Park Slope Favorite Mo Willems To Release New Book This Year

BROOKLYN, NY — Mo Willems fans in Brooklyn can mark their calendars for Sept. 6.

A new book from the famed children's book author is slated to be released that day as part of a five-book deal Willems signed with Union Square Kids, according to the Associated Press.

The book, “The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!," is the latest in Willems' popular "Pigeon" series. His seven previous Pigeon books have sold more than 6 million copies, according to AP, and include bestseller “Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus!”, “The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!” and “Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!”

“I am excited to embark on new publishing experiments while working with a team I’ve known and trusted for over a decade,” Willems said in a statement. “The goal is to surprise and delight without losing sight of a fundamental truth: The Pigeon is not going to get to drive that bus.”

Willems, who once lived in the borough, is best known in Brooklyn for his book "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale," which surrounds the search for a lost stuffed animal in the neighborhood.

An 18-inch bronze statue of Knuffle Bunny was added to the Park Slope Library's garden in 2019.

Union Square Kids is part of Barnes & Noble's Sterling Publishing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.