What do you think?
Rate this book
Knuffle Bunny #3
Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion
Trixie and her family are off on a fantastic trip to visit her grandparents—all the way in Holland! But does Knuffle Bunny have different travel plans?
An emotional tour de force, Knuffle Bunny Free concludes one of the most beloved picture-book series in recent memory, with pitchperfect text and art, photos from around the world, and a stunningfoldout spread, culminating in a hilarious and moving surprise thatno child or parent will be able to resist.
Bestselling, award-winning author Mo Willems has created an epiclove story as only he can, filled with the joys and sadness of growing up—and the unconditional love that binds a father, mother, daughter, and a stuffed bunny.
An emotional tour de force, Knuffle Bunny Free concludes one of the most beloved picture-book series in recent memory, with pitchperfect text and art, photos from around the world, and a stunningfoldout spread, culminating in a hilarious and moving surprise thatno child or parent will be able to resist.
Bestselling, award-winning author Mo Willems has created an epiclove story as only he can, filled with the joys and sadness of growing up—and the unconditional love that binds a father, mother, daughter, and a stuffed bunny.
52 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2010
28 people are currently reading
2101 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
231 books4,122 followers#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 699 reviews
July 21, 2018
Mo Willems is truly a versatile author, able to entertain his young readers with a few long-developed series, but also inject some new ideas and characters on occasion. When Trixie learns that her family is going on vacation, she is over the moon. She’s never been to Holland and it would appear she will be taking Knuffle Bunny along with her. However, it would seem that Knuffle Bunny may have some different plans, which could throw the entire vacation into disarray. Mo WIllems ends this series on a high note, taking readers on one final adventure that will warm the soul. Neo liked this piece and loved getting to know Knuffle Bunny. He has his own special something, which he, too, recently kept at home during a vacation. But, it is still close to his heart.
February 10, 2023
Although I still do tend to find Mo Willems' illustrations a bit too cartoon like for them to ever be considered personal aesthetic favourites, the many included photographs of Holland (and, of course, of the world, during Trixie's Knuffle Bunny dream) are indeed lovely, informative, expressive, and as to the story, as to the featured narrative itself, I have just absolutely and oh so so much adored this third instalment of the Knuffle Bunny trilogy, Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, and indeed very much consider it my special and heart-melting absolute favourite of the series. For aside from the fact that Trixie is most definitely growing up and becoming more mature (which can be seen in the manner she reacts when it becomes clear that she has forgotten Knuffle Bunny on the airplane, that she obviously is upset, but does not throw a temper tantrum, does not act all nasty and whining, that she is simply and also understandably a bit sad due to Knuffle Bunny being gone), Trixie not only manages to get over her treasured bunny's loss and to wholly enjoy her visit with Oma and Opa in Holland, but when she does miraculously find Knuffle Bunny on the plane (when the family is travelling back to the USA), Trixie of her own volition, makes the not only grownup but first and foremost incredibly sweet and tenderly caring decision to give Knuffle Bunny to the mother and her crying and fussy baby sitting behind her, making the erstwhile fussy and crying infant happy, the baby's mother thankful, Trixie's parents proud of their daughter, and the other passengers relieved.
A truly wonderful ending to the three Knuffle Bunny books (and I for one am actually a bit in awe at Trixie's sacrifice, for I am not sure I would have been able to at that age give up my own treasured and beloved stuffed plush bunny like that). And thus, four glowingly shining stars for Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, as from the three books featuring Trixie and her Knuffle Bunny, this is most definitely the one that I have enjoyed the most and without reservations (and indeed, even the accompanying illustrations I seem to have liked more in Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, especially the pink dancing bunny replacement that speaks Dutch). Most highly recommended (and truth be told, I certainly and absolutely did not in any way expect to enjoy Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion as much I have).
A truly wonderful ending to the three Knuffle Bunny books (and I for one am actually a bit in awe at Trixie's sacrifice, for I am not sure I would have been able to at that age give up my own treasured and beloved stuffed plush bunny like that). And thus, four glowingly shining stars for Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, as from the three books featuring Trixie and her Knuffle Bunny, this is most definitely the one that I have enjoyed the most and without reservations (and indeed, even the accompanying illustrations I seem to have liked more in Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, especially the pink dancing bunny replacement that speaks Dutch). Most highly recommended (and truth be told, I certainly and absolutely did not in any way expect to enjoy Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion as much I have).
