Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale Book Review
By Kelly Hartman
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2004. ISBN 0439801982
PLOT SUMMARY
Trixie, who is too young to speak, goes with her daddy on an errand. Trixie has a great time walking through the neighborhood with her stuffed bunny. While Trixie plays at the laundromat, her bunny accidentally gets placed in a washing machine. She doesn't realize it until she's on her way home; and since she can't speak, she throws a tantrum. Her mommy notices that Knuffle Bunny is missing, so the family searches until they find the stuffed animal, wet, but safe and sound at the laundromat. When Trixie is reunited with her prized possession, she is prompted to say her first words, "Knuffle Bunny."
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The joy of accompanying a parent on an errand with the added security of a beloved stuffed animal gives Trixie's story credibility with readers of all ages. Trixie's carefree playfulness has the reader hoping that she won't forget about her bunny. But the detail of the stuffed animal in the basket and then peeking out of the window of the washing machine allows the reader to predict the inevitable. The reader agonizes with Trixie as she tries to communicate with daddy through gurgles, babbles, and tantrums, and then exhales a sigh of relief when mommy observes Knuffle Bunny's absence. The hurried change of pace in pursuit of Knuffle Bunny's whereabouts confirms that mommy and daddy will not rest until it is found. In the end, the surprise of Trixie's first words adds another reason to celebrate this story.
The setting in the story is illustrated with sephia photographs of the buildings, park, and laundromat in the city. This artistic decision creates the mood for the realistic situation Willems intentionally sets. In contrast, the characters are illustrated with cartoon-like drawings with bright colors and definite outlines. In essence, this allows the characters to pop off the page and into our hearts. Through these drawings, Willems creates the crucial details of the ups and downs of Trixie's emotions. As the illustrator, he depicts her joy, sadness, and annoyance by the drawn lines around her eyes and mouth. The drawn picture frame on the last page highlights this happy ending as one that Trixie, and the reader, will always remember.
AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
2005 Caldecott Honor Book
2005 Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book
2005 Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award
"The accompanying pictures comically corroborate the omniscient narrator's claim. Willems once again demonstrates his keen insight with a story both witty and wise." -Publishers Weekly
CONNECTIONS
If you liked Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, check out:
Olivia and the Missing Toy by Ian Falconer ISBN-13 : 978-0689852916
Bun Bun Button by Patricia Polacco ISBN-13 978-0399254727
2005 Caldecott Winner and Honors
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes ISBN-13 : 978-0060588281
The Red Book by Barbara Lehman ISBN-13 : 978-0618428588
Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson ISBN-13 : 978-0399237485
Author Study: Gather More Books by Mo Willems
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Missing Identity ISBN-13 : 978-1423102991
Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion ISBN-13 : 978-0061929571
We Are In a Book ISBN-13 : 978-1423133087
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus ISBN-13 : 978-0786819881
TeachingBooks Resource
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Reference for Teaching Resources
TeachingBooks.net (n.d.) TeachingBooks | Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Retrieved from https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=3859Check out Knuffle Bunny in other Media:
Audiobook(2007 Audie Award) narrated by Mo, Cher, and Trixie Willems ISBN: 9780545555067
Animation(2007 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video) ASIN : B000UL61HA
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