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Because Hardcover – Picture Book, March 5, 2019

by Mo Willems (Author), Amber Ren (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,691 ratings
Teachers' pick
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Mo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture-book debut.
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  1. Reading age
    3 - 7 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - Kindergarten
  5. Lexile measure
    AD820L
  6. Dimensions
    10.3 x 0.37 x 10.3 inches
  7. Publisher
    Hyperion Books for Children
  8. Publication date
    March 5, 2019
  9. ISBN-10
    1368019013
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1368019019
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Because Mo Willems grew up writing and drawing comics―he became a writer and animator on Sesame Street (where he won six Emmy Awards). Because Mo also loved reading when he was a kid―he wanted to make books. Because of many other becauses, Mo has written and illustrated over fifty children's books and has been awarded three Caldecott Honors, two Theodor Seuss Geisel Medals, and five Geisel Honors. Pigeonpresents.com has more information about Mo―just because.



Because Amber Ren moved with her family (and a dream) from China to the United States when she was a teenager―she visited the Huntington Library in Los Angeles while she was in high school. Because she saw a beautiful painting by John Singer Sargent―Amber was inspired to study art. Because of many other becauses, Amber earned her BFA in Character Animation at CalArts and currently works as a visual development artist for Dreamworks TV, Warner Bros. Animation and others. This is her debut picture book. Visit amber-ren.com―because she has more to share.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hyperion Books for Children (March 5, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1368019013
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1368019019
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD820L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - Kindergarten
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.3 x 0.37 x 10.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,691 ratings

About the authors

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Previous page
  1. Mo Willems

    Mo Willems

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Mo Willems (born February 11, 1968) is an American writer, animator, and creator of children's books.

    Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Amber Ren

    Amber Ren

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Amber is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and a visual development artist in the animation industry. She earned her BFA in Character Animation at the California Institute of the Arts. Amber’s work is inspired by her love for folk art, nostalgia, inclusion, and her childhood spent in China. When not drawing at her desk, Amber can be found petting her cat, Ruyu, and sipping boba tea. Find Amber online at amber-ren.com.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
1,691 global ratings
Absolutely Beautiful Book that Will Move You to Tears!
5 Stars
Absolutely Beautiful Book that Will Move You to Tears!
Anytime Mo Willems releases a new book, I preorder it because I just know it's going to be good. I have six-year-old twins and we own all of the Elephant and Piggie books, Pigeon books, as well as some of his others. This book arrived on release day and we've already read it a number of times!Because is a beautiful picture book that shows how just one piece of music can change many people's lives. It's like a domino effect; we can do one thing and it ends up affecting others' lives. Think about how amazing it would be if we could use kindness in the same way! We never know how one smile or kind word can change someone.This book contains beautiful words (lyrics) and the pictures accompany the story perfectly. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone so I'm not going to say anything other than that it's about music but it can also apply to many other things as well.I just want to note that if you are looking to purchase this and expect it to be hilarious like Elephant and Piggie, you won't find that in this book. This is more of a heartfelt book that people of all ages will enjoy. I also purchased copies for my kids' teachers and it was appreciated so much! Buy this book because you will love it!
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Top reviews from the United States

Kristin B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Beautiful Book that Will Move You to Tears!
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
Anytime Mo Willems releases a new book, I preorder it because I just know it's going to be good. I have six-year-old twins and we own all of the Elephant and Piggie books, Pigeon books, as well as some of his others. This book arrived on release day and we've already read it a number of times!

Because is a beautiful picture book that shows how just one piece of music can change many people's lives. It's like a domino effect; we can do one thing and it ends up affecting others' lives. Think about how amazing it would be if we could use kindness in the same way! We never know how one smile or kind word can change someone.

This book contains beautiful words (lyrics) and the pictures accompany the story perfectly. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone so I'm not going to say anything other than that it's about music but it can also apply to many other things as well.

I just want to note that if you are looking to purchase this and expect it to be hilarious like Elephant and Piggie, you won't find that in this book. This is more of a heartfelt book that people of all ages will enjoy. I also purchased copies for my kids' teachers and it was appreciated so much! Buy this book because you will love it!
Customer image
Kristin B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Beautiful Book that Will Move You to Tears!
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
Anytime Mo Willems releases a new book, I preorder it because I just know it's going to be good. I have six-year-old twins and we own all of the Elephant and Piggie books, Pigeon books, as well as some of his others. This book arrived on release day and we've already read it a number of times!

Because is a beautiful picture book that shows how just one piece of music can change many people's lives. It's like a domino effect; we can do one thing and it ends up affecting others' lives. Think about how amazing it would be if we could use kindness in the same way! We never know how one smile or kind word can change someone.

This book contains beautiful words (lyrics) and the pictures accompany the story perfectly. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone so I'm not going to say anything other than that it's about music but it can also apply to many other things as well.

