Cute Maybe Sad

 Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems. 2007. New York, Hyperion Books. ISBN: 979142302991

Plot Summary:

What happens when you discover that your favorite stuffed friend is not the only one in the classroom? In Mo Willems, Knuffle Bunny Too, Trixie is excited to share her best bunny with her classmates except when Trixie gets dropped off at school, she discovers that knuffle bunny isn't exclusively hers. Trixie and Sonja engage in a cute mini-battle about their bunnies. At one point, during the school day, the teacher has to take the bunnies from the girls so they (Trixie and Sonja) can have a nice, normal day without arguing about whose bunny is better.  At the end of the day, the teacher returns the girls  bunnies and they head home.  Later,  really when it's in the wee hours of the morning, Trixie discovers she doesn't have "her" knuffle bunny. A phone call and a run across the neighborhood(community); we ultimately see two girls become friends.

Critical Analysis:

Mr. Willems does a great job making this a relatable story through his use of words, facial expressions, and even the setting.  He makes Trixie, the main character act like your average four year-old: a talkative, happy, go-lucky kid.  Through the words used, which is easy to follow if you are a young reader; Mr. Willems provides a humorous story not just for kids but for parents who are raising that kid. The setting looks like a neighborhood that is East coast in style: brownstones, busy streets, and lots of people. If you notice under the title of the book, it reads, "A Case of Mistaken Identity" by Mo Willems, which leads me to believe that maybe this story is based off a life experience.

When it comes to the illustrations in this book, Mr. Willems uses a combination of drawings and still photos. This adds to the humor by allowing the reader to see and imagine what Trixie's life is like: her parents, community, and school. How he chooses to use the abstractness of the photographs and add the colorful drawings brings the story to life. There is also the emphasis that is given to the characters because of them being placed backgrounds of black and white.

Review Excerpts:

American Library Association- Caldecott Honor

Starred review in Kirkus Reviews-"Too often, sequels come off as obviously calculated attempts to cash in on success; this offering, with its technical brilliance and its total and sympathetic understanding of the psychology of the preschooler, stands as magnificent in its own right."

Starred review in Horn Book-"While the text winks above children's heads a couple of times, most young listeners will be so engaged in the drama that they'll care as little as Trixie does about such technicalities as "what 2:30 a.m.' means." Who needs sleep at a time like this?"

Starred review in School Library Journal-"Irresistibly funny, tender, and universal, this is another consummate star turn for Trixie, daddy, bunny, and their creator."

Connections:

For families who are teaching their child or children about sharing, I would recommend this tale.