The Art and Whimsy of Mo Willems at the New-York Historical Society

Attention Mo Willems fanatics…one of the cutest art exhibits has arrived in New York City and fans of all ages will want to check it out – The Art and Whimsy of Mo Willems at the New-York Historical Society.

One of my daughter’s favorite books as a toddler was Don’t Let The Pigeons Drive The Bus! and in the past six years, we’ve collected at least a dozen other Willems’ titles.  I love how hysterical kids get when these books are read aloud and I also love how engaging these books are for new readers. Willems’ adorable characters, easy to read copy and funny storylines are a win-win for grown ups and kids alike and so is this exhibit.

Running through September 25, the exhibit highlights nearly 100 sketches and final drawings of the famed author’s works (like Knuffle Bunny and Elephant and Piggie) along with background on his career (including his Sesame Street days!), videos and memorabilia ranging from the early days to his 25th and final Elephant and Piggie book, The Thank You Book.

The exhibit includes an audio tour so you can follow along or you can just peruse at your own pace. My daughter listened to a large portion of the audio tour which included jokes and detailed descriptions of the artwork.  In addition to visiting the art displays and gift shop, guests will also want to rest and read at exhibit’s bus display which is stocked with Mo Willems books.

One of the biggest takeaways from the exhibit was learning how Willems created his characters by using shapes and my daughter got to try out Willems’ techniques with a hands-on sketch class. It was so fun watching my daughter and the other students learning how to draw the beloved pigeon. If you’ve got a little artist, I highly recommend attending one of these complimentary sketch classes.

Before you visit, be sure to check out the exhibit’s schedule which includes story times, movies, sketching classes, character meet and greet opportunities and more.

If you haven’t visited the New-York Historical Society before, don’t miss the DiMenna Children’s History Museum on the lower level which features a wide range of interactive activities and a gorgeous reading room.

Are you looking forward to visiting this exhibit? What’s your favorite Mo Willems’ book? Tell me below in the comments.

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