1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2001. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689855532
2. SUMMARY
Sophie is a young teenage girl who reveals her deepest secrets through poetry in a style that feels like writing in a diary. She finds herself in between childhood and adulthood, most of the story deals with her search for love. She goes through a few attractive boys only to finally settle on a boy that makes her happy, but is embarrassingly "homely". She is not sure if this relationship can work because she is afraid of what her friends and other peers will have to say about it. Always in the background is Sophie's less than ideal family life. Her mother and father fight a lot and both are emotionally distant. The book ends on a positive if not definitive note however, as Sophie chooses the unattractive boy and seems to be pleased with her choice.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sones does an impeccable job of fooling the reader into believing that Sophie is real at that we are actually reading her words and not the words of Sones. Not only does Sophie sounds age appropriate, she also sounds contemporary "I'm going to e them back". This makes Sones' writing very comfortable for young readers to connect with. Breaking a novel down into hundreds of individual poems could easily make for a choppy story, but the flow is remarkably smooth and one poem seems to lead naturally into the next. Often times in fact, the rhythm of the verse seems to quicken the pace novel, which makes for a fast read.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
starred review: PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY "Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike"
AMAZON.COM "shamefully delicious collection of angst poems is a loving and amazingly accurate tribute to adolescent girlhood"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Collect Sonya Sones's other teen verse novels for young adults to explore
*Have teens choose one poem from the book that they identify with the most and discuss their reasons
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Book Review: Stepping Out with Grandma Mac
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. STEPPING OUT WITH GRANDMA MAC. Ill. Angelo. New York, NY: Orchard Books. ISBN 9780531303207
2. SUMMARY
In this book, a young girl tells the story of her relationship with her grandmother through a series of poems, each describing a memory or an emotion tied to Grandma Mac. Grandma Mac does not fit the typical grandmother archetype that the main character has in her mind. Grandma Mac does not bake cookies or spoil her granddaughter in any way and never says anything sweet like "come here sugar". Even so, the girl finds small ways to connect with her grandmother and ends up figuring out that her grandmother does love her but has her own ways of showing (or not showing) her love.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through poetry, Nikki Grimes manages to discuss with grace a very important but difficult subject. Families are not all the same. Children need to know that families come in all shapes and sizes and that just because their family does not match the ones in their picture books, it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with them. The girl in this book had a "grandma in [her] mind". She probably developed this image from a combination of sources including books. She spends quite a bit of time trying to reconcile this idea of what a grandma should be like with her own living, breathing grandmother that happened to be a real person. The rhythm of her poetry lends itself beautifully to oral expression and the language is simple enough for young readers to enjoy without having to try and interpret meaning.
Angelo's simple but realistic pen and ink drawings help the reader to imagine certain elements of the poems. They are not on every page and they really do not need to be. Although they are lovely drawings, Grimes' poems are strong enough to stand alone if need be.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A rewarding poetry experience."
5. CONNECTIONS
* Ask children to compile a list of words that they associate with grandparents, then have them discuss any ways a grandparent of theirs is different from this collection of words.
* Have children brainstorm different ways of showing a person that you love and care about them
* Compile poetry books about family
Grimes, Nikki. STEPPING OUT WITH GRANDMA MAC. Ill. Angelo. New York, NY: Orchard Books. ISBN 9780531303207
2. SUMMARY
In this book, a young girl tells the story of her relationship with her grandmother through a series of poems, each describing a memory or an emotion tied to Grandma Mac. Grandma Mac does not fit the typical grandmother archetype that the main character has in her mind. Grandma Mac does not bake cookies or spoil her granddaughter in any way and never says anything sweet like "come here sugar". Even so, the girl finds small ways to connect with her grandmother and ends up figuring out that her grandmother does love her but has her own ways of showing (or not showing) her love.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through poetry, Nikki Grimes manages to discuss with grace a very important but difficult subject. Families are not all the same. Children need to know that families come in all shapes and sizes and that just because their family does not match the ones in their picture books, it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with them. The girl in this book had a "grandma in [her] mind". She probably developed this image from a combination of sources including books. She spends quite a bit of time trying to reconcile this idea of what a grandma should be like with her own living, breathing grandmother that happened to be a real person. The rhythm of her poetry lends itself beautifully to oral expression and the language is simple enough for young readers to enjoy without having to try and interpret meaning.
