Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries
Mo Willems Papers
2008.0032
An Inventory
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries
- Creator
- Willems, Mo.
- Title
- Mo Willems Papers
- ID
- 2008.0032
- Date [inclusive]
- undated, 1965-2007.
- Extent
- 23.5 Linear feet
- Language of Materials
- English
- Abstract
- The collection contains materials dating from Willems' childhood to 2007, with correspondence, artwork, photographs, notes, manuscripts, moving images in the form of films and tapes, toys, fan mail, and publications. There are also several puzzles, sketchbooks, and materials created during his college days. The collection also contains a small drafting table used by Willems and annotated with the books he used the table to create.
Preferred Citation
[Item description, #:#], Mo Willems Papers. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.
Biography
Mo Willems, born February 11, 1968, and raised in New Orleans. He attended the Isidore Newman School and graduated cum laude from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His 2006 book, You can never find a rickshaw when it monsoons, was the result of a year spent travelling the world where he drew a cartoon a day. From 1993-2002 Willems worked as a writer and animator for Sesame Street, winning six Emmys. Willems has won major awards in a short amount of time; his books Don't let the pigeon drive the bus (2004), Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale (2005), and Knuffle Bunny too: A case of mistaken identity (2008) all won Caldecott Honors. Books in his Elephant and Piggie series have won two Geisel Medals and a Geisel Honor. Two animated shorts based on Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale (2007) and Don't let the pigeon drive the bus (2010) have won Carnegie Medals. Willems has been involved in the production of various kits and animations produced by Children's Television Workshop, Sony Wonder and Weston Woods, and contributed to John Scieszka's Guys write for guys read. He currently lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his wife Cheryl and family. For more information see his website at http://mowillems.com.
Scope and Content
The collection contains materials dating from Willems' childhood to 2007, with correspondence, artwork, photographs, notes, manuscripts, moving images in the form of films and tapes, toys, fan mail, and publications. There are also several puzzles, sketchbooks, and materials created during his college days. The collection also contains a small drafting table used by Willems and annotated with the books he used the table to create.
The collection contains non-English publications by Willems, to include Chacun son tour!, Corso di pipi, La lecon de danse, Le pigeon veut un petit chien!, and Stuur die duif op tijd naar bed! Among the materials related to the English language books in the collection are materials from his Elephant and Piggie series, the Pigeon series, the Knuffle Bunny series, and many of his other publications.
Other subjects in the collection include Mo Willem’s book club, the Hermit, an early MTV pitch, You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons sketches, college scripts, his Sheep in the Big City show, failed pitches, early bad book ideas, Elmo's work titles, and materials related to 9/11 and the White House.
Arrangement
Series I: Inventory ( undated, 1965-2007)
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries June 2011
University of Connecticut Libraries405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs, Connecticut, 06269-1205
860.486.2524
archives@uconn.edu
Revision Description
June 2012
Access
The collection is open and available for research.
Restrictions on Use
Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.
Acquisition Information
Mo Willems began to transfer his materials to the Northeast Children's Literature Collection in 2008.
Related Materials
Related Material
Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to children's literature and associated artwork. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the Reading Room desk.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Books.
- Correspondence.
- Illustrations (visual works).
- Manuscripts.
- Motion picture film.
- Notebooks.
- Notes.
- Photographs.
- Publications.
- Sketches.
- Videocassettes.
- Works of Art.
Occupation(s)
- Animators.
- Authors.
- Illustrators.
Personal Name(s)
- Willems, Mo.
Subject(s)
- Authors, American --20th century.
- Children's literature --Illustrations.
- Children's literature, American.
- Illustration of books.
General note
Published Works:
-
Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!, New York: Hyperion, 2003.
Dodd CLC D948 -
Time to pee!, New York: Hyperion, 2003.
Dodd CLC D1806 -
Knuffle Bunny: A cautionary tale (New York : Hyperion, 2004). , New York: Hyperion, 2004.