I just want to note that if you are looking to purchase this and expect it to be hilarious like Elephant and Piggie, you won't find that in this book. This is more of a heartfelt book that people of all ages will enjoy. I also purchased copies for my kids' teachers and it was appreciated so much! Buy this book because you will love it!
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152 people found this helpful
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Eva F. Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars sweet memories
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
I read this book 3 times upon arrival with tears flowing out of my eyes...Such a moving book. Short, sweet, cleverly written and beautifully illustrated. I also remember the first time hearing a girl practicing the piano, and I fall in love with the instrument. I went home, and begged my parents to buy me a piano, that was a really big dream, since my parents were factory workers, and even the cheapest piano was way more that we could afford. But they saw my desire, and managed to buy a piano and pay for lessons. After many BECAUSEs I am still inspired by music and sharing the joy of piano playing. Mo is one of my favorite writer. This book is a little bit different than the pigeons, pigs and elephant fantasies, (I love them all) and telling a very relatable story of a girl who was inspired by Schubert's 8th Symphony during her first visit at the concert hall, because her Aunt took her, because her Uncle was sick. And after many BECAUSEs she ...but read the story. It is truly inspirational. A book that you could read over and over again. The illustration is also beautiful. I only gave 5 stars for this book, because 10 stars were not available...:)
12 people found this helpful
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Puppydog Smiles
5.0 out of 5 stars I was skeptical, buy my 5-year-old "got" it and loves it
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book is beautiful with a sweet and thought-provoking message, but I think sometimes books like this don't really resonate with young kids because they're too abstract. I WAS WRONG.

I ordered this book because I liked the idea enough to give it a try with my son. He is on week 4 of piano lessons so I thought the timing was right as well. He absolutely LOVES this book and he "got" it on the first read! We talk about Beethoven and Schubert, and the illustrations really help to get the message across. I really like the emphasis on practicing for years and working hard to achieve the goal. He even asked me to play the song printed at the end (I butchered it, but at least I tried!).

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. My son likes to follow the sweeping music around the pages and he notices the little details, like how she went from a keyboard to an upright piano to a grand piano. I am SO glad I decided to order this book!
14 people found this helpful
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Giraud Esteve
5.0 out of 5 stars A really beautiful book
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved this book! My daughter is still a baby, but she lights up when we play classical music and orchestras, so I thought I would get this book so that she gets another angle at classical music. She loved the colors, and that I played franz' unfinished symphony with it.

As an adult, the book almost moved me to tears. It's a great story about how we are connected to one another, about the transformative power of music, about the powers of inspiration and work and chance. And the colors are really wonderful. A special mention to the double pages of silence in the orchestra, and then the double page as they start playing. They so beautifully captured in images what it feels like to listen to the start of an orchestra. I cannot enough recommend that book, it's truly wonderful
5 people found this helpful
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MultitaskingManhattanMama
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, atypical Mo Willems book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
Another gem from Mo Willems! This book is perfect for any young music-lover but is not only limited to that audience. The story beautifully illustrates the way in which humans are connect, how we impact each other’s life experiences, and how our choices and actions have a ripple effect. This complex concept is beautifully explored in a way that is developmentally-appropriate for children. I read this with my book-loving 2.5 year old. He obviously is a bit too young to process the underlying message but enjoyed the book nonetheless. I think this is probably a perfect read for little ones ages 4-8 years. As other reviewers have noted, this is not your typical Mo Willems book - no silliness or humor - just a great message :)
4 people found this helpful
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E. Gray
4.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
I bought this book for my elementary school library, and have read it aloud to grades K-5. They all loved it. They got that this is a book about finding your passion, and we’ve talked about how they are on the brink of discovering what sparks their own. When I finished it, one third-grader said, “What a lovely book.” This is not a typical Mo Willems book and you will be disappointed if you expect an Elephant & Piggie-type story.
4 people found this helpful
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Roselle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for adults learning English, kids might like it too
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
Hard to find fun interesting books for adult English language learners. Their vocabulary is limited pictures are very helpful but they don’t want books geared towards children only. So finding books that appeal to both children and adults is important for my students to encourage reading and improving their English skills. Mo Willems is an author that is able to write a simple books that is still entertaining and at times funny or inspiring. My students enjoy reading his books as their English skills grow.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lois Zapf
5.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging and Well Written!
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
What a great story of pursuing your dream with persistence and intention! Great for children AND adults needing encouragement and motivation. Highly recommended.
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Amyjo
4.0 out of 5 stars The book has a message.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
My grandson loved the book!
One person found this helpful
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Wendy Hou
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in Australia on January 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
My daughter is 4yo, we read it one night as bed time story, but seems still bit too early for her to understand.
I loved it though, I think it's a really beautiful book.
One person found this helpful
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Marco Acacia
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and uplifting
Reviewed in Canada on March 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I bought this book for my early childhood music class. It was inspiring with illustrations that communicated well to children. It was hard to tell whether the students or other teachers liked it more ❤️. The book made me tear up!
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars No book cover?!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
Lovely story but the book came without a book jacket so no cover to explore with the children I’m reading it to :( 📚🎶
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars No book cover?!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2022
Lovely story but the book came without a book jacket so no cover to explore with the children I’m reading it to :( 📚🎶
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