Knuffle Bunny

Author & Illustrator:   Mo Willems
Publisher:  Hyperion
Publication Year:   2004
Location: Knox County Public Library- Halls

Awards:   Caldecott Honor, Irma Black Medal,Charlotte Zolotow

Honor, ALA Notable Book,IRA Children's Choice, Child Magazine Best Book, NY Public

Wanda Gag Read Aloud Honor ,CCBC Choice Book ,School Library Journal Best Book, Horn Book Fanfare, Kirkus Review  Editor's Choice


Summary:  Trixie, Daddy & Knuffle Bunny go to the laundromat but disaster strikes when Knuffle Bunny is left behind. Trixie tries everything (she fusses, she bawls, she goes boneless) to show unhappy she is, but Daddy doesn't understand. Trixie's Mommy immediately realizes that Knuffle Bunny is missing and the whole family runs back to the laundromat. Daddy finds Knuffle Bunny in the bottom of the washer and then Trixie says her first words, "Knuffle Bunny!" This book always gets to me because my daughter had a beloved Lambie who now lives in a hotel room in Alaska! Willems's groundbreaking technique of inserting his sketches into true photographs of NYC was used for the first time in this book.

Classroom Ideas: The familiar themes would appeal to any young reader. An art teacher could introduce the artistic technique here and have kids try it for themselves.