Genre 1: Picture Books (Book 2)

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

B. Plot Summary
Trixie was a young child that hadn't even began speaking yet. She went to the laundromat with her father and brought along her toy bunny, Knuffle Bunny. Trixie's father loads the washing machine and inadvertently put Knuffle Bunny inside as well. One the way home, Trixie realizes that Knuffle Bunny is gone and is trying to explain this to her father with sounds that he doesn't understand. He just thought Trixie was getting fussy. As soon as they arrived home, Trixie's mom asked where Knuffle Bunny was. The whole family ran back to the laundromat and looked through the laundry until Knuffle Bunny was found. As soon as Trixie saw the bunny she said her first words: "Knuffle Bunny".

C. Critical Analysis
KNUFFLE BUNNY is an entertaining book that relates to everyday life. The setting flows from the family's dwelling to the laundromat and back. Along the way, the characters go through a park and by a school.

The main characters are Trixie and her parents who are a Caucasian family. However, along the way to the laundromat Trixie and her dad pass a "tired" jogger, an elderly man walking his dog, and a few African American students. Though the story focuses on a short period of time, it depicts a true family relationship. When Trixie realizes that Knuffle Bunny is gone, Williams does a fantastic job of illustrating a frustrated child in a way that both children and adults can relate to.

The illustrations in this book are very appealing and different from many books. The characters are illustrated as colorful cartoons. The expressions are exaggerated to portray the feelings of each character. The background is actually black and white photographs of Brooklyn, New York. This adds an element of real life to the otherwise cartoon characters. The contrast makes for breathtaking illustrations. The writing is simple and flows from page to page. Some words are bolded for emphasis.

KNUFFLE BUNNY is an entertaining book to both young and old.

D. Review Excerpts
Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2005): "...cartoon characters are digitally incorporated into sepia-toned photos, complement the simple, satisfying story."
Caldecott Honor Books: 2005

E. Connections
This is a great book to use both at home or in a school in dealing with the issue of separation anxiety. Most children and adults alike have been separated from either something or someone they loved. It is also a refreshing example of a day with Dad.

Other books that deal with the father child relationship are BECAUSE YOUR DADDY LOVES YOU by Andrew Clements and A DAY WITH DAD by Gillian Engberg.