There Is a Bird On Your Head!
“There Is a Bird On Your Head!” is a delightful children's picture book by acclaimed author Mo Willems, forming part of his popular Elephant & Piggie series. This early reader book centers on the cautious Elephant Gerald, who becomes increasingly flustered when a bird lands on his head, followed by a mate, a nest, eggs, and eventually baby chicks. His exuberant friend, Piggie, observes and reports on the escalating situation. The book's narrative is characterized by its simple, repetitive text and expressive illustrations, making it an excellent resource for children just beginning to read. It explores themes of friendship, problem-solving through communication, and navigating uncomfortable situations with humor and acceptance. The story maintains a lighthearted and silly tone throughout, focusing on the comedic predicament and the dynamic between the two best friends as they address Gerald's feathered burden.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe book presents a bird couple that builds a nest and hatches chicks on Gerald's head. Reviews from LGBTQ-inclusive parenting sites highlight that the genders of the birds are not specified, allowing for interpretation that 'it works for families of all types.' The characters Gerald and Piggie are best friends without any romantic implications.
When a second bird appears, Piggie joyfully declares, 'They are in love!'. The book consistently avoids assigning specific genders to the two birds that form a couple, build a nest, and hatch eggs on Gerald's head. This ambiguity allows for the interpretation of a same-sex bird couple, as noted by an LGBT parenting review, making the content adaptable for various family structures.
Violence
LowThere is no physical violence depicted in the book. The conflict arises from Gerald's discomfort with birds on his head. While Gerald experiences increasing distress, this is emotional and humorous rather than violent.
Elephant Gerald is 'anything but impressed' and later 'flustered' by the birds on his head. He exclaims 'I do not want three eggs on my head!' or 'I do not want three baby chicks, two birds, and a nest on my head!', demonstrating his irritation and discomfort rather than any violent intent or action.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe book features a bird couple that is 'in love' and proceeds to build a nest, lay eggs, and hatch baby chicks. This depiction of animal reproduction is presented in a very simple, natural, and non-explicit manner suitable for young children. There is no human-like romance or sexual content.
Piggie reports to Gerald that the two birds 'are in love!' and that 'they are making a nest'. Later, Piggie confirms to Gerald, 'you have three eggs on your head' and subsequently 'the eggs are hatching' and 'now I have three baby chicks on my head.' This portrays a complete, natural animal family cycle without any suggestive or explicit details.
Profanity
LowThe book contains no instances of profanity or strong language. The text is specifically designed for early readers, utilizing simple vocabulary and speech bubble dialogues to maintain an accessible and clean narrative.
The language is described as 'extremely simple with short sentences in large bold font', and reviews consistently highlight the clear and straightforward dialogue between Gerald and Piggie. There are no reported instances of curse words or offensive terms in the book's text.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere are no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic, demons, spells, or supernatural themes present in the book. The story is a whimsical, yet grounded, narrative about an elephant's humorous predicament.
The plot revolves around the literal, albeit absurd, situation of birds making a home on Gerald's head. All actions and resolutions within the story are based on simple communication and observation between the animal characters, without any magical interventions or supernatural occurrences.
Substance Use
LowThe book contains no references to or depictions of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking. The content is entirely devoid of such themes, consistent with a picture book for young children.
The story focuses solely on the interaction between Gerald and Piggie regarding the birds on Gerald's head. There are no scenes, characters, or dialogue that involve or allude to any form of substance consumption.
Scary & Intense Content
LowWhile Gerald the Elephant experiences moments of worry and distress over the birds nesting on his head, the overall tone of the book is humorous and silly, not genuinely scary or intense. His reactions are played for comedic effect.
Gerald expresses considerable alarm, stating, 'There's a bird on my head! Ah!' and later, 'I do not want three baby chicks, two birds and a nest on my head!'. However, Piggie’s cheerful and curious demeanor consistently diffuses any potential for genuine fear, maintaining the book’s lighthearted, comedic tone, and teaching children to vocalize discomfort.
Disrespect & Rebellion
LowThe interactions between Gerald and Piggie, while sometimes involving Gerald's exasperation, consistently model positive friendship and communication. Gerald expresses his feelings, and Piggie offers solutions, ultimately demonstrating cooperation.
Gerald clearly states his desire for the birds to leave with phrases like 'I do not want three eggs on my head!' and 'I do not want three baby chicks, two birds, and a nest on my head!'. However, this is an expression of his discomfort with a situation, not disrespect or rebellion toward Piggie, who acts as a supportive friend advising him to 'ask the birds to leave.'
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book does not contain any anti-Christian themes or messages. It is a secular children's story focused on friendship and problem-solving, with no direct or indirect criticism of Christian beliefs or symbols. One source even draws positive interfaith connections to a Torah portion.
The narrative is entirely free of religious content, focusing on the whimsical interaction between an elephant and a pig. A review from Shabbos House positively links the book's lesson on direct problem-solving to a Torah portion, indicating its suitability for diverse audiences without conflicting with religious values.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 3-5 years. This recommendation is based on the book's classification as an early reader, with a Lexile level of 210L and a Guided Reading Level (GRL) of G. The simple vocabulary, repetitive phrases, large font, and clear illustrations make it accessible and engaging for preschool and kindergarten-aged children learning to read.
Additional Notes
The 'Elephant & Piggie' series, of which this book is a part, consistently features a formula of simple text, expressive characters, and a focus on friendship and emotional literacy, making it a staple for emergent readers. No significant content changes or intensification of concerns are noted across the series.
Related Reviews
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