Angelo's simple but realistic pen and ink drawings help the reader to imagine certain elements of the poems. They are not on every page and they really do not need to be. Although they are lovely drawings, Grimes' poems are strong enough to stand alone if need be.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A rewarding poetry experience."
5. CONNECTIONS
* Ask children to compile a list of words that they associate with grandparents, then have them discuss any ways a grandparent of theirs is different from this collection of words.
* Have children brainstorm different ways of showing a person that you love and care about them
* Compile poetry books about family
Friday, June 25, 2010
Book Review: Lon Po Po
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Young, Ed. LON PO PO: A RED-RIDING HOOD STORY FROM CHINA. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. ISBN 039921619
2. SUMMARY
In this Chinese folktale, a mother leaves her three children at home to go and visit their grandmother. Before she leaves, she instructs the children to bolt the door and not let anyone come inside. The mean old wolf that lives near by sees the mother leave and decides to take advantage of the situation. The wolf disguises himself as an old woman and pretends to be the children's grandmother in order to get himself let into the house. His plan works and the children lead him inside. The wolf blows out the children's candle, so they cannot get a good look at him, but while laying in bed with the wolf, they begin to ask questions. The oldest child is the one who discovers the truth and she comes up with a plan to kill the wolf by tricking him with a Ginkgo tree. The mother returns home the next day and the children share their story.
3. LITERARY CRITICISM
In this version of the classic Little Red-Riding Hood tale, the children are very easily fooled by the wolf, just like the European version. However, here they are wise enough to discover the truth before it is too late. Also, unlike the European version, the little girls do not have to depend on the big strong manhood of the lumberjack/hunter figure to defeat the wolf. The children themselves are brave enough in this story to devise and carry out a plan for destruction.
The Caldecott Medal winning illustrations are very beautiful. The pastel drawings give just enough detail, leaving the rest of the scene to be imagined by the reader.
4. LITERARY CRITICISM
-PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY "The juxtaposition of abstract and realistic representations, the complicated play of color and shadow, and the depth of the artist's vision all help transform this simple fairy tale into an extraordinary and powerful book"
-starred review SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Talk to students about the concept of "stranger danger" in the book and in their lives.
*Read and compare different variations of the Red-Riding Hood tale
Young, Ed. LON PO PO: A RED-RIDING HOOD STORY FROM CHINA. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. ISBN 039921619
2. SUMMARY
In this Chinese folktale, a mother leaves her three children at home to go and visit their grandmother. Before she leaves, she instructs the children to bolt the door and not let anyone come inside. The mean old wolf that lives near by sees the mother leave and decides to take advantage of the situation. The wolf disguises himself as an old woman and pretends to be the children's grandmother in order to get himself let into the house. His plan works and the children lead him inside. The wolf blows out the children's candle, so they cannot get a good look at him, but while laying in bed with the wolf, they begin to ask questions. The oldest child is the one who discovers the truth and she comes up with a plan to kill the wolf by tricking him with a Ginkgo tree. The mother returns home the next day and the children share their story.
3. LITERARY CRITICISM
In this version of the classic Little Red-Riding Hood tale, the children are very easily fooled by the wolf, just like the European version. However, here they are wise enough to discover the truth before it is too late. Also, unlike the European version, the little girls do not have to depend on the big strong manhood of the lumberjack/hunter figure to defeat the wolf. The children themselves are brave enough in this story to devise and carry out a plan for destruction.
The Caldecott Medal winning illustrations are very beautiful. The pastel drawings give just enough detail, leaving the rest of the scene to be imagined by the reader.
