BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE New York: Hyperion Books for Children ISBN 0786818700

PLOT SUMMARY

Through the clever combination of sepia- toned photographs and color drawings, Mo Willems tells the story of what happens when a father takes his daughter along to do the laundry and her precious stuffed toy becomes mislaid. Unable to speak, young Trixie does all she can to make herself understood, but it takes Mom’s insight to identify the problem and lead to its solution.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

By placing the character drawings onto photographic backgrounds, Willems engages the reader’s attention and pulls him into the story. We see Trixie and her father leave home with the laundry, walk down the street, go through the park, pass the school, and finally enter the laundry. The photographs manage to convey a sense of distance, transforming a simple walk into an adventure. As Trixie has a great time at the laundry, her father watches her so closely he fails to notice that Knuffle Bunny has been thrown into the washer with the clothes. As they head home, Trixie screams and acts up in an attempt to tell her father the toy is missing. Once they reach home, Mom spots the problem immediately and they all race back to the laundromat where Knuffle Bunny is rescued. Young readers who have been drawn into the story will share the relief when Knuffle Bunny is safely returned to Trixie, as will adults. Words are used minimally on each page to serve as an addition to the illustrations which convey the largest part of the story. Knuffle Bunny is a very popular book amongst young children because it is so engaging. Readers can relate to the characters, and the emotions expressed throughout the book are very realistic.

REVIEW EXCERPT
"The natural audience for this offering is a little older than its main character: they will easily identify with Trixie's grief and at the same time feel superior to her parent--and rejoice wholeheartedly at the happy reunion. (Picture book. 2-5) 2004."
"KNUFFLE BUNNY: A Cautionary Tale (Book)." Kirkus Reviews 72, no. 15: 750-750. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed September 7, 2009).

CONNECTIONS
Willems, Mo. 2007 Knuffle Bunny too: a case of mistaken identity. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 1423102991