March 1, 2019
This is the last book of the series. Trixie is now much older. Their family is ready for a fantastic trip to visit her grandparents in Holland. Of course Knuffle Bunny will go with them.
But when Trixie forgets her bunny at the airplane, it is time for her to grow up and say goodbye to her toy consciously.
Once again beautiful photographs, cute illustrations and heartwarming descriptions that are expressed effortlessly but also honestly.
This book made me smile and welled up.
But when Trixie forgets her bunny at the airplane, it is time for her to grow up and say goodbye to her toy consciously.
Once again beautiful photographs, cute illustrations and heartwarming descriptions that are expressed effortlessly but also honestly.
This book made me smile and welled up.
August 14, 2021
11 August 2021
Reread for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Just adding three little snippets to earlier snippets is enough to exhaust me. Unexpected amusement to reading and adding to these: watching the nicknames for the kids change over time.
Right, that's me. I have had more than enough of today.
***
11 June 2014
My guess is that this is not a true story, although it is based on real people and uses photographed backgrounds of real places. I loved it at least as much as the earlier two books. Ronnie thought the ending was sad, which Tosh and I disagreed with: we thought the ending was perfect, and not sad at all.
Library copy
Reread for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Just adding three little snippets to earlier snippets is enough to exhaust me. Unexpected amusement to reading and adding to these: watching the nicknames for the kids change over time.
Right, that's me. I have had more than enough of today.
***
11 June 2014
My guess is that this is not a true story, although it is based on real people and uses photographed backgrounds of real places. I loved it at least as much as the earlier two books. Ronnie thought the ending was sad, which Tosh and I disagreed with: we thought the ending was perfect, and not sad at all.
Library copy
May 10, 2016
Yeah, if you're looking to cry like you did in Toy Story III...this is your best option.
January 18, 2013
After reading both “Knuffle Bunny” and “Knuffle Bunny Too,” I was definitely looking to reading the most recent book out of Mo Willems’ popular “Knuffle Bunny” series, “Knuffle Bunny Free” and trust me, this is truly the most heartwarming book out of the entire “Knuffle Bunny” series that will have children treasuring it for many years!
Oh my goodness! As long as I have been reading Mo Willems’ “Knuffle Bunny” series, they have been filled with good humor that made children love this series so much! Now, I have read finally read the conclusion to the great “Knuffle Bunny” series and it is here that you realize the full emotional impact that this book packs as we realize that this is the final book for the entire series and I will definitely miss seeing more of the “Knuffle Bunny” series. I loved the way that Mo Willems centered this story around Trixie’s relationship with her Knuffle Bunny and how she has to come to the ultimate decision about growing up or not with or without her Knuffle Bunny and it was that aspect of the story that truly stood out for me since we were never shown how Trixie would mature with or without her Knuffle Bunny. I also loved seeing Trixie’s grandparents and it was interesting to note that her grandparents are from Holland, which Mo Willems gladly provided some sightseeing and information about Holland! I really loved the various Dutch words that describe Trixie’s grandparents such as “Oma” means “grandma” in Dutch and “Opa” means “grandpa” in Dutch and that would really help out with me trying to learn Dutch. Mo Willems’ illustrations are as usual, creative as the backgrounds of each image are full of photos taken of Holland, which was really interesting seeing the scenery of Holland from a closer inspection and I loved the experience of sightseeing Holland at my own home. Also, the way that Mo Willems drew his drawings of the characters on the photos as it made the images feel more lifelike and I also loved the images of Trixie and her parents as they seem to age a bit by the third book (especially Trixie’s father who has a beard now) and that really brought out the true essence of showing characters maturing in children’s books!
