Piggie is in proud possession of a loud, shiny trumpet, which she can't wait to play for Gerald. PreS-Gr 2 Gerald and Piggie are back in another easy reader that manages to touch on the complex issues of communication, honesty among friends, and shared experiences. The consistency of the color-coded sound bubbles and the clear depiction of emotional states, conveyed through comic exaggeration of the deceptively simple figure drawings, will help even the newest readers track the narrative line as they practice their emergent literacy skills. The punchline strikes a beautiful note even if Piggie doesn't, as Willems manages yet again to pull off the perfect dual audience move: Gerald's adult-like misunderstanding of Piggie's intentions and the revelation of Piggie's actual motive will ring true to youngsters and will elicit surprised and delighted eeps from older reading partners at the unaffected sweetness of childlike empathy and friendship. Gerald's attempts to be supportive without hurting his friend's feelings teach an important emotional lesson as well, as he flounders to be encouraging and honest at the same time he lauds Piggie's efforts as enthusiastic but has to acknowledge that they are not musically pleasing. The bleats become an obnoxious but subtly ingenious phonics lesson, as her instrument emits variations of consonant blends that combine with easily pronounceable endings to form nonsense words that lack meaning but nonetheless show how words work.

In Listen to My Trumpet! Piggie can't wait to play her new instrument for Gerald! But is she ready to listen to his reaction?įans of the obstreperous Piggie will know that she certainly doesn't need an instrument to trumpet her affections for the less demonstrative Gerald, but grab one she does, commanding the elephant to sit on a comically diminutive three-legged stool while she attempts to coax notes out of her shiny new trumpet. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. About the Book When Piggie plays her new trumpet for Gerald, the elephant decides he must be honest in his response.īook Synopsis Gerald is careful.

I will take a nap by mo willems