KNUFFLE BUNNY

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

PLOT SUMMARY:
Willem's story is about a young child, Trixie, who accidentally leave her beloved Knuffle Bunny behind during an outing to the Laundromat. When Trixie realizes what she's done, she tries to notify her dad. However, since Trixie cannot speak yet, expressing her unhappiness is the only means she has. Unfortunately, her dad does not understand what is wrong. Upon arriving home, the mom immediately asks where the Knuffle Bunny is. The family hurries back to the Laundromat and as the dad finds the stuffed animal, Trixie exclaims "Knuffle Bunny". These are her first words.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Many children will be able to relate to Willem's tale about losing a dear stuffed animal. The plot is simple enough for young audiences to easily understand yet detailed enough to be believable. Also, the main character, Trixie, is around the same age as most children who are likely to have a "friend" they tag along.

The setting is created with a series of black and white photographs taken on the city streets. One dimensional, colorful characters are sketched into the photographs. The contrast of color, dimension, and medium proves striking. Additionally, the simplicity of the drawings place emphasis on the mood's of the characters.

Personally, while the illustrations are eye catching, I do not find them to be aesthetically appeling. I like the photographs, but the character sketeches come across to me as harsh and a little frightening. However, they do have a cartoon-like appearance that is generally a big hit with children. Therefore, kids might be more inclined to show an appreciation for the illustrations.

AWARDS AND REVIEWED EXCERPTS:
Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Award
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Personalities are artfully created so that both parents and children will recognize themselves within these pages."
Starred review in 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 preschoolers."

CONNECTIONS:
*Lead a discussion about the importance of keeping up with our belongings. Encourage children to share ideas about how they can make sure their most cherished possessions stay safe, so they don't end up like Knuffle Bunny.
*Gather other books that have been written by Mo Willems. Share with the students that he has won 6 Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street to connect books to the popular TV show.
DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS ISBN: 078681988X
TIME TO PEE! ISBN: 0786818689
THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG ISBN: 0786818697