4. LITERARY CRITICISM
-PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY "The juxtaposition of abstract and realistic representations, the complicated play of color and shadow, and the depth of the artist's vision all help transform this simple fairy tale into an extraordinary and powerful book"
-starred review SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Talk to students about the concept of "stranger danger" in the book and in their lives.
*Read and compare different variations of the Red-Riding Hood tale
Monday, June 21, 2010
Book Review: Cinderella
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brown, Marcia, Trans. 1954. CINDERELLA. Ill. Marcia Brown. New York, NY: Aladdin. ISBN 0689814747
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this folk tale translated from Charles Perrault's CENDRILLION, Cinderella is the daughter of a man who marries a wicked woman with two wicked daughters. Cinderella on the other hand is one hundred percent good. So good, that when she is transformed into a beautiful princess and sent to the ball, she finds her wicked stepsisters and gives them "a thousand kindnesses" including the gifts of citrus fruits that the prince has given her. In the end, she even forgives her wicked stepsisters and invites them to live in the palace with her, marrying them to Lords of the court.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This syrupy sweet version of the classic Cinderella tale, has many of the normal elements of a fairytale: good vs. evil, a damsel in distress, and a lot of magic. The idea that the good get rewarded while the evil get the punishment that they deserve is, however, is completely missing here. This is either totally refreshing, or sadly disappointing, depending on the expectations and attitudes of the reader.
Marcia Brown's Caldecott Medal winning illustrations are lovely and do a nice job of carrying out the magical, ethereal feeling of the fairytale. The drawings appear to be pen and pastel. Unfortunately, all of the faces look nearly the same and echo the images you might see on a deck of cards.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT
I was unable to find any book reviews, likely because this book was published so long ago.
5. CONNECTIONS
* Collect many different versions of the Cinderella tale.
* Discuss why Cinderella treated her wicked stepsisters so nicely, and whether or not you think its a good thing.
Brown, Marcia, Trans. 1954. CINDERELLA. Ill. Marcia Brown. New York, NY: Aladdin. ISBN 0689814747
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this folk tale translated from Charles Perrault's CENDRILLION, Cinderella is the daughter of a man who marries a wicked woman with two wicked daughters. Cinderella on the other hand is one hundred percent good. So good, that when she is transformed into a beautiful princess and sent to the ball, she finds her wicked stepsisters and gives them "a thousand kindnesses" including the gifts of citrus fruits that the prince has given her. In the end, she even forgives her wicked stepsisters and invites them to live in the palace with her, marrying them to Lords of the court.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This syrupy sweet version of the classic Cinderella tale, has many of the normal elements of a fairytale: good vs. evil, a damsel in distress, and a lot of magic. The idea that the good get rewarded while the evil get the punishment that they deserve is, however, is completely missing here. This is either totally refreshing, or sadly disappointing, depending on the expectations and attitudes of the reader.
Marcia Brown's Caldecott Medal winning illustrations are lovely and do a nice job of carrying out the magical, ethereal feeling of the fairytale. The drawings appear to be pen and pastel. Unfortunately, all of the faces look nearly the same and echo the images you might see on a deck of cards.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT
I was unable to find any book reviews, likely because this book was published so long ago.
5. CONNECTIONS
* Collect many different versions of the Cinderella tale.
* Discuss why Cinderella treated her wicked stepsisters so nicely, and whether or not you think its a good thing.
Book Review: Moonbeams, Dumplings and Dragon Boats
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simonds, Nina and Leslie Swartz. 2002. MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS AND DRAGON BOATS. Ill. Meilo So. New York, NY: Harcourt. ISBN 0152019839
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this collection of folktales, recipes and crafts, the authors introduce readers to five Chinese holidays and festivals. First, the tradition of each holiday is explained, followed by a folktale that give readers insight into a bit of the reasoning behind some of the traditions. After that, recipes and craft ideas that correlate with the holiday and the folk tale are given, each ranked by difficulty level and time of preparation. The festivals discussed here are the Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simonds and Swartz have really done their homework here and they are very careful to explain that all Chinese traditions, be they recipes, stories, or ways of celebrating vary widely. They stress that the information presented paints a good picture of Chinese culture, but does not claim to be an expert on all of the many nuances present in different regions. The book is set up in such a way as to make it easy for adults to really help children fully experience the festivals. The way that the stories are matched up with supporting recipes and activities makes this book a no brainer educational tool.