Overall, “Knuffle Bunny Free” is a truly memorable conclusion to the fantastic “Knuffle Bunny” series that many fans will definitely look forward to reading!! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Oh my goodness! As long as I have been reading Mo Willems’ “Knuffle Bunny” series, they have been filled with good humor that made children love this series so much! Now, I have read finally read the conclusion to the great “Knuffle Bunny” series and it is here that you realize the full emotional impact that this book packs as we realize that this is the final book for the entire series and I will definitely miss seeing more of the “Knuffle Bunny” series. I loved the way that Mo Willems centered this story around Trixie’s relationship with her Knuffle Bunny and how she has to come to the ultimate decision about growing up or not with or without her Knuffle Bunny and it was that aspect of the story that truly stood out for me since we were never shown how Trixie would mature with or without her Knuffle Bunny. I also loved seeing Trixie’s grandparents and it was interesting to note that her grandparents are from Holland, which Mo Willems gladly provided some sightseeing and information about Holland! I really loved the various Dutch words that describe Trixie’s grandparents such as “Oma” means “grandma” in Dutch and “Opa” means “grandpa” in Dutch and that would really help out with me trying to learn Dutch. Mo Willems’ illustrations are as usual, creative as the backgrounds of each image are full of photos taken of Holland, which was really interesting seeing the scenery of Holland from a closer inspection and I loved the experience of sightseeing Holland at my own home. Also, the way that Mo Willems drew his drawings of the characters on the photos as it made the images feel more lifelike and I also loved the images of Trixie and her parents as they seem to age a bit by the third book (especially Trixie’s father who has a beard now) and that really brought out the true essence of showing characters maturing in children’s books!
Overall, “Knuffle Bunny Free” is a truly memorable conclusion to the fantastic “Knuffle Bunny” series that many fans will definitely look forward to reading!! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
September 9, 2015
I'm not crying; you're the one that's crying. This is just... allergies.
Such a sweet, touching end (?) to the Knuffle Bunny series. Trixie goes on a trip overseas to visit her grandparents, and accidentally leaves Knuffle Bunny on the plane! But she's a big girl now, and she dreams about all the adventures Knuffle Bunny is having, and all the other kids he's meeting, and she feels better. On the trip home, Trixie finds him again, and makes a Very Grown Up Decision that makes everyone happy (but a little bit sad too).
Like I've commented before, I really like Willems' artwork in these books; the combination of his drawings and the photographic backgrounds (especially on the plane and in Holland) are really cool. I also like how, when Trixie is reading, she's reading an Elephant and Piggy book, and one of the other toys in her bedroom is a stuffed Leonardo. I like when authors put little self-references like that in their books.
The story is a little longer in this book than in the other volumes, but that shouldn't prevent a child from staying engaged. The excitement of travel and the lost bunny will keep them entertained, and the lesson about saying goodbye to childhood friends is well-written.
Such a sweet, touching end (?) to the Knuffle Bunny series. Trixie goes on a trip overseas to visit her grandparents, and accidentally leaves Knuffle Bunny on the plane! But she's a big girl now, and she dreams about all the adventures Knuffle Bunny is having, and all the other kids he's meeting, and she feels better. On the trip home, Trixie finds him again, and makes a Very Grown Up Decision that makes everyone happy (but a little bit sad too).
Like I've commented before, I really like Willems' artwork in these books; the combination of his drawings and the photographic backgrounds (especially on the plane and in Holland) are really cool. I also like how, when Trixie is reading, she's reading an Elephant and Piggy book, and one of the other toys in her bedroom is a stuffed Leonardo. I like when authors put little self-references like that in their books.
The story is a little longer in this book than in the other volumes, but that shouldn't prevent a child from staying engaged. The excitement of travel and the lost bunny will keep them entertained, and the lesson about saying goodbye to childhood friends is well-written.
December 6, 2012
Summary:
The pictures in this book are AMAZING!! Mo Willems style is very unique. The story begins with the same little girl named Trixie who is now older and more mature, and her parents going to visit her grandparents overseas. After reading the previous Knuffle Bunny Tales we can expect for Knuffle Bunny to go missing again, this time Trixe leaves her precious Knuffle Bunny on the airplane and doesn’t realize it until it’s too late. Instead of throwing her normal fit however, Trixie comes to terms with her loss and envisions Knuffle Bunny visiting fantastic places and enjoying many wondrous sites. When she gets back on the airplane for her trip home, Knuffle Bunny amazingly is still waiting in her seat. The end of this story takes a dramatic and heartfelt turn that I won’t spoil, you’ll just have to read it.
