History Literature / ElephantAndPiggie

* SeriousBusiness: Sometimes Gerald gets ''very'' serious over everyday events, such as a party ("I Am Invited to a Party!") or throwing balls ("Watch Me Throw The Ball!").

* InspirationallyDisadvantaged: Played straight, subverted, and double-subverted in "Can I Play Too?". Played straight when Gerald and Piggie are playing catch and a snake optimistically asks to join them, despite his lack of arms or hands. Subverted when -- after several painful failures -- the snake finally realizes he isn't physically capable of playing catch. Double-subverted when [[spoiler:Piggie has the idea to [[LoopholeAbuse throw the snake between herself and Gerald]], thus "playing catch" with him.]]

* ADogNamedDog

** Also invoked in "Elephants Cannot Dance," when Piggie notes that Gerald's book of "Things Elephants Can Do" doesn't bar him from ''trying'' to dance.

''Elephant and Piggie'' is a series of children's books for early readers. They are written and drawn by Mo Willems (best known for ''Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!''), and debuted in 2007.

* ShoutOut: The inside covers of each book feature a repeating pattern related to the story at hand; the pattern inside the back cover always includes a [[TheCameo cameo]] by Willems' ''Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus!'' book series.

The books have won the Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009, and have been listed on ''Time'' magazine's Top 10 Children's Books of the Year.

* AllThereInTheManual: Done in-story in "Elephants Cannot Dance". When Piggie tries to teach Gerald to dance, he quotes from the GreatBigBookOfEverything "What Elephants Can Do", pointing out the clause that says elephants can't dance.

The books center on two FunnyAnimal friends, Gerald the elephant and Piggie. Each book tends to center on everyday activities, often addressing issues of friendship along the way. While Gerald is a down-to-earth realist, Piggie is an eternal optimist, and the difference between the two personalities often drives the dialog.

* LoopholeAbuse: Invoked in "Can I Play Too?"; when Gerald and Piggie are playing catch with a ball, a snake asks to join them, despite his lack of appendages. [[spoiler:Gerald and Piggie end up throwing the snake between them.]]

* BreakingTheFourthWall[=/=]NoticingTheFourthWall: Each of the books usually has at least one moment per book where Piggie looks directly at the reader and snarks a bit.

* MediumAwareness[=/=]NoFourthWall: Done in "We Are In A Book!", where the two characters notice the reader and interact with him directly.

* CrazyPrepared: Invoked in "I Am Invited to a Party" when Piggie receives a party invitation and asks Gerald to accompany her. Worried that it might be a fancy/pool/costume party, Gerald convinces Piggie to attend in fancy evening wear, snorkling gear, and a costume. [[spoiler:He's right.]]

* MediumAwareness[=/=]NoFourthWall: Done in "We Are In A Book", where the two characters notice the reader and interact with him directly.

* StableTimeLoop: In "We are In a Book", Gerald panics near the end because he doesn't want the reader to stop. Piggie tries to solve the problem by asking the reader to re-read the story... which began with Gerald whispering to Piggie, "I think your plan worked."

* AccidentalArt: In "Elephants Can't Dance", Gerald's frustrated tantrum at his failure to learn how to dance is interpreted by a pair of passing squirrels as a hot new dance move, "The Elephant."
* AllThereInTheManual: Done in-story in "Elephants Can't Dance". When Piggie tries to teach Gerald to dance, he quotes from the GreatBigBookOfEverything "What Elephants Can Do", pointing out the clause that says elephants can't dance.

** Also invoked in "Elephants Can't Dance," when Piggie notes that Gerald's book of "Things Elephants Can Do" doesn't bar him from ''trying'' to learn how to dance.

''Elephant and Piggie'' is a series of children's books for early readers. They are written and drawn by Mo Willems (best known for ''Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!'') , and debuted in 2007.

The books center on two FunnyAnimal friends, Gerald the elephant and Piggie. Each book tends to center on everyday activities, often addressing issues of friendship along the way. While Gerald is a down-to-earth realist, Piggie is an eternal optimist, and the difference between the two personalities is often played for laughs.

* BigNo: Often from Gerald.

-->'''Gerald:''' What if it's a costume party?
-->'''Piggie:''' A fancy pool costume party?
-->'''Gerald:''' WE MUST BE READY!

* NoFourthWall: Done in "We Are In A Book", where the two characters notice the reader and interact with him directly.

-->''Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.''
-->''Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.''
-->''Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.''

-->''Gerald and Piggie are best friends.''

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