Meilo So's illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. Her pen and watercolor paintings fill the book with intense color. She not only does a beautiful job illustrating the folktales, she also depicts the ingredients of the recipes as well as detailed steps in the craft projects. She even succeeds in making a picture of a lowly cardboard box look like art.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "elegantly designed volume"
LIBRARY SCHOOL JOURNAL: "Moonbeams is a useful, visually appealing addition to any holiday collection"
5. CONNECTIONS
* Have children use a lunar calendar to figure out what days the festivals in the book will fall on during the following year of the traditional Western calendar.
* Prepare a few recipes from the book and decorate the classroom with a few of the craft ideas for a party.
Simonds, Nina and Leslie Swartz. 2002. MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS AND DRAGON BOATS. Ill. Meilo So. New York, NY: Harcourt. ISBN 0152019839
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this collection of folktales, recipes and crafts, the authors introduce readers to five Chinese holidays and festivals. First, the tradition of each holiday is explained, followed by a folktale that give readers insight into a bit of the reasoning behind some of the traditions. After that, recipes and craft ideas that correlate with the holiday and the folk tale are given, each ranked by difficulty level and time of preparation. The festivals discussed here are the Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simonds and Swartz have really done their homework here and they are very careful to explain that all Chinese traditions, be they recipes, stories, or ways of celebrating vary widely. They stress that the information presented paints a good picture of Chinese culture, but does not claim to be an expert on all of the many nuances present in different regions. The book is set up in such a way as to make it easy for adults to really help children fully experience the festivals. The way that the stories are matched up with supporting recipes and activities makes this book a no brainer educational tool.
Meilo So's illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. Her pen and watercolor paintings fill the book with intense color. She not only does a beautiful job illustrating the folktales, she also depicts the ingredients of the recipes as well as detailed steps in the craft projects. She even succeeds in making a picture of a lowly cardboard box look like art.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "elegantly designed volume"
LIBRARY SCHOOL JOURNAL: "Moonbeams is a useful, visually appealing addition to any holiday collection"
5. CONNECTIONS
* Have children use a lunar calendar to figure out what days the festivals in the book will fall on during the following year of the traditional Western calendar.
* Prepare a few recipes from the book and decorate the classroom with a few of the craft ideas for a party.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Book Review: Artist to Artist
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gauch, Patricia Lee; David Briggs; Courtenay Palmer; Kiffin Stuerer Eds. ARTIST TO ARTIST: 23 MAJOR ILLUSTRATORS TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ART. New York, NY: Philomel. 2007. ISBN 0399246002
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, 23 important illustrators write personal letters to an audience of children that would like to grow up and illustrate books themselves. The artists talk about themselves as children, how the became illustrators, and also give a little insight into the way they work today. There are also some really neat fold out pages for each essay, hidden by a self portrait. The pictures are a mixture of photographs and illustrations drawn by the coordinating artist.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The most special part of this book is the tone of respect that each artist shows when speaking to the imagined children that read this book. They sound full of confidence that their audience possesses the talent and potential to reach their dreams, just as the artist themselves have. Most of the artists also do a great job of revealing so many parts of themselves that they are able to accomplish the difficult feat of becoming more human and real in the eye of the reader. The self portraits and the pictures of their work spaces, some neat and tidy and some that look tornado torn, offer such an intimate picture that the reader feels like they are enjoying a very special treat.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "a gorgeous, browsable gallery of international treasures"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Gather books illustrated by the different artists in the book
*Have children practice illustrating a story and have them focus on embracing their own style
Gauch, Patricia Lee; David Briggs; Courtenay Palmer; Kiffin Stuerer Eds. ARTIST TO ARTIST: 23 MAJOR ILLUSTRATORS TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ART. New York, NY: Philomel. 2007. ISBN 0399246002