How I would use this book with students:
I would definitely use this book as a read-aloud. I would also place it in the classroom library for the students to read for enjoyment. It is an amazing story of growing up and showing acts of selfish kindness that would be great for children to experience and learn from.
The pictures in this book are AMAZING!! Mo Willems style is very unique. The story begins with the same little girl named Trixie who is now older and more mature, and her parents going to visit her grandparents overseas. After reading the previous Knuffle Bunny Tales we can expect for Knuffle Bunny to go missing again, this time Trixe leaves her precious Knuffle Bunny on the airplane and doesn’t realize it until it’s too late. Instead of throwing her normal fit however, Trixie comes to terms with her loss and envisions Knuffle Bunny visiting fantastic places and enjoying many wondrous sites. When she gets back on the airplane for her trip home, Knuffle Bunny amazingly is still waiting in her seat. The end of this story takes a dramatic and heartfelt turn that I won’t spoil, you’ll just have to read it.
How I would use this book with students:
I would definitely use this book as a read-aloud. I would also place it in the classroom library for the students to read for enjoyment. It is an amazing story of growing up and showing acts of selfish kindness that would be great for children to experience and learn from.
June 21, 2013
I've only recently been introduced to Mo Willems, but I'm already in love. Simple stories with precise story lines, and engaging and elegant illustrations, I have yet to read a Willems that I don't like, and this is no exception. Both my 2 yr old twins and my 5 yr old were captivated throughout this book and I could tell that they all understood what was going on. A great lesson included and on top of that, I'm sure you could classify this as a level 1 reading book as well. Overall a good choice for a family read.
October 11, 2010
What a beautiful way to conclude the Knuffle Bunny series. Mo Willems is brilliant. A great book to share with children who are beginning to out grow a favorite toy/blanket and may not even realize it.
February 2, 2012
She finds the bunny on the plane? Seriously?
Great book, super read. Even my fourth graders are in love with Knuffle Bunny.
Great book, super read. Even my fourth graders are in love with Knuffle Bunny.
March 5, 2020
Trixie lost knuffle bunny at they airplane
what should Trixie do
I am in grade1
bye
from Naya
to you
what should Trixie do
I am in grade1
bye
from Naya
to you
November 17, 2019
I read this book a few hundred times (no joke!) to my first daughter Elise, beginning around age three until she was about five. The Knuffle Bunny series was her absolute favorite, and most nights we’d go through all three before bed. I bought her the companion doll when we got it at the bookstore I worked at, though the doll never got her affection or attention quite as much as the books - probably because she was aging out of the books by the time I got her the doll. But Knuffle Bunny (the doll) has always been given a special spot in her room over the years, and I saved the books. So tonight my second daughter, Jo, just three, picked the third book of the series from her shelf for bedtime reading tonight and she “read” it to me - flipped to random pages and told me about what was happening on the pages she’d turned to. So I asked her if she wanted to ask her big sister for the real Knuffle Bunny, and she gave her a thank you hug when Elise handed her the bunny. I read Jo the book from start to finish as she snuggled with the bunny. I cried my way through the end, as I always used to. If you’ve read this, you’ll understand why this particular reading was especially emotional! Such a wonderful series.
September 20, 2017
Trixie is growing up... What a wonderful series of books and the ending of this story is touching and heartfelt. I love the homage to Elephant and Piggie and I almost cried when I read the "epilogue" to our girls. Terrific!
I purchased this book for our youngest, and we really enjoyed reading it together. A few years later, when I suggested that we donate the book to our local library, our daughter insisted, "My Knufflebunny! You can't get rid of my Knufflebunny!"
I purchased this book for our youngest, and we really enjoyed reading it together. A few years later, when I suggested that we donate the book to our local library, our daughter insisted, "My Knufflebunny! You can't get rid of my Knufflebunny!"
September 19, 2017
How is it a children's picture book series can pack such an emotional punch? Seeing Trixie grow with each installment, meeting milestones through experiences with her precious Knuffle Bunny, has made her as real as Ramona Quimby or Eloise. And as sweet and significant and, yes, unexpected as the ending was, what choked me up was author Mo Willems' letter to his Trixie. Cue tears.
February 18, 2011
My children love Knuffle Bunny. Mo Willems is one of my favorite children's author to read aloud.
