“During the first wave of the pandemic in the winter, Mo Willems’s ‘‘Lunch Doodles’’ series, in which the beloved children’s-book author and illustrator led viewers in endearingly no-frills online drawing sessions, was a lifeline to families desperate to exercise their imaginations during lockdown … That Willems, who is 52, was ready to help during a hard, confusing time was no surprise. His two best-selling series of books — one about the odd couple Elephant and Piggie, the other about the mercurial Pigeon — resonate with the hard, confusing time of early childhood.”

New York Times Magazine, 11/13/20

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We Are Getting Ice Cream

Elephant Gerald and Piggie walk up to Penguin’s ice cream truck.

Penguin: I’m so glad to see you, Gerald and Piggie! You two are the only customers I’ve had all week.

Elephant: No way! What happened to your other regulars, Pigeon and Squirrel?

Penguin:  Pigeon and Squirrel don’t come by anymore.

Elephant: Wow, they must be taking quarantine seriously. Don’t they know ice cream is essential?!

Piggie: Yes, especially chocolate ice cream.

Elephant: Give us our usual, Penguin. Chocolate sundaes!

Penguin: Ok, I’ll even thrown in some free pints. I have too much ice cream and I don’t want it to go to waste.

Elephant: FREE ice cream?! This is the BEST day of my life!

Piggie: Mine too.

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We Are in a Hospital with COVID-19

One week later. Elephant Gerald and Piggie are lying in hospital beds.

Elephant: I can’t believe we are in a hospital with COVID-19!

Piggie: Ugh, don’t remind me.

Elephant: Piggie, my body aches and I feel HOT. I think I am dying! I am going to DIE!

Piggie: Gerald, get a grip. We are in a hospital so we can get better.

Elephant: Pigeon did not get better! He was on a ventilator …

Piggie: Oh, right. He got COVID-19 from driving the bus. Now he’s dead.

Elephant: I don’t want to end up like Pigeon! I don’t want to die!

Piggie: Yeah, me neither.

Elephant: (cries) It’s all my fault. I took you to get ice cream last week and didn’t wear a mask!

Piggie: It’s not your fault they don’t make masks for elephants.

Elephant: All I wanted was ice cream … Now here we are — in a hospital!

Piggie: Well, you’re lucky you’re not the one with heart disease, diabetes, and swine dysentery.

Elephant: (cries harder) You’re right. I’m not the one who’s likely to die. You are!

Piggie: Gerald, that’s enough!

Elephant: I don’t want to lose you, Piggie. You’re my best friend.

Piggie: Thanks, Gerald. You’re my best friend forever. When we get better, we’ll go get ice cream again.

Elephant: That’s a good plan. Hey, wait.

Piggie: What?

Elephant: I wonder if the hospital cafeteria has any ice cream.

Piggie: Hmm, I hope so.

Elephant: (calls help button) Hey, Nurse! Can you bring us some ice cream?

Nurse: Sure, I’ll see what we have.

Nurse enters with ice cream bowls. They taste the ice cream.

Elephant: Not bad. We are in a hospital — with ice cream!

Piggie: I wish we got chocolate instead of strawberry.

Elephant: Yum! I like all flavors … Piggie, you stopped eating. Are you ok?

Piggie: No, I can’t taste anything … and I feel so cold.

Elephant: Oh no, that’s terrible! What can I do, Piggie?

Piggie: Help me. (gasping) My. Chest. Hurts. OWWW!

Elephant: Hang on, Piggie! (hits call button) NURSE! I think Piggie is having a heart attack!

Piggie: I. Am. Going …

Elephant: Don’t go, Piggie! I need you!

Nurse comes in and checks Piggie’s vitals.

Nurse: I’m afraid Piggie is gone.

Nurse sets Piggie’s ice cream aside and pulls sheet over Piggie.

Elephant: NOOOOO!!!!!

Nurse: I’m sorry we couldn’t save her.

Elephant: WAHHHH! Piggie is dead! My best friend is DEAD!

Nurse: I’m sorry. Do you need a moment alone with Piggie?

Elephant: Yes, please.

Nurse: Ok, let me know if you need anything.

Elephant: Oh! Before you go, can you hand me Piggie’s ice cream?

Nurse: You want Piggie’s half-eaten, half-melted ice cream?

Elephant: Yes, please. We never waste ice cream. Besides, Piggie didn’t like strawberry anyway.

Nurse sighs and hands him Piggie’s ice cream.

Elephant: (eats Piggie’s ice cream) Thank you, Piggie. For everything. You’re the best! Mmm.

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I am Getting Ice Cream

Three weeks later. Elephant Gerald walks up to Penguin’s ice cream truck.

Penguin: I’ve missed you, Gerald. Glad you’re all better! Ready for your chocolate sundae?

Elephant: Yes, with three scoops of chocolate, please.

Penguin: That’s a lot of ice cream!

Elephant: Yeah. It’s one scoop for me, one scoop in honor of Pigeon, and one scoop in honor of Piggie.

Penguin: Oh, I didn’t know … I’m sorry for your loss, Gerald.

Elephant: Don’t feel bad for me. I am not sad today because I am celebrating the lives of my friends.

Penguin: In that case, I’ll give you two scoops free.

Elephant: Hey, could I have another scoop? My pal Squirrel passed away …

Penguin: Gerald, that’s enough! Squirrel recovered from COVID-19.

Gerald: Oh, well. It was worth a try. Thanks anyway, Penguin!