Knuffle Bunny. Written and Illustrated by: Mo Willems.
Genre: Picture Book. Copyright: 2004. Pages: 40.
Can you remember way back, when you were so little that you couldn't even talk? How on earth were you able to communicate your needs to your mommy and your daddy? What would you do if you were that little and one day your favorite toy went missing? This is the story of one little girl, Trixie, who was just that small, that when her bunny Knuffle Bunny went missing, there was only one thing she could do! Find out what happens to Trixie and Knuffle Bunny in this delightful cautionary tale by Mo Willems.
Summary:
The book starts with images of a couple getting married and then they have a baby and then they by a house. Later you see an image of Trixie with her bunny Knuffle Bunny. This is the tale of when Trixie and her daddy went on an errand together. They walk down the block and threw the park, past the school and into the laundry mat. Trixe was a big helper and was able to help her daddy load and run the washer. Trouble started a couple of blocks later when she realized that she had lost something. This of course was exasperated by the fact that Trixie was still not old enough yet to talk! As she tried to communicate her distress to her daddy her words only came out incoherent to him which out of frustration caused her to loose it! She threw as much of a tantrum as she could to try to communicate with her daddy what was wrong. The whole way home she cried, not only wearing her out, but wearing out daddy as well. As soon as they got home however, mommy took one look at the pair and asked, "well, where is Knuffle Bunny?" With a flash of awareness of what all the fuss was all about, the three of them took off running back to the laundry mat. They ran through the park, they ran past the school and they ran straight into the laundry mat. In the laundry mat they searched and searched and searched and still couldn't find Knuffle Bunny! Finally, in one last ditch attempt, daddy searched inside the laundry! And sure enough, there was Knuffle Bunny all clean and shiny! Trixie grabbed Knuffle Bunny and hugged him so tight! And sure enough, said two very important words, "Knuffle Bunny". And those were the first two words that Trixie ever said. Happily, arm in arm, the family quietly left the laundry mat and walked all the way home.
My Assessment:
Mo Willems is a master. Not only of words but also art. He creates these amazingly funny and human books that kids and adults are drawn to. This book is no different. The way that he combines drawings over real pictures is genius. It makes the stories feel that much more real. He created these amazing characters that everyone can relate to. We have all experienced what Trixie felt and that panic is universal. I know that this is a series of books that kids absolutely adore and I can completely understand why. Mo Willems love for his daughter, Trixie, is completely apparent in these books and it creates a love that we can all share. Her character is so real and raw and human that adults and kids alike can't help but wanting to know what she and Knuffle Bunny will do next.
Teaching Tips:
I have seen this book read in a classroom during story time and although the kids had heard the story many times before, they wanted to hear it again and again. I think that this is a great story to share with students for group readings (I truly think all elementary students will enjoy it). I also think that you could do a lot with the drawings and have older students create stories out of the situations in the background. What is the old lady in front of the schools story and so on and so forth. I really love this story and can't wait to read and find out what happens in Knuffle Bunny Two and Knuffle Bunny Free.
My Favorite Part:
I think that even more than Trixie's speech, I love the concept of drawings on pictures. I think that it is just such a great way to humanize a story. The panic in daddy's face is also priceless and that feeling of when you are with a child having a melt down was brilliantly communicated through illustrations. I think that this story is just so raw and real that there is so much to love about it. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library.
Genre: Picture Book. Copyright: 2004. Pages: 40.
Can you remember way back, when you were so little that you couldn't even talk? How on earth were you able to communicate your needs to your mommy and your daddy? What would you do if you were that little and one day your favorite toy went missing? This is the story of one little girl, Trixie, who was just that small, that when her bunny Knuffle Bunny went missing, there was only one thing she could do! Find out what happens to Trixie and Knuffle Bunny in this delightful cautionary tale by Mo Willems.
Summary:
The book starts with images of a couple getting married and then they have a baby and then they by a house. Later you see an image of Trixie with her bunny Knuffle Bunny. This is the tale of when Trixie and her daddy went on an errand together. They walk down the block and threw the park, past the school and into the laundry mat. Trixe was a big helper and was able to help her daddy load and run the washer. Trouble started a couple of blocks later when she realized that she had lost something. This of course was exasperated by the fact that Trixie was still not old enough yet to talk! As she tried to communicate her distress to her daddy her words only came out incoherent to him which out of frustration caused her to loose it! She threw as much of a tantrum as she could to try to communicate with her daddy what was wrong. The whole way home she cried, not only wearing her out, but wearing out daddy as well. As soon as they got home however, mommy took one look at the pair and asked, "well, where is Knuffle Bunny?" With a flash of awareness of what all the fuss was all about, the three of them took off running back to the laundry mat. They ran through the park, they ran past the school and they ran straight into the laundry mat. In the laundry mat they searched and searched and searched and still couldn't find Knuffle Bunny! Finally, in one last ditch attempt, daddy searched inside the laundry! And sure enough, there was Knuffle Bunny all clean and shiny! Trixie grabbed Knuffle Bunny and hugged him so tight! And sure enough, said two very important words, "Knuffle Bunny". And those were the first two words that Trixie ever said. Happily, arm in arm, the family quietly left the laundry mat and walked all the way home.
My Assessment:
Mo Willems is a master. Not only of words but also art. He creates these amazingly funny and human books that kids and adults are drawn to. This book is no different. The way that he combines drawings over real pictures is genius. It makes the stories feel that much more real. He created these amazing characters that everyone can relate to. We have all experienced what Trixie felt and that panic is universal. I know that this is a series of books that kids absolutely adore and I can completely understand why. Mo Willems love for his daughter, Trixie, is completely apparent in these books and it creates a love that we can all share. Her character is so real and raw and human that adults and kids alike can't help but wanting to know what she and Knuffle Bunny will do next.
Teaching Tips:
I have seen this book read in a classroom during story time and although the kids had heard the story many times before, they wanted to hear it again and again. I think that this is a great story to share with students for group readings (I truly think all elementary students will enjoy it). I also think that you could do a lot with the drawings and have older students create stories out of the situations in the background. What is the old lady in front of the schools story and so on and so forth. I really love this story and can't wait to read and find out what happens in Knuffle Bunny Two and Knuffle Bunny Free.
My Favorite Part:
I think that even more than Trixie's speech, I love the concept of drawings on pictures. I think that it is just such a great way to humanize a story. The panic in daddy's face is also priceless and that feeling of when you are with a child having a melt down was brilliantly communicated through illustrations. I think that this story is just so raw and real that there is so much to love about it. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library.