KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO: A Case of Mistaken Identity
by Mo Willems
Hyperion, 2007
Summary: Trixie is excited to share her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny at school for the very first time. When she does, she is shocked and dismayed upon discovering that her classmate Sonja also has a Knuffle Bunny. It isn’t until the Knuffle Bunnies are inadvertently switched, and an early-morning bunny exchange has come to pass, that Trixie realizes how much she and Sonja have in common, and the two become very first best friends.
Themes:
- What is special is not diminished by its lack of uniqueness. The holding dear of common objects, and one might extrapolate loves, goals, ideas, values, etc., should not serve to divide, but to unite.
- I also see the Knuffle Bunnies as proxies for the girls themselves.
- Possible underlying message about firsts – how special they are, and how a first gone wrong can turn into a different first gone right.
Mother-Approved: Mo Willems is one of my favorite picture book writers. And Knuffle Bunny Too, the second book in the Knuffle Bunny trilogy, is no disappointment. In a mere 374 words, Mo has managed to usher me through a wide range of emotions. I snickered, I held my breath, I felt warm inside.
Father-Approved: Dennis gets a kick out of the Knuffle Bunny books as well.
Kid-Approved: Both Joe, my three year old, and Lily, my two year old, loved this book. Sometimes Lily comes up to me and says, "Knuffle Bunny!" for no apparent reason.
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Additional Activities:
- KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO Study Guide
- KNUFFLE BUNNY Teacher's Guide (.pdf)
- KNUFFLE BUNNY activities for the kids
- Mo's October Appearances
- Have your child pretend she is taking her own lovey to school for show and tell.
- Look at zee cute bunnies...
Please feel free to add your suggestions for additional activities below. :)
