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Flockhart, Calista, et al. Knuffle bunny
--and more great childhood adventure stories. Weston, CT New York: Weston Woods
Studios, Scholastic, 2007. DVD.
ISBN: 054505642X
Audience: Ages 2-7, Grade PK-2
Summary: Part of the Scholastic Storybook
series, this story is approximately 5 minutes long and is one of six stories
included on the DVD. The story starts with a girl and her daddy sitting down to
read a book. The story is called Knuffle Bunny and the two discuss the pictures
on the end papers. We soon learn that Knuffle Bunny is Trixie’s faithful friend
and goes with her everywhere. One day Trixie and her daddy go to the
Laundromat. Disaster strikes when Knuffle gets mixed up in some clothes and is
lost in the washing machine. Daddy doesn’t know what has happened and is very worried
with Trixie’s crying, screaming, and going “boneless.” When they get home,
Mommy realizes that Knuffle Bunny is missing and the family races back to the
Laundromat to look for her. After searching all the wet clothes, she is finally
found, and Trixie says her first words: “KNUFFLE BUNNY!” The movie ends with
the girl Trixie and her Daddy discussing the back cover of the book and an “I
love you, Trixie” from the Daddy.
Strengths: The narration by the real Mo,
Cher, and Trixie Willems is a delight and discovering that they are in fact the
true family in the stories would thrill any viewers. The DVD includes an easily
navigated menu so that the individual stories can be chosen, and the option to
turn a close captioning “Read Along” feature on and off. The jazzy musical
track is extremely well done and adds to the mood of the story, while Willem’s
traditional background photographs of New York are seamlessly mixed with
animation. The quirky way that the characters run in and out of the frames made
by the book’s illustrations is engaging and continually reminds the audience
that a book is being read.
Weaknesses:
The other stories on the DVD are not as classic and probably wouldn’t be
as popular as Knuffle Bunny. Some
critics have said that the book portrays the Daddy in a bad light because he
doesn’t realize Knuffle Bunny is missing.
Uses: Videos with closed captions can be used
with ESOL students, learning disabled students, and struggling readers for
support so that they can read the same material or similar material as their
peers. They also provide an example of
fluent reading and appropriate phrasing, intonation, and articulation, as well as
practice for critical listening. Students
can discuss character with the added information that the voices in the video
are the actual characters from the book (CCSS ELA:RL.3 Grades K-6). The book could be compared & contrasted
with the video (CCSS ELA:RL 7 Grades 4-6).
Read-alikes:
·
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late DVD collection – Mo Willems (the
pigeon won’t go to bed, also includes Knuffle Bunny Free – the last Knuffle
Bunny book)
·
Knuffle Bunny Too and Knuffle Bunny Free – Mo Willems (the
continuation of the Knuffle Bunny story)
·
Llama Llama Red Pajama - Anna
Dewdney (the llama tries to go to sleep but she wants her mama)
·
Wemberly Worried – Kevin Henkes (Wemberly is anxious about
everything, big and small)
Awards:
Carnegie Medal for Excellence
Parents’ Choice Gold Award
