Knuffle Bunny

Willems, M. (2004).  Knuffle bunny.  New York:  Hyperion Books for Children.

 Knuffle Bunny is a great picture book about a little girl named Trixie, who goes on a little adventure with her dad to the local laundromat when her beloved animal, Knuffle Bunny, comes up missing! Trixie cannot convey to her dad what is wrong and so she tries in many ways to "tell" him.  Mom has to help save the day. Trixie pronounces her favorite animal as "ka-nuffle" bunny.  It is a Dutch word that means to "snuggle or hug", which is what every child wants to do to his or her favorite stuffed animal or blanket!  The images in this story are why this is one of my favorite books.  The author/illustrator uses hand-drawn sketches and digital photography in sepia.  It really adds definition to the story by making the illustrations more life like and fun to look at.  Mo Willems is a very funny author and loves to combine drama and comedy all rolled into one hilarious story!  This book can connect in the classroom through social skills (feelings), literacy (predicting, retelling, acting out the story), or language (draw a picture of a favorite stuffed animal and describe it).

Big question(s):  How would you feel if you lost your favorite stuffed animal?  How else do you think Trixie could have told her dad about her lost Knuffle Bunny?  How was she feeling at the beginning of the story?  the middle?  the end?