Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind? Using a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong.
Another win for Mo Willems! He perfectly captures the emotions of each of the main characters. Any parent will recognize the behavior of the young child with their own agenda, the going boneless is particularly painful. I also have to admit that I cringe a little when Dad unloads the washer onto the floor of the laundromat looking for Knuffle Bunny but it poignantly illustrates the level of his desperation. I love the cartoon illustrations painted on the photographs of New York City and the opportunity the cityscape gives us to talk about how people sometimes do regular things, like laundry, in a different way than we do. The text is quite spare and a little droll with the illustrations filling in all the wonderful blanks!
Mo Willems knows a Good Idea when he sees one. A three-time Caldecott Honor winner (for <em>Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!</em>, <em>Knuffle Bunny</em>, and <em>Knuffle Bunny Too</em>), he also won two Geisel Medals and two Geisel Honors for his Elephant and Piggie books. His books are perennial <em>New York Times</em> bestsellers, including <em>Knuffle Bunny Free</em>, <em>Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator!</em>, and the Cat the Cat series. Before he turned to making picture books, Mo was a writer and animator on <em>Sesame Street</em>, where he won six Emmys. Mo lives with his family in Massachusetts.
This book is dedicated to the real Trixie and her mommy. Special thanks to Anne and Alessandra; Noah, Megan, and Edward; the 358 6th Avenue Laundromat; and my neighbors in Park Slope, Brooklyn.