A Review of KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE by Mo Willems

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Willems, Mo. 2004. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 07868170-0.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In the inaugural book of the Knuffle Bunny trilogy (Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, 2007, and Knuffle Bunny Free: an Unexpected Diversion to be published Fall 2010) toddler Trixie and her daddy set out for the Laundromat on an everyday adventure. The journey begins easily enough as the pair walks through the city to the Laundromat, Trixie helps load the laundry into the washer and they return home. Soon after leaving, though, Trixie realizes that something is amiss - her beloved Knuffle Bunny has been left at the Laundromat. Unfortunately, Trixie cannot talk yet, so her daddy cannot understand the problem, even after Trixie “bawl[s]” and goes “boneless.” Daddy wrestles the screaming Trixie home, where Trixie’s mommy quickly recognizes the problem. The whole family races back to the Laundromat where Daddy finally rescues the sodden Knuffle Bunny from the washer and Trixie utters her first words: “Knuffle Bunny!”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Using a combination of cartoon drawings against sepia-toned photographs and straight-forward writing, Willems deftly captures the trauma of a child’s lost “lovey” and every parent’s nightmare of the ensuing tantrum. This true story, “except for the parts I made up,” according to Willems, begins before the title page, with “framed” family photos of the wedding, Trixie’s birth, and the family in front of their home. Everyone is smiling happily, as they are when Trixie and Daddy set out on their errand. As the story progresses, the cartoon character’s expressions clearly convey the emotions of the tale: ranging from Trixie’s delight at a day with her Daddy, then her wide-eyed shock at the discovery of Knuffle Bunny’s disappearance to Daddy’s nonchalant whistling on the walk home, then his complete frustration with the inexplicable tantrum.

Willems’s understated prose allows the illustrations to tell the story and captivate the reader. At one point, Daddy even seems to make eye-contact with the reader as Willems writes, “By the time they got home, her daddy was unhappy, too.” As the family races to rescue Knuffle Bunny, their expressions vary from worried to frantic, then determined and concerned as the search goes on, finally breaking into smiles of relief and excitement as Knuffle Bunny is recovered. Through-out the story, the juxtaposition of the cartoon characters and photographed setting reflects the comedy inherent in many real-life situations.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Caldecott Honor Award

Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “In an innovative style that employs dappled black-and-white photographs of Brooklyn as backdrop to wickedly funny color cartoons, Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! ) creates an entertaining story for parents and children alike.”

Cooperative Children’s Book Center: “Willems’s lighthearted look at parent-toddler dynamics never makes light of a child’s effort to communicate.”

5. CONNECTIONS:

Focus on Trixie’s many expressions. Ask children to describe the emotions displayed, avoiding the usual choices happy, sad, mad, etc. http://www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com/data/books/tgpdf/07868187001407.pdf

Read Knuffle Bunny Too: a Case of Mistaken Identity ISBN: 1423102991and discuss similarities and differences.

Ask students to write about a favorite toy, stuffed animal, or comfort item.