The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! is a children's book written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Published by Hyperion Books for Children in 2019, it is about a pigeon who must go to school, but frets about math, learning the alphabet, heavy backpacks, and what the teacher and other birds would think of him.^[1]

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!

Author	Mo Willems
Cover artist	Willems
Language	English
Genre	Children's book
Published	July 2, 2019
Publisher	Hyperion Books for Children
Publication place	United States
Pages	40
ISBN	9781368046459
Preceded by	The Pigeon Needs a Bath!
Followed by	The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!

Reception

Kirkus Book Reviews wrote: "All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems’ hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon."^[2] and "Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way."^[2]

Film adaptation

An animated short film based on the book was released in 2019 (the same year the book was released)^[3] by Weston Woods Studios, with narration by Willems and the additional voices of students from Side by Side School in Norwalk, CT. The film runs for 8 minutes and 20 seconds. It was directed by Pete List.^[4]