need to say about the delight this book has brought to children since 1952. After being asked to read it to a group of first graders recently, I dissolved into tears having to read the scene where Charlotte dies, alone. The students that day thought I was silly. Yeah, as a kid, that didn’t bother me much. As an adult, well.

There’s something in this tale of love, friendship, and courage for all ages. Excellent for read-aloud if you are willing to commit to using different voices and really hamming it up.

A misunderstanding about the intended recipient of a love letter first brings Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel great joy, but then threatens their friendship. In the end, Mouse helps them remember why they love each other. The final illustration even suggests that Mouse is joining their circle, since after all, love is unlimited. The Love Letter struck me first as a writer, because I recognized a unique story premise; and then I realized how much tenderness underlies both the text and the illustration.