Willems, Mo, 1968-

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.