Starred review from July 16, 2007
In this sympathetic sequel to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
, former toddler Trixie gains verbal dexterity and still treasures her rag doll, Knuffle Bunny. Tugging her gangly, red-haired father along the sidewalk, she hurries to her preschool’s show-and-tell, eager to show off her pale-green, floppy rabbit. “But just as her daddy kissed her good-bye, Trixie saw Sonja.” No words need explain Trixie’s distressed expression, because a turn of the page says it all: Trixie’s classmate, with a wicked smirk, is clutching a bunny of her own. “Suddenly, Trixie’s one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny wasn’t so one-of-a-kind anymore.” Each girl hugs her rabbit, with Trixie insisting, “Kuh-nuffle! Kuh-nuffle!” and Sonja retorting, “Nuffle! Nuffle!” Their teacher raises an eyebrow and puts both rabbits in time-out until the end of the day. Willems expertly sets up this case of mistaken identity, as each girl accidentally brings home the wrong bunny, and a late-night exchange is needed to resolve the girls’ dilemma. As in the first book, Willems creates comic-book-style panels, with grayscale photographs of Brooklyn as backgrounds for his color-illustrated characters; insiders will recognize allusions to past Willems titles too. In a satisfying resolution, Trixie and Sonja become best friends, demonstrating that two or more children can enjoy similar toys. Not a word or image feels out of place. Ages 3-6.