THE PIGEON WILL RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER!

Author-illustrator and narrator Mo Willems chews the scenery when his obstreperous pigeon decides to ride a roller coaster. The bird, listeners learn, is "aquiver with anticipation," a state of excitement that carries character and listeners along a familiar emotional path. The pigeon has a ticket, plans to wait with "exemplary patience," and imagines a ride so thrilling it includes a gatefold ("unfold the page . . . carefully, because it's a very delicate page") and a touch of nausea. The pigeon's fans will recognize the series' trademark manic energy, but, in contrast to earlier outings, it's a sadly passive experience. Rather than invite interaction, Willems's narration and character become an overbearing one-bird show. A concluding improvisation with the ticket taker, voiced by Connor Ratliff, longer than the story itself, feels profoundly self-indulgent. V.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2023]