March 30, 2011
Loved it and I loved how much O related to the book since he has an Oma and Opa in holland too!
December 28, 2015
Another cute book for kids.
February 6, 2019
Amazing
March 9, 2019
Oh my heart.
August 7, 2021
My family loved this one—especially the mix of photos with drawings!
October 1, 2010
And I'm not entirely convinced this one really happened, either. The ending is a bit contrived - but who knows?
I'm putting a spoiler warning on this, and unfortunately most of the review needs it, so be aware if you read on (and care):
Trixie and her family are going to Holland (where they say the K in Knuffle!) to visit her grandparents. Naturally, Trixie loses her Knuffle Bunny on the plane. How does she keep doing this? You'd think that by now she'd know better than to leave her bunny everywhere! Well, she was asleep, so I guess the real question is how her parents let it happen this time. At any rate, she loses her bunny, and there's no going back. The plane? Is headed to China.
And no, nobody is going to chase off to China to get a stuffed toy. There are limits. Oh, her family hugs her and kisses her and reassures her about what a big girl she's getting to be, and she KNOWS she's getting to be a big girl, but that doesn't make her feel any better.
And she has a fun trip, but that doesn't make her feel any better, and her grandparents even try replacing her toy with a fancy bunny, but that really doesn't make her feel any better.
Eventually, though, she comes to terms with this with a nice dream about other children playing with her bunny, and that helps. (This is on two fold-out pages. How much you enjoy this probably depends on whether this book is for home use (easy to manage) or classroom/library use (disaster!!!), but either way I suggest you use acid-free tape if you plan to save the book for generations.)
However, after she's had her big moment and her growing-up stage, she goes on the plane, which is the EXACT SAME PLANE and sits in the EXACT SAME SEAT and finds - her bunny! OMG! (So... they didn't clean this plane for, like, a week? Two weeks? Ew.)
And now she's such a big girl she's able to give her bunny to the crying baby to cheer him up. (Why couldn't she just LEND the bunny? Big girl, but realistic.)
SPOILER ENDING.
It's a good book, but as others have noted - a kid who's not yet in the age range where they can start giving up their precious toys? They're not going to get it. It won't be bittersweet, it'll just be sad, pointlessly sad. If they ARE in the right age it'll make PERFECT sense, but please - use your best judgment, as always.
I'm putting a spoiler warning on this, and unfortunately most of the review needs it, so be aware if you read on (and care):
Trixie and her family are going to Holland (where they say the K in Knuffle!) to visit her grandparents. Naturally, Trixie loses her Knuffle Bunny on the plane. How does she keep doing this? You'd think that by now she'd know better than to leave her bunny everywhere! Well, she was asleep, so I guess the real question is how her parents let it happen this time. At any rate, she loses her bunny, and there's no going back. The plane? Is headed to China.
And no, nobody is going to chase off to China to get a stuffed toy. There are limits. Oh, her family hugs her and kisses her and reassures her about what a big girl she's getting to be, and she KNOWS she's getting to be a big girl, but that doesn't make her feel any better.
And she has a fun trip, but that doesn't make her feel any better, and her grandparents even try replacing her toy with a fancy bunny, but that really doesn't make her feel any better.
Eventually, though, she comes to terms with this with a nice dream about other children playing with her bunny, and that helps. (This is on two fold-out pages. How much you enjoy this probably depends on whether this book is for home use (easy to manage) or classroom/library use (disaster!!!), but either way I suggest you use acid-free tape if you plan to save the book for generations.)
However, after she's had her big moment and her growing-up stage, she goes on the plane, which is the EXACT SAME PLANE and sits in the EXACT SAME SEAT and finds - her bunny! OMG! (So... they didn't clean this plane for, like, a week? Two weeks? Ew.)
And now she's such a big girl she's able to give her bunny to the crying baby to cheer him up. (Why couldn't she just LEND the bunny? Big girl, but realistic.)
SPOILER ENDING.
It's a good book, but as others have noted - a kid who's not yet in the age range where they can start giving up their precious toys? They're not going to get it. It won't be bittersweet, it'll just be sad, pointlessly sad. If they ARE in the right age it'll make PERFECT sense, but please - use your best judgment, as always.
