Holly Winget reads “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” to her AP Literature class.
The pigeon flies into AP Lit
WARNING: SATIRE "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" has been selected by Holly Winget as the newest piece of curriculum in the AP Literature class.
Practically everyone has heard of the award-winning children’s book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” by Mo Willems, but many people don’t realize how immensely popular it has become with the older generations. In fact, the book is gaining so much recognition that many English teachers have started using it as an example for their students. Because of this, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” has been approved for the AP Literature class here at Cannon Falls High School.
Through clever dialogue and cartoonish pictures, the book depicts a relatable pigeon trying to live out his dreams of driving a bus. Readers are forced to supervise the pigeon by an awful bus driver who can’t even be bothered to watch over his own vehicle. Shunned and tossed aside by the mean driver, the pigeon goes through a mental breakdown after not being allowed to drive the bus. Students have been analyzing “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” in class, and there have been differing opinions on how the pigeon reacted. For the pigeon lovers across the school, the ending was a big disappointment. They believe that the heroic pigeon deserves a chance at finding true happiness through his love of bus driving. Other less important people say that the pigeon acted like a child throwing a tantrum after not getting what he wanted. These different views just prove that “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” is a much more complex and intricate story rather than being another dull children’s book.
Ever since the students at CFHS started reading “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” in their AP Lit classes, everyone’s grades have gone up significantly. Test scores have increased and the students overall are much more intelligent than they were before. Studies have actually shown that 98.57% of people who read “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” in high school ended up with happier lives than those who didn’t. The book has really been a great addition to the curriculum. In addition to being smarter and happier, students have also learned some very valuable life lessons. Throughout the whole story, the pigeon never once gives up in his attempt to drive the bus. This teaches students that they should fight for what they want even if it’s as unrealistic as a pigeon driving a bus.