Title: Knuffle Bunny : a cautionary tale
Author: Mo Willems.
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, p2004, c2004
ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-1870-9
ISBN-10: 0-7868-1870-0
Interest/Reading Levels: Grades
K-3/1.9
Book Summary:
In the words of the famous Will
Smith, “Parents JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND!” This tale cautions parents to pay close
attention to the faces of their children, because more often than not, it is
the face not words that are saying something! Darling toddler Trixie is off
the Laundromat with daddy. When it is time to leave however, readers will immediately
notice dear Trixie’s “Knuffle Bunny” is still sitting in the Laundromat window. Trixie
tries desperately to get Daddy to understand her despair! "AGGLE FLAGGLE
KLABBLE,” she repeats to him to no avail! Trixie pulls out every stop card she
knows from throwing a fit, to going limp to get Daddy to listen. Daddy however just becomes frazzled and embarrassed not know what
the screaming child wants. Readers need not
despair however, as the moment they arrive home mommy notices right away and
asks simply, “where is Knuffle Bunny?”
Of course the family hightails it back to the Laundromat to Trixie’s
utter relief.
My Thoughts:
This is the absolute BEST book! My son and I have read this over and over
since the first time I introduced it to him last week and every time we laugh
our heads off. Williams is a master at
making illustrations tell a story. The story follows a wonderful sequence as Trixie and Daddy head out into the community for the day. Even the youngest readers will pick up on how the same areas are passed each time to and from the Laundromat. Every
parent will relate to the ordeal of having a screaming child and every adult
bystander will relate to watching it. Father’s
will nod at the “ah ha” moment when it is finally established what is wrong,
and mother’s will smile knowingly at the facial expressions. All of us at one time or another has had
those strong feelings of frustration over loosing a “knuffle” of some sort, and
this book portrays that frustration perfectly.
Library
Toolbox of Tips and Tricks: All
in the Face: Knuffle Bunny is all about facial
expressions! Work with Kindergarten students to pick out all the
different facial expressions in the book. Take a picture of each of the
students pointing to the face in the book and them making the same one. Then
create a power-point book “Jenny’s face is angry!” "Kale's face is surprised!" Then post the power-point the library T.V’s on
a loop. Students will LOVE to rush to the library to see who's face is flashing a new expression!
We all had Knuffles!
Ask students to
bring in, draw a picture of, or tell about their “Knuffle” growing up! I bet
everyone had a favorite toy at some point! My little Kale’s is a UNT stuffed eagle!
References:
Image:
Knuffle Bunny [cover image]. Retrieved from:
http://www.titlewave.com/cover?FLR=21033Q6&
SID=2dcbeefa5ae31261c2c9e6cc10abccd8&type=cover
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