Mo Willems The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! is a wildly fun picture book that kids (and adults) can’t put down. If you’ve met Willems’ famous Pigeon before, you already know how stubborn—and funny—he can be. This time, he’s fixated on one thing: getting a puppy. His over-the-top campaign to prove he’d be the best pet owner involves everything from shaky logic to emotional begging. Spoiler: His idea of “care” includes dramatic scenarios like riding the puppy like a horse. Good luck with that, Pigeon.

Willems’ genius lies in how he packs so much humor into such simple lines and stick-figure art. The Pigeon’s huge, wobbly eyeballs and flailing wings make his tantrums unreal funny—perfect for read-aloud laughs. Teachers love using this for persuasive writing lessons (“Kids, please don’t bribe with snacks like Pigeon does…”). Parents swear by it for tricky talks about responsibility (cough “Pigeon definitely isn’t ready for a dog…”).

Like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, this story turns the reader into the straight-man. Kids eat up the power of saying “no” to Pigeon’s craziness. Pro tip: Check the copyright page for a secret subplot with the Duckling—another Willems Easter egg for super fans. For more knee-slapping animal antics, pair this with Knuffle Bunny (Willems’ bittersweet dad-and-daughter tale) or Doreen Cronin’s Click, Clack, Moo for farmyard laughs.