Knuffle Bunny Free

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems

Illustrated by Mo Willlems

2010

     First came Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, then Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity.  And to complete the saga, we now have Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion.  If you haven't read the first two, don't waste anymore time and do it.  They are great books. 

    Through the first two books we've grown with Trixie and her stuffed animal Knuffle Bunny.  This time around, Trixie and her parents travel all the way to Holland to visit her grandparents.  After a long flight she arrives at Oma and Opa's house and then realizes she's missing Knuffle Bunny. She left Knuffle in the airplane!   As days go by, Trixie goes from being very upset about her loss, to realizing she's getting bigger and really enjoying her stay at grandparents.At night, she dreams of all the new places Knuffle Bunny will get to go in his airplane.

     The ending of the story is really touching and reminds us all of how difficult it is to let go but how much it is a part of growing up.  It's the perfect ending to a perfect series of books.  The illustrations are black and white photographs and Willems' drawings.  While the first books took us on trips around New York, this third installment gives us images from Holland and all over the world.  Don't miss this wonderful love story between a girl and her Knuffle Bunny.   It is full of the joys and tears that come with growing up.