Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 0786818700 [Suggested Grade Levels Pre-K – 3]
REVIEW
Mo Willems is one of the real geniuses working in children’s literature today. After an Emmy-winning career writing for SESAME STREET, Willems is forging what should be a Caldecott-winning career in kids’ books (he already has one honor for DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS). The simple, engaging tale of little Trixie’s trip to the Laundromat with her Daddy and the harrowing rescue of her lost Knuffle Bunny, who was accidentally left behind, is spunky and adorable at every turn. Blending photographs of a real city with his own masterfully simple and expressively drawn characters, Willems creates a unique look for a small story that is an enormous event in the life of a girl who hasn’t yet said her first words. Trixie’s exasperated attempts at verbal communication are hilariously cute as she desperately cries, “Aggle flabble klabble!” and heartbreakingly adorable as she sniffs, “snurp.” In the end, this is a story of the enormous joy and sorrow experienced by children in the seemingly small things in life and the swashbuckling, heroic courage of a Daddy who won’t let his little girl down. KNUFFLE BUNNY is what the very best children’s books are; an unabashed slice of simple childhood joy that’s fun to read with something special on every page and the under-girding theme of love and a strong family bond. This is the kind of book awards are made for.
CONNECTIONS
Children can discuss the animals or blankets they were or are attached to and the times when those animals or blankets were lost.
Children can draw a picture of their favorite stuffed animal, or draw a picture of the time that animal was lost.
With quilt pieces and a pattern, an adult can lead a child in creating their own special animal, their own special “knuffle bunny.”
RELATED BOOKS
Other books about lost toys or blankets:
Bourgeois, Paulette. FRANKLIN’S BLANKET. ISBN 1550741543
Falconer, Ian. OLIVIA …AND THE MISSING TOY. ISBN 0689852916
Other books by Mo Willems that could be compared to this one:
DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS. ISBN 078681988X
THE PIGEON ATE A HOT DOG. ISBN 0786818697
By Melissa Neece
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