Monday, May 14, 2012

Book Review: Knufflebunny


Knuffle Bunny.By Mo Willems. Illus. by author.2004. 40p. Hyperion, $16.99.(9780786818709)
 
Format: Hardcover
Age Group:Toddler to Kindergarten  
Genre:Fiction 
Awards:2005 Caldecott Honor
Publishers Weekly Editors Pick
Publishers Weekly Bestseller
Irma Black Medal Winner
Charlotte Zolotow Honor,ALA Notable Book
 Borders Original Voices Best Children’s Book
Book Sense Book of the Year Honor
IRA Children’s Choice
Child Magazine Best Book
New York Public Library 100 Books for Reading and Sharing Quills Nominee
2005 Texas Library Association’s Texas 2 X 2 Reading List
Nick Jr. Magazine Best Book
CCBC Choice Book 2005
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon 
School Library Journal Best Book
2004 Horn Book Fanfare
 Kirkus Reviews 2004 Editor’s Choice
Capitol Choices 2005, Borders’ Original Voices Selection (Sept. 04)
Book Sense 76 Selection
Joseph-Beth Booksellers Book of the Year
Miami Herald Best Book
 Kansas City Star Best Book
Entertainment Weekly’s Must List
Real Simple Magazine Best Book
Borders “Read To Me” Best Book
Chicago Public Library 2004 Best of the Best Book
Junior Library Guild Selection
School Library Journal Book of the Week
 Family Fun.com Best Book 2004
Subjects/Themes:  Lost and found possessions
ELS promoted: Print motivation, phonological awareness, 

Annotation: 
A trip to the laundromat becomes a disaster when Trixie struggles to tell her father that they've left a very important something behind.
 
Reactions/Observations:
 Trixie heads to the laundromat with her father, but leaves a very important stuffed animal behind: Knuffle Bunny.  She struggles to tell him, but being a toddler does have its limitations.  Somehow dad finally gets it and they race back to the laundromat to save her beloved Knuffle Bunny.

When Trixie babbles, readers are practicing phonological awareness by listening and manipulating the smaller sounds in the words. The illustrations use mixed media, giving it a vintage feel as if these events are part of a scrapbook. Parents will sympathize with dad and recognize the toddler body language. Children will identify with Trixie, will have the upper hand over Dad's inability to understand, and be ecstatic when Knuffle Bunny and Trixie finally find each other again.  Both parents and children will enjoy reading and rereading this book.

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