Things to Read - Knuffle Bunny

For Xmas my mother-in-law gave T a brand-new best friend, Knuffle Bunny, to whom the whole family has grown quite attached. For those of you new to Knuffle Bunny he happens to star in his own series of books all of which my three children love. Yes, that's right, all three of my children (ages 1.5, 4, and 5) love the same set of books - what are the chances? Even better, my husband and I like them too. Here's the scoop:



The series begins with Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in which Trixie (the star of the series) tries to explain to her father that they forgot her Knuffle Bunny at the laundromat (she's too young to talk). I'm probably overestimating the skill-level of my 1.5 son, but he really seems to love this book. He likes to shove it at me anytime he sees me sitting down. I want to believe that he actually understands Trixie's frustration (is this really possible at the age of 1.5?) but maybe he just likes the pictures or the silly sounds Trixie makes. The older kids like it because they know (from helping with T) the level of frustration that comes with trying to understand a toddler's wants and needs.



In the second book of the series - Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity - Trixie now attends preschool where she brings her Knuffle Bunny for show and tell only to discover that another girl has an almost-identical Knuffle Bunny. T doesn't like this one, but the girls love it. We read it alot.



In the third and final installment of the series - Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion - a grade-school-aged Trixie finally gives up her Knuffle Bunny (donating Knuffle to a baby who needs the stuffed animal more). As an adult this book actually tugs the heart strings a little. My children seem much more accepting of the fact that Knuffle's loss constitutes a necessary step in growing up then I am.

All three books have creative (and amusing) illustrations (I especially love that the day after Trixie wakes her father up in the middle of the night he has a five o'clock shadow). Watching Trixie's progression from toddler to "big girl" really makes it fun to read these books with your children.


(In case you're wondering, the window drawings are left over from this event. yes, I really am that lazy.)