October 24, 2012
In Knuffle Bunny Free of the series Knuffle Bunny, it shows Trixie and her family getting on a plane to go to Holland to see her Oma and Opa. She accidentally leaves Knuffle bunny on the plane and has to come to the realization that she will never get knuffle bunny back because knuffle is on his way to China! Trixie is sad at first but then thinks about how Knuffle Bunny will make other friends and see so much on his adventure, then when they board the plane to come back home Trixie finds Knuffle bunny in the pocket of the seat! There is a baby behind Trixie that keeps crying and Trixie decides to give the baby Knuffle Bunny so that he can make an impact on her life. This one made me tear up a little because Trixie realized that sometimes in life you have to let go of things, and they will come back to you in the end. I loved the letter from Trixie's dad at the end of the book, saying when she was old shed have a baby and shed be getting a package in the mail. I would teach my first or second grade class that sometimes in life you have to let things go, it might be hard but getting through the hard stuff makes you stronger in the end! I would then bring in my stuffed tiger, "Rowl" that I have had that my grandpa gave me when I was one years old and show them how beat up he is and how when I turned 12 I put him in a box in my closet so hed be safe so that someday i could share him with my kids.
Willems, Mo.. Knuffle Bunny free: an unexpected diversion. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2010. Print.
Willems, Mo.. Knuffle Bunny free: an unexpected diversion. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2010. Print.
December 28, 2012
Mo Willems is the current children's book Juggernaut. It seems all of his books are hits. His Pigeon books are hilarious. His Elephant and Piggie series: brilliant.
Of his oeuvre though, I contend that the Knuffle Bunny series is the best. Of the 3 books, 2 won the Caldecott Medal.
So, we read all three in order tonight. Here is Eleanor's review for the third one:
Me: At first you wanted to give this one 3 stars, because But then I pointed out that happened in every book. And I pointed out that Trixie did something SUPER nice at the end of this book. What nice thing did she do?
E: Every book was about Knuffle Bunny. Do you know that? If you know that, raise your hand.
*Gwennie raised her hand.*
Me: If you met Trixie today, what you say to her?
E: I love you.
G: I don't know.
Me: Would you say anything else?
E: I would say, I love you so much that I want to hug you.
Me: What do you like about it?
E: That the baby was crying. That was my favorite part.
Me: You're an odd bird.
E: Remember when you said, "Epilogue?"
Me: Yeah.
E: Lets read it.
Me: We just read it.
E: Read the reviews now.
Me: Ok.
Of his oeuvre though, I contend that the Knuffle Bunny series is the best. Of the 3 books, 2 won the Caldecott Medal.
So, we read all three in order tonight. Here is Eleanor's review for the third one:
Me: At first you wanted to give this one 3 stars, because But then I pointed out that happened in every book. And I pointed out that Trixie did something SUPER nice at the end of this book. What nice thing did she do?
E: Every book was about Knuffle Bunny. Do you know that? If you know that, raise your hand.
*Gwennie raised her hand.*
Me: If you met Trixie today, what you say to her?
E: I love you.
G: I don't know.
Me: Would you say anything else?
E: I would say, I love you so much that I want to hug you.
Me: What do you like about it?
E: That the baby was crying. That was my favorite part.
Me: You're an odd bird.
E: Remember when you said, "Epilogue?"
Me: Yeah.
E: Lets read it.
Me: We just read it.
E: Read the reviews now.
Me: Ok.
June 13, 2015
Knuffle Bunny Free is a sweet, humorous tale about growing up. Trixie is going to Holland to visit her grandparents, but when they disembark the plane beloved Knuffle Bunny is left behind! Trixie has to come to terms with losing an important part of her childhood. Children will identify with her distress and be comforted by her acceptance. Short sentences pack in humor and warmth, and details like the Funny-Bunny-Wunny-Doll ™ Extreme! will crack students up. The fold-out dream sequence pages let readers pause and turns Trixie’s loss into hope. When an unexpected reunion occurs on the plane ride home, children will root for Trixie as she shows kindness and maturity in her decision to gift Knuffle Bunny to a baby in need; the baby’s nonsense words lighten the moment so that it’s heart-warming instead of cheesy. Willems draws colorful figures over black and white scenic photos, creating eye-catching contrast that will draw young readers in. The layout of the pages mimics a scrapbook or photo album, which builds a fun and fast pace. Small details like Trixie reading an Elephant and Piggy book will be an extra treat for Willems’ fans. The note at the end from Willems is the perfect finale; don’t be surprised if you get a little choked up.
