Picture Books: Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Willems, Mo. 2004. Knuffle Bunny. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN0786818700

Summary 

Knuffle Bunny is a humorous tale that depicts the trauma a child suffers when a special stuffed animal is lost. Trixie, her father, and her beloved Knuffle Bunny, take a trip to the local laundromat. While helping her dad with the laundry, Trixie accidentally puts Knuffle Bunny in the basket, tossing him in with the dirty clothes. They leave before she realizes her bunny is gone. She expresses her concern to her father, only it’s gibberish, due to the fact that Trixie has not yet learned her words.  Unbeknownst to him, Trixie’s father continues to walk home. Her gibberish then turns to mayhem, causing her father to feel annoyed. As soon as they get home, the mother notices Knuffle Bunny is gone, and the whole family rushes to the laundromat to find him. Once found, Trixie speaks her first words, “Knuffle Bunny.”

Analysis

Not only does the plot take us on a journey that we can all relate too, but also, the pictures give us a realistic understanding of the setting. Willems' illustrations are a combination of hand drawn ink sketches and digital photography. The photos are black and white images of an actual front door, a neighborhood block, a park, a school, and, finally, the interior and exterior of the laundromat. The colorful illustrations of Trixie, Knuffle Bunny, and her parents stand out over the black and white photographs. The unique artistry of Willems' illustrations really brings the story to life.

Knuffle Bunny is told through an omniscient point of view and follows a true plot line. The story begins with the rising action of the trip to the laundromat and the unawareness of Knuffle Bunny's disappearance. The climactic moment of the story is a combination of events---Trixie's fits when she can't communicate her despair, paired with her mother's discovery of the missing bunny. The treasured toy reappears in the denouement, when the family finds him at the laundromat, and Trixie says her first words. The author's tone is very realistic, accurately portraying the feelings that children and their parents experience during moments of excitement, sadness, frustration, and relief.

Personal Response

I thoroughly enjoyed each aspect of Knuffle Bunny, from the text itself to the illustrations. I found it easy to relate to for anyone who has felt helpless after losing a stuffed animal, baby blanket, or anything special to them.

Reviews and Awards

"Even children who can already talk a blue streak will come away satisfied that their own strong emotions have been mirrored and legitimized, and readers of all ages will recognize the agonizing frustration of a little girl who knows far more than she can articulate."— Jennifer Mattson, Booklist

"These perfect pictures of New York City complement the family tale of Daddy who is wrong, wrong, wrong, and Trixie, who is totally right, but can’t yet say words to tell him. Heartwarming and hilarious." – Diantha McBride, School Library Journal

A 2005 Caldecott Honor Book

Connections

Mo Willems is an author that children would love to learn more about. His hilarious stories are widely appreciated by kids of all ages. Favorites include the Knuffle Bunny Series, the Pigeon Series (Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus), The Elephant and Piggie Series (I Love My New Toy), and the Naked Mole Rat Series (Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed). Students can study the author and present what they learn. They could also do book reports on their favorite Mo Willems books.

A cartoon version of the story can be found on Bookflix, a website created by Scholastic where children can listen and watch stories. Each story is paired with a non-fiction text. The site requires a log-in, which may be accessible through a school's library.