Dodd CLC C1036 -
The Pigeon finds a hot dog!, New York: Hyperion, 2004.
Dodd CLC D1819 -
The Pigeon has feelings, too!: a smidgeon of pigeon, New York: H. B. Fenn and Co., 2005.
Dodd CLC A4585 -
The Pigeon loves things that go!, New York: Hyperion, 2005.
Dodd CLC A4584 -
Time to say "Please"!, New York: Hyperion, 2005.
-
Your pal Mo Willems presents Leonardo, the Terrible Monster, New York: Hyperion, 2005.
Dodd CLC D1303 -
Don't let the Pigeon stay up late!, New York: Hyperion, 2006.
Dodd CLC D1820 -
Edwina, the Dinosaur who didn't know she was extinct, New York: Hyperion, 2006.
Dodd CLC D1805 -
You can never find a rickshaw when it monsoons, New York: Hyperion, 2006.
Dodd CLC A4493 -
I am invited to a party!, New York: Hyperion, 2007.
Dodd CLC C4983 -
Knuffle Bunny too: A case of mistaken identity, New York: Hyperion, 2007.
Dodd CLC D1790, CLC D1804 -
My friend is sad, New York: Hyperion, 2007.
Dodd CLC C4981 -
There is bird on your head!, New York: Hyperion, 2007.
Dodd CLC C4926, CLC 4940 -
Today I will fly!, New York: Hyperion Balzer and Bray, 2007.
Dodd CLC C4982 -
Are you ready to play outside?, New York: Hyperion, 2008.
Dodd CLC C5545 -
I love my new toy!, New York: Hyperion, 2008.
Dodd CLC C5510 -
I will surprise my friend!, New York: Hyperion, 2008.
-
The Pigeon Wants a puppy, New York: Hyperion, 2008.
-
Big Frog can't fit in: A pop-up book, New York: Hyperion, 2009.
Dodd CLC D2495 -
Elephants cannot dance!, New York: Hyperion, 2009.
-
Naked Mole Rat gets dressed, New York: Hyperion, 2009.
-
Pigs make me sneeze!, New York: Hyperion, 2009.
Dodd CLC C5911 -
Watch me throw the ball!, New York: Hyperion, 2009.
-
Can I play too? , New York: Hyperion, 2010.
-
Cat the Cat, who is that?, New York: Balzer and Bray, 2010.
-
City dog, country frog, New York: Hyperion, 2010.
Dodd CLC D2636 -
I am going! , New York: Hyperion, 2010.
-
Knuffle Bunny free: an unexpected diversion, New York: Balzer and Bray, 2010.
Dodd CLCD2634 -
Let's say hi to friends who fly, New York: Balzer and Bray, 2010.
-
Time to sleep, Sheep the Sheep!, New York: Balzer and Bray, 2010.
-
We are in a book!, New York: Hyperion, 2010.
Dodd CLC C6078 -
What's your sound, Hound the Hound? , New York: Balzer and Bray, 2010.
-
I broke my trunk!, New York: Hyperion, 2011.
-
Should I share my ice cream?, New York: Hyperion, 2011.
Bibliography
Mo Willems is a prolific author and illustrator who continues to add to his body of work. For a complete listing of his publications, see his web site at http://mowillems.com/.