July 15, 2011
Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems concludes the Trixie and Knuffle Bunny trilogy. Trixie explored her local block, her city and school and now Holland. In each story she has misplaced Knuffle Bunny but this time she left it on a plane now bound for China!
Knuffle Bunny Free is about that time in a child's life when they for one reason or another are ready to part with once beloved toys. Maybe they've out grown them. Maybe they have worn them out. Or maybe they've lost them. It's a rough time; a time of growing up a little bit more and a time for separation anxiety.
For Trixie, having lost Knuffle Bunny in such a permanent way, she's forced with the realization that she has to do without. For her parents there's the shocking truth that children's toys are seasonal, one time things. What was ubiquitous is now out of stock with new styles offered instead.
The book though has two endings, or perhaps an ending and a coda. Both are beautiful, bitter sweat and perhaps tear inducing.
Knuffle Bunny Free is about that time in a child's life when they for one reason or another are ready to part with once beloved toys. Maybe they've out grown them. Maybe they have worn them out. Or maybe they've lost them. It's a rough time; a time of growing up a little bit more and a time for separation anxiety.
For Trixie, having lost Knuffle Bunny in such a permanent way, she's forced with the realization that she has to do without. For her parents there's the shocking truth that children's toys are seasonal, one time things. What was ubiquitous is now out of stock with new styles offered instead.
The book though has two endings, or perhaps an ending and a coda. Both are beautiful, bitter sweat and perhaps tear inducing.
Read
May 4, 2017This is the third book in the Knuffle Bunny series. In this book Trixie goes on a vacation to visit her grandparents. Knuffle Bunny is Trixie's stuffed animal rabbit who she loves. Her grandparents live all the way in Holland! She does not realize she leaves her dear friend behind until Knuffle Bunny is on his way to China! Tribe grows up in the story and learns she can live without her Knuffle Bunny.
Mo Willems does an amazing job at intertwining emotions in this short children's book. I would recommend students in grades K-2 to read this book. I would use this in my classroom to create predictions. As a class we could read the first couple of pages and then predict what is going to happen at the beginning, middle, and end. We could then monitor our predictions as we read the book to either change, or keep, our predictions.
This book was an honor book for the Caldecott Medal.
Mo Willems does an amazing job at intertwining emotions in this short children's book. I would recommend students in grades K-2 to read this book. I would use this in my classroom to create predictions. As a class we could read the first couple of pages and then predict what is going to happen at the beginning, middle, and end. We could then monitor our predictions as we read the book to either change, or keep, our predictions.
This book was an honor book for the Caldecott Medal.
June 29, 2011
Aww, this one made me cry. Maybe it was because part of it took place in Holland, where I once lived, and I kept scrutinizing the photos to see if anything looked familiar, and there were a few words of Dutch along the way, maybe because it is a story which resonates with parents and grandparents,or maybe just because Trixie is growing up. (I belatedly notice that the child of another reviewer was likely upset by it.) Caldecott Honor award winner Mo Willems, with his pigeon books, Elephant and Piggie early readers, and Knuffle Bunny is a force to be reckoned with. Here's the URL of an interview with the author: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethin...
Read this after you have read the first two. It looks to me like this is the last of the Knuffle Bunny books.
Read this after you have read the first two. It looks to me like this is the last of the Knuffle Bunny books.
June 21, 2011
This may be an "emotional tour de force" and "pitch perfect", but that's for adults.
Mo Willems has kid sensibilities and here he is pandering straight to the grownups who sniff over Love Your Forever and similar drivel. Didn't like this when I saw it in preview at ALA in DC, but bought it knowing my patrons would demand it...
Mo Willems has kid sensibilities and here he is pandering straight to the grownups who sniff over Love Your Forever and similar drivel. Didn't like this when I saw it in preview at ALA in DC, but bought it knowing my patrons would demand it...
May 22, 2010
Awww. Aggle, flaggle, sniff.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 699 reviews