PICTURE BOOKS- Knuffle Bunny

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for children. ISBN 0786818700

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A small child named Trixie and her daddy go off on an errand together, all the while Trixie lugs her “Knuffle Bunny” around. She is happy to be with her daddy doing errands, until she realizes that she has misplaced her “Knuffle Bunny.” Trying to communicate with her daddy proves to be the problem, so Trixie becomes louder and louder, starts to panic, and eventually goes “Boneless.” When they return home, her mother asked about “Knuffle Bunny,” and the three of them go off in pursuit of Trixie’s bunny. They find the bunny and Trixie is happy once again.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture book will hit home for anyone that has ever had a child, or for any child that has ever had a “special toy or belonging.” Mo Willems tells the story that is so true to life about how an errand or day can suddenly take a turn for the worse when a child realizes that they have left or misplaced their belonging. He captures their frustration in trying to communicate with their parents when they aren’t yet able to speak words, and the frustration that their parents feel when they have no idea what is being said to them. Adults will enjoy the humor in the situation and children will enjoy the over exaggerated illustrations.

Mo Willems used sepia pictures of a real neighborhood, with his colorful illustrations of his characters superimposed over the photographs. The result is an easy to follow adventure for both adults and children. The story becomes extremely believable and the characters emotions are evident on their faces. The words and font chosen also help to illustrate the character’s emotions as they become bigger and bigger as Trixie starts to panic, and are more like pencil sketching as she is babbling to her father.

This book is a perfect addition to any library that adults and children both are sure to enjoy. It captures the enjoyment, frustration, love, and humor of a father and daughter outing.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text.”
BOOKLIST: “This comic gem proves that Caldecott Medal-winner Willems, the Dr. Spock and Robin Williams of the lap-sit crowd, has just as clear a bead on pre-verbal children as on silver-tongued preschool
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE REVIEW: Caldecott Honor Medal in 2005

5. CONNECTIONS
*This book could open up a conversation about the relationships of fathers and daughters and the special bond that they share.
*Other books about father and daughter relationships:
Cobb, Daryl K. DADDY DID I EVER SAY? I LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, EVERY DAY. ISBN 1424339189
Grambling, Lois G. & Gaffney-Kessell, Walter. DADDY WILL BE THERE. ISBN 0688149839, 9780688149833