KNUFFLE BUNNY A CAUTIONARY TALE by Mo Willems Book Review

Bibliography

Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0439802490

Plot Summary

Join Dad and Trixie in this delightful story on an adventurous day to the laundromat. Trixie takes her favorite stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny, with her. After leaving the laundromat, Trixie discovers that Knuffle Bunny has been forgotten at the laudrymat.  Trixie, becomes dramatic and frustrated trying to tell her father about Knuffle Bunny. Dad becomes irratible because he can not understand why his sweet daughter has become so fussy on their walk through the park. As soon as Dad and Trixie get home, Mom notices that Knuffle Bunny’s disapearancce is the problem. Trixie, Mom, and Dad go back to discover that the bunny ended up in the washer.  Once Dad retrieves the bunny, Trixie is so happy that she blurts out her first words, Knuffle Bunny!

Critical Analysis

Mo Willems is magnificent as he depicts emotions felt by Trixie, the dramatic frustrated toddler, the trying his best Dad, and Mom who knows exactly what her darling Trixie needs. Readers young to old relate to the cartoon emotion filled drawings. Even a jagged, lightning bolt border on a page shows the climax of feeling as Mom points out to Dad why Trixie decided to go “boneless.” Willems’ use of cartoon characters on top of non-fiction realistic black and white photos allows readers to relate to the setting and think of a connection they have to the book. The anticipation of finding Knuffle Bunny keeps all readers eager to know the outcome.

Knuffle Bunny A Cautionary Tale looks a lot like a memory book in action. Children and adults will all love the happy ending. Trixie has a very memorable day at the laundryman as she blurts out her first recognizable words.

Review Excerpts

2005 Caldecott Award Winner Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale illustrated and written by Mo Willems

Publishers Weekly says “Willems once again demonstrates his keen insight with a story both witty and wise.

School Library Journal, starred review “A seemless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text.”

Connections

• You can print out coloring and activity pages for  books on Mo’s wonderful website, www.pigeonpresents.com.
• Go to www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com, type “KNUFFLE” into the search bar, click on “Knuffle Bunny Too,” and, on the book’s home page, you see the link you can click to print out the Event Kit, which is also full of reproducible pages and fun activities.
• Discuss the emaotions present in the book. Have students journal about a time when they felt desperate for help like Trixie did in the book.
• Read other Mo Willems books such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Images from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

FLOTSAM by David Wiesner Book Review

 Bibliography  

Wiesner, David. 2006. FLOTSAM. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618194576

Plot Summary
In this intriguing wordless picture book, David Wiesner takes his audience on a ocean adventure through the eyes of an underwater camera. The main character of the book, an adventure seeking scientific minded boy, finds an underwater camera washed up on the shore. After taking the film from the camera to be developed the boy discovers a magical world of photography, which causes one to wonder, “What may really be in the ocean?” When a picture of a girl holding a photo of a boy, whom is holding a photo of another girl, and so on and so on as another child appears, the curious boy gets out a microscope and discovers the camera has been found by generations of children. Each child contributed a photo of themselves while holding the photo of the previous child. The boy takes his own photo then throws the camera back in the ocean leaving the reader to believe that another oceanic adventure is to come. This magical, mysterious book leaves its readers to take their imagination to the limit!

Critical Analysis

Wiesner magnificently captures the attention of his readers in Flotsam through detailed, brightly painted beach and ocean scenes. Every page has beautiful detail filled illustrations magnificently brought to the reader through water colors by Wiesner. Readers young to old will find themselves eagerly awaiting the next page. The main character, a scientific minded, very curious boy, will take you on an ocean adventure. By living vicariously through the boy all readers will find themselves wondering if the scenes portrayed really happen under the ocean.

The story is set on a beach during a family outing. Children and adults will enjoy allowing their imagination to take over as they experience the fantasy joys of the undersea creatures and the world the creatures see. The book also offers a realistic side to adventure on the beach when the boy finds an underwater camera washed up on the shore. Finding a mysterious camera would peek curiosity in most everyone. Let your imagination go as you enjoy every magiacal detail in Flotsam.

Awards Won

Winner of the 2007 Randolph Caldecott Medal
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2006
A Booklist Editor's Choice 2006
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2006
A Horn Book Fanfare Title
A Child magazine Best Book of the Year
A Parenting magazine Book of the Year
A Nick Jr. Best Children's Book of 2006
A Book Sense Children's Pick, Autumn 2006
A Washington Post Top 10 Picture Book of the Year
A Parents' Choice Award Winner
A 2006 National Parenting Publications Gold Award Winner
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing
Chicago Public Library, Best Books of the Year
An Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner 2007

Review Excerpts

"Wiesner offers another exceptional, wordless picture book that finds wild magic in quiet, everyday settings." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review

"New details swim into focus with every rereading of this immensely satisfying excursion." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"A mind-bending journey of imagination." School Library Journal, Starred Review

"In Wiesner's much-honored style, the paintings are cinematic, coolly restrained and deliberate...An invitation not to be resisted." Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Wiesner's detailed watercolors make the absurd wonderfully believable...and children will surely love 'Flotsam' from start to finish." New York Times Book Review Notable Book

"The meticulous and rich detail of Wiesner's watercolors makes the fantasy involving and convincing." Horn Book

"Wiesner continues to show children that things aren't always what they seem. Would the Caldecott committee consider a three-peat?" Bookpage

"Wiesner returns with his traditional wordless-narrative format for another fantastical outing." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Connections

*Use Flotsam to aid in writing. Show children that writing is like a movie or a collection of pictures in your brain and that good writers make the pictures come to life in words. Provide students with a copy of the book Flotsam and ask them to write the story in their own words. Teachers could grade students based on their ability to; be creative, develop a summary stating the beginning middle and end, or the students’ use specific vocabulary such as flotsam.

*Teachers could use the book of Flotsam to access students on their ability to provide the story elements and the parts of story. Teachers could develop a chart for students to name the charters, setting, plot, beginning, middle, end, book title, and author’s name.

*Flotsam could be used to discuss the difference between fact and fantasy. Sometimes children only recognize fact in non-fiction books with photographs in the place of illustrations. Flotsam has realistic illustrations with fact and fantasy portrayed in them.

(Book images from www.amazon.com)