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.