The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
The pigeon's hilarious objections to school are things many children feel but can't quite articulate. It’s a great way to open up a conversation about school-day anxieties through humor.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems is estimated to take about 4.5 minutes to read aloud (240 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-5.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 240Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 3-5Our editorial fit
Our review
The exaggerated, funny fears make it an easy way to talk through a child's own worries about new environments. It allows them to voice their own concerns by laughing at the pigeon's.
It’s a wonderful choice for the preschooler who might be feeling a bit skeptical about their upcoming school routine.
Themes
- school
- worry
- humour
- birds
Books like The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!about 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
The Kissing Handabout 6 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
Wemberly Worriedabout 6.5 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoesabout 5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
School's First Day of Schoolabout 9.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! aloud?
About 4.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 240. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! actually for?
Ages 3-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Pigeon series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! cover?
We tag it with school, worry, humour and birds. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! is on
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- 10 reviewed booksBooks About Anxiety for PreschoolersHelp your child navigate worry with these picture books for ages 3-5. We've noted which books name feelings directly and their read-aloud times.
14 reviewed booksFirst Day of Preschool BooksHelp your child with first day of preschool books about separation, routines, and pickup, with notes for parents of toddlers and preschoolers.