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, 23 important illustrators write personal letters to an audience of children that would like to grow up and illustrate books themselves. The artists talk about themselves as children, how the became illustrators, and also give a little insight into the way they work today. There are also some really neat fold out pages for each essay, hidden by a self portrait. The pictures are a mixture of photographs and illustrations drawn by the coordinating artist.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The most special part of this book is the tone of respect that each artist shows when speaking to the imagined children that read this book. They sound full of confidence that their audience possesses the talent and potential to reach their dreams, just as the artist themselves have. Most of the artists also do a great job of revealing so many parts of themselves that they are able to accomplish the difficult feat of becoming more human and real in the eye of the reader. The self portraits and the pictures of their work spaces, some neat and tidy and some that look tornado torn, offer such an intimate picture that the reader feels like they are enjoying a very special treat.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "a gorgeous, browsable gallery of international treasures"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Gather books illustrated by the different artists in the book
*Have children practice illustrating a story and have them focus on embracing their own style
Book Review: The Hello, Goodbye Window
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Juster, Norton. 2005. THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW. Ill. by Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786809140
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this very simple story, a little girl describes a visit to her grandparents' house from her point of view, which is focused on the kitchen window. The little girl begins by talking about the way she likes to approach the home by stopping by the kitchen window to look in and make faces with her grandparents. During her stay, life for the trio revolves around the kitchen and they enjoy looking through the window out into the garden, and they enjoy the day doing ordinary things like eating breakfast and playing in the yard. At night, they look out of the kitchen to view the stars. The next day, the little girl's parents come to pick her up and the window becomes a place to share goodbyes.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
There is no suspense in this story, no problem, no resolution, no rising or falling action. The charm of this book is due entirely to the fact that we are being told a story from the point of view of a child. She has such a pure innocence that she is impressed by her grandfather's corny jokes and single song that he can play on the harmonica. She also really believes her grandparents when she is told that absolutely nothing will happen during her nap. Viewing this home through a child's perspective is very refreshing.
Chris Raschka's illustrations do a beautiful job of echoing the child-like point of view of Norton Juster's story. The water color and oil pastel pictures are playful and bright. They do a great job of conveying the emotion of the scenes.
4. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Caldecott Medal
Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "Perfect for lap-sharing, this book will find favor with children and adults alike"
Starred Review in BOOKLIST "speaks to the real lives of children and their experiences"
5. CONNECTION
* Norton Juster also wrote the beloved young adult book THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
Juster, Norton. 2005. THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW. Ill. by Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786809140
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this very simple story, a little girl describes a visit to her grandparents' house from her point of view, which is focused on the kitchen window. The little girl begins by talking about the way she likes to approach the home by stopping by the kitchen window to look in and make faces with her grandparents. During her stay, life for the trio revolves around the kitchen and they enjoy looking through the window out into the garden, and they enjoy the day doing ordinary things like eating breakfast and playing in the yard. At night, they look out of the kitchen to view the stars. The next day, the little girl's parents come to pick her up and the window becomes a place to share goodbyes.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
There is no suspense in this story, no problem, no resolution, no rising or falling action. The charm of this book is due entirely to the fact that we are being told a story from the point of view of a child. She has such a pure innocence that she is impressed by her grandfather's corny jokes and single song that he can play on the harmonica. She also really believes her grandparents when she is told that absolutely nothing will happen during her nap. Viewing this home through a child's perspective is very refreshing.
Chris Raschka's illustrations do a beautiful job of echoing the child-like point of view of Norton Juster's story. The water color and oil pastel pictures are playful and bright. They do a great job of conveying the emotion of the scenes.
4. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Caldecott Medal
Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "Perfect for lap-sharing, this book will find favor with children and adults alike"
Starred Review in BOOKLIST "speaks to the real lives of children and their experiences"
5. CONNECTION
* Norton Juster also wrote the beloved young adult book THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
Monday, June 14, 2010
Book Review: Knuffle Bunny
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE. Ill. by Mo Willems. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786818700
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this laugh out loud picture book, Mo Willems describes a seemingly ordinary day with his young daughter that goes terribly wrong. Father, daughter Trixie and Knuffle Bunny the stuffed animal venture to the laundromat together. All is well until they head home to wait out the wash cycle and Trixie discovers that she no longer has Knuffle Bunny in her possession. Unable to verbalize the situation, Trixie throws a tantrum for the record books until Mommy figures out what has happened. In the end, Knuffle Bunny is found and Trixie is so pleased, she lets out her first words "Knuffle Bunny".
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mo Willems's humorous and direct style of writing has a real feeling of authenticity to it. His description of how Trixie goes boneless in her attempt to convince her Dad that something is terribly wrong, resonates with the reader as a real tactic that children actually use. Tantrums are not usually the main driver in the plot of a picture book, but its a situation that both parents and anyone that is or ever was a child can relate to.
The illustrations are wonderfully innovative. Willems takes sepia toned photographs of the New York neighborhood that this story takes place in, and draws in the characters as if they were a natural part of the scene. The drawings are rather simplistic with two dimensions and no shading. Even so, Willems succeeds in created faces that are much more expressive than his words, making them essential. When Trixie throws her fit, we are told that Dad is not happy, but when we see his face, we see a man that is also embarrassed, frustrated, and worn out.
My one issue with this book is the underlying message that seems to lurk here that Moms can instantly identify the needs of even a nonverbal child, while Dads are not smart enough to get it. This is a theme commonly played out for entertainment's sake.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK: "This everyday drama will immediately register with even pre-verbal listeners"
starred review SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text"
5. CONNECTIONS
*As noted in the Horn Book review, the cautionary part of this story certainly seems directed at parents, although children can certainly appreciate the humor.
*Read Knuffle Bunny Too for updates on Trixie and her stuffed animal.
Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE. Ill. by Mo Willems. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786818700
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this laugh out loud picture book, Mo Willems describes a seemingly ordinary day with his young daughter that goes terribly wrong. Father, daughter Trixie and Knuffle Bunny the stuffed animal venture to the laundromat together. All is well until they head home to wait out the wash cycle and Trixie discovers that she no longer has Knuffle Bunny in her possession. Unable to verbalize the situation, Trixie throws a tantrum for the record books until Mommy figures out what has happened. In the end, Knuffle Bunny is found and Trixie is so pleased, she lets out her first words "Knuffle Bunny".
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mo Willems's humorous and direct style of writing has a real feeling of authenticity to it. His description of how Trixie goes boneless in her attempt to convince her Dad that something is terribly wrong, resonates with the reader as a real tactic that children actually use. Tantrums are not usually the main driver in the plot of a picture book, but its a situation that both parents and anyone that is or ever was a child can relate to.
The illustrations are wonderfully innovative. Willems takes sepia toned photographs of the New York neighborhood that this story takes place in, and draws in the characters as if they were a natural part of the scene. The drawings are rather simplistic with two dimensions and no shading. Even so, Willems succeeds in created faces that are much more expressive than his words, making them essential. When Trixie throws her fit, we are told that Dad is not happy, but when we see his face, we see a man that is also embarrassed, frustrated, and worn out.
My one issue with this book is the underlying message that seems to lurk here that Moms can instantly identify the needs of even a nonverbal child, while Dads are not smart enough to get it. This is a theme commonly played out for entertainment's sake.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK: "This everyday drama will immediately register with even pre-verbal listeners"
starred review SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text"
5. CONNECTIONS
*As noted in the Horn Book review, the cautionary part of this story certainly seems directed at parents, although children can certainly appreciate the humor.
*Read Knuffle Bunny Too for updates on Trixie and her stuffed animal.
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