Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Bibliography
Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY. Ills. Mo Willems. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786818700

Plot Summary
A little girl named Trixie walks to the laundromat with her father and her beloved stuffed animal whom she calls, "Knuffle Bunny." Trixie "helps" her father start the laundry and then they leave to walk home. While they are walking Trixie suddenly realizes that she Knuffle Bunny is missing! She tries to explain to her father what has happened but her father does not understand her. Trixie tries to explain again and again until she realizes that her father is not going to understand what she is trying to say. So, she "bawls" and goes "boneless" to show her father how unhappy she is about not having Knuffle Bunny. However, as soon as they make it home, mom realizes that Trixie is not carrying Knuffle Bunny, so the whole family runs back to the laundromat to look for it. When they find it, Trixie says her very first real words, "Knuffle Bunny!!!"

Critical Analysis
Mo Willems uses "a melding of hand-drawn ink sketches and digital photography in a computer (where the sketches were colored and shaded, the photographs given their sepiea tone, and sundry air conditioners, garbage cans, and industrial debris expunged)." The lines used to make the sketches can still be seen in the finished product which adds to the charm of these illustrations. Each illustration is set on an olive-green background, which not only helps the illustrations stand out, but the writing stand out as well. The characters are expressive faces that show how the characters must be feeling. Willems uses speech bubbles when Trixie speaks. The size and font of the words changes to show the volume or intensity that she is using.
The book introduces the problems that can occur when proper communication is not possible.

Awards Recieved
Winner of Caldecott Award of 2005
Starred Review by SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The concise, deftly told narrative becomes the perfect springboard for the pictures."

Connections
*Trixie's mood changes a lot throughout the story. Good book for exploring emotions and the visual cues to how people are feeling (facial expressions).
*Author/Illustrator Study on Mo Willems
*Other books by Mo Willems:
Willems, Mo. 2007. KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO: A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. ISBN 1423102991
Willems, Mo. 2003. DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS. ISBN 078681988
Willems, Mo. 2004. THE PIGEON FINDS A HOTDOG! ISBN 0786818697