Don’t Let the Pigeon Tell the Story - A Playful Collaboration Between Playper and Mo Willems

Mo Willems has taught generations of kids that storytelling can be silly, surprising, and smart - all at once. Now his beloved characters are taking that same spirit of creativity off the page and onto the play mat. Playper has partnered with Mo Willems’ Hidden Pigeon Co. to create something new for families who love both his books and imaginative play: “Don’t Let the Pigeon Tell the Story.”

Coming early 2026, this new version of Story Starters brings the Pigeon series to life in a way kids can touch, build, and laugh through.

This collaboration matters for more than its name recognition. It reflects a shared idea - that storytelling should feel fun, accessible, and maybe a little chaotic.

Playper’s been recognized for bringing learning and laughter together before - recently featured in The Toy Book’s Playful Preschool Showcase - but this partnership signals something new. It connects Playper’s play-based storytelling with one of children’s literature’s most recognizable voices.

A New Way to Play with Mo Willems’ Beloved Characters

You already know the Pigeon. He wants to drive the bus. He wants a puppy. He definitely wants to stay up late. But what happens when you let him tell the story?

That’s the idea behind this Playper edition. Kids mix and match illustrated storytelling cards to build their own scenes featuring Pigeon, Duckling, the Bus Driver, Elephant, Piggie, and a few other favorites from Willems’ award-winning books. 

Each card adds a piece of the story - who’s in it, where it happens, and what goes wrong next.

Some stories will sound familiar, others will go completely off track. That’s part of the fun.

You can expect the same quality and simplicity found in Playper’s Curious Kingdom Story Starters, but with the humor and energy Mo Willems’ fans love. It’s a creative mash-up that feels obvious once you see it - like these two worlds were waiting to meet.

Storytelling Made Easy - Just Like Mo Willems

If you’ve ever read one of Willems’ books aloud, you know the rhythm. The pacing, the pauses, the back-and-forth with the reader. That interactive spark is what Playper builds on.

The cards prompt kids to tell their own stories, one scene at a time. There’s no right answer. One story might start with Pigeon wanting to fly to space. Another could have Elephant and Piggie running a snack stand for ducks.

Kids take control of what happens next, narrating as they go.

It’s a simple but powerful idea: storytelling doesn’t start with writing - it starts with talking. When a child tells a story out loud, they practice building sentences, understanding cause and effect, and expressing emotion through words.

They get to hear how stories work.

Mo Willems’ books are often a child’s first experience with those same skills. They teach timing, voice, and humor through repetition and structure.

Playper’s Story Starters carry that process forward, helping kids tell their own silly stories with those familiar characters guiding them along.

The Best Storytelling Toys for Preschoolers

You might often ask yourself what makes a storytelling toy worth buying. It’s not just about having a recognizable character or bright colors. The best storytelling toys for preschoolers give kids control. Children make the story instead of passively watching or listening to it.

Story Starters work because they don’t tell kids what to think. They hand over the storytelling tools - literally. Each card sparks a new twist or surprise, and each play session turns out different.

Kids get to lead, experiment, and sometimes contradict themselves. That’s how real creativity develops.

Mo Willems’ stories already show that mistakes and chaos can be funny. By giving kids physical story pieces to move around and narrate with, they learn that the process of storytelling can be open-ended and full of discovery.

It’s structured enough to guide them, but loose enough for endless replay.

That flexibility helps parents too. Story Starters are the kind of toy that grows with your child - early on, it’s about naming and sequencing. Later, it becomes dialogue, expression, and humor.

You’ll find yourself laughing at what your child invents, sometimes because it’s clever, other times because it makes no sense at all.

How Kids Learn Storytelling Through Play

Kids don’t need to be taught how to play. But they do need chances to practice how stories work - how one thing leads to another.

Storytelling through play helps with early literacy, vocabulary, and social development. It gives kids room to test emotions, switch roles, and explore imagination without pressure.

When they act out a story, they’re doing more than having fun. They’re developing problem-solving skills, empathy, and verbal confidence.

They’re learning to tell a beginning, middle, and end, which is the same foundation used later for reading comprehension.

The tactile side matters too. Holding the cards, placing characters on a play mat, pointing and speaking aloud - those physical actions reinforce memory and focus.

And because this set features Mo Willems’ familiar faces, kids feel instantly comfortable joining in. There’s no barrier between reading and playing, it’s one continuous experience.

A Natural Creative Fit Between Playper and Hidden Pigeon Co.

Playper makes story-building toys. Hidden Pigeon Co. celebrates story-loving characters. They both want kids to see storytelling as something they can do themselves.

This collaboration happened naturally. Playper’s Buildable Storytelling approach lined up with Willems’ belief that kids should be participants in stories, not just observers. Both share humor that doesn’t talk down to children.

It’s a creative match that makes sense - each brand brings something unique, but their overlap feels genuine. Parents who appreciate quality storytelling will see that connection right away.

For Playper, this partnership also represents a milestone. It shows how far the company has come since launching its first Story Starters and how open it is to working with beloved literary creators.

Building on the Success of Playper Story Starters

Before the Pigeon showed up, Playper’s Curious Kingdom Story Starters earned praise from parents and educators for their mix of fun and function. Kids could create stories about dragons, mermaids, pirates, and castles while building early literacy and imagination.

That success proved something simple: kids don’t need screens or batteries to stay engaged - they just need the right prompt.

Now, the Pigeon edition expands that idea with recognizable characters and a bit of comic chaos. The cards still promote storytelling and conversation, just in a new voice that families already love.

If you’ve used Playper’s other Story Starters, you’ll see familiar benefits - open-ended play, hands-on learning, and storytelling that evolves with every game.

Coming Early 2026  -  Don’t Let the Pigeon Tell the Story

Playper’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Tell the Story launches in early 2026, featuring Pigeon, Duckling, the Bus Driver, and friends, plus a themed play mat for easy storytelling sessions.

It’s part toy, part learning tool, and all fun for families who want to bring stories to life together.

If you want to keep kids laughing, talking, and learning at the same time, this is the toy to watch for.

You can browse the rest of the Story Starters Collection to see how storytelling through play begins - and where it’s headed next.

Would your child let the Pigeon tell their story? Or would they interrupt with something even funnier? You’ll find out soon enough.