Collection Inventory
Series I: Inventory, undated, 1965-2007 |
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| Box | ||||
|
Correspondence, prints, moving images, artworks, notes, photographs, publications, clippings, administrative records, circa 1986 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: comic strips, cartoons, evaluations, grades, early childhood, scripts.] |
1 | |||
|
Books, publications, clippings, fliers, photographs, prints, notes, realia, correspondence, sound recordings, artwork, optical disks, moving images, 1988-2001 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: college scripts, sheep promo and press, early films, art pottery slides, off-beats, record pix, early press, book catalogs.] |
2 | |||
|
Correspondence, moving images, print materials, clippings, books, notes, manuscripts, artwork, fliers, undated Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: press, fan mail, early books, printouts.] |
3 | |||
|
Notes, manuscripts, artwork, correspondence, undated Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: off-beats, 'Around the World' sketches, college scripts, Normals comic strip, failed pitches, sheep production bible, early bad book ideas, Elmo's work titles, post-college correspondence.] |
4 | |||
|
Prints, correspondence, books, notes, undated Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: book printouts, Pigeon (I, II, III, IV), Leonardo, Knuffle Bunny (I, II).] |
5 | |||
|
Correspondence, prints, artwork, postcards, notes, manuscript material, posters, 1965-circa 1986 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: pitches and rejections, illustrated essays, the Hermit, early MTV pitch, ideas for advertisements, old letters, old scripts and skits, YAK meeting notes, sketchbooks.] |
6 | |||
|
Prints, correspondence, notes, artwork, undated |
7 | |||
|
Realia, artwork, notes, photographs, correspondence, publications (books?), moving images, circa 1995 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: art, puzzles, Sesame Street boards, KND script notes, Sesame Street photos, maps, puzzle roughs, tiles, post college art projects, comics, off beats, Geography guy photo.] |
8 | |||
|
Realia, posters, clippings, publications, artwork, correspondence, awards, transcripts, photographs, optical disks, notes, 2003-circa 2007 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: Sheep toys, random book press/publicity, keychains, fan mail, illustrations, Mo Willem’s book club, Sheep in the big city promo, comics, KND feature outline, Sesame Street, planners.] |
9 | |||
|
Moving image, circa 2002 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: Sheep in the big city episodes, Sesame Street.] |
10 | |||
|
Correspondence, prints, artwork, notes, galley-proof/book, books, financial records, moving images, 1988-1998 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: childhood comics, off-beat boards and scripts, travel notebooks, odd publications, marked-up “Rickshaw” script and images, travel sketches, Tommy’s coat, the Helicart, September’s Day Off, Betty-Anne’s Glasses, Pilgrim, promos.] |
11 | |||
|
Moving images, 2000-2002 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: Sheep in the Big City.] |
12 | |||
|
Moving images, notes, transcripts, 1988-1999 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: early comedy, early sketches, Sesame Street, films, tapes, Misfits: Shoes, Big Bag, the Normals, the Sterile Yak goes casual, frequently asked questions.] |
13 | |||
|
Optical disks, moving images, 1994, 2000 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: cartoons, animation, whole career, ‘life’, Sheep in the Big City, Suzie Kabloozie, Seymore the snail, “An Off-beats Valentines”, Festival of Animation, the International Tournee of Animation, Rugrats.] |
14 | |||
|
Correspondence, postcards, notes, photographs, awards, publications, clippings, artwork, fliers, 1994-circa 1998 Scope and Contents note[Subjects include: post-college illustrations, comics, nada calendar, McKee writing notebook, Promethius college project, the Normals, letters from 1990-1991 and around the world, nominations, 9/11 White House & letters, college cartoons.] |
15 | |||
|
Awards, books, clippings, correspondence, ephemera, illustration, optical disks, posters, publications, realia, sketches, 2000s; 2010-2011 1.38 Linear feet Language of MaterialsEnglishScope and Content NoteSubjects include: Boston Book Festival, CDs- "The Off-beats" "Park Slope Parents: The Album Vol. 1" "Stationery 2004-2005", Chicago Tribune- Play, Children's Literature (non-English)- "Chacun son tour!" "Corso di pipi" "La lecon de danse" "Le pigeon veut un petit chien!" "Stuur die duif op tijd naar bed!", The Elephant and Piggie Books, Forbes Library, Harper Collins Children's Books, The Helen Hayes Awards, Hyperion Books for Children, The Kennedy Center, sketchbooks- "Essential Reference Guide to: Monsters in Underpants" "Float" "The Red Truck" "Stamp Portraits" "Wise Things", Spider- The Magazine for Children, Time- for Kids. |
2012.0030_1 | |||
| Other | ||||
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Drawing table 1987 |
Object | |||
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