If You Love Something…

… set it free.

Or so goes that old saying, anyhow, and so goes the message behind this third and final book in the ongoing story of Trixie and her much-beloved Knuffle Bunny.

In case you are not already a Knuffle Bunny fan – and if so, you are very much missing out – this much-praised series is one of the fantastic products of Mo Willems’ fertile mind. And in case you don’t know Mo – and again, totally missing out, so you’re welcome – he is one of the current superstars of kidlit, on everybody’s favourites list and multi-Caldecott Honored.

Mo, you see, used to animate for Sesame Street (which vhim beyond awesome kid cred already, in my books), and has a great cartoony style, as well as a finely honed sense of humour that is spot-on for kids. If you haven’t read Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus or the first Knuffle Bunny book, they are perfect places to start.

Then? Once you are fully converted into a mega Mo fan? Come back for this one…

Knuffle Bunny Free
by Mo Willems
Audience: ages 3-7 years

Trixie is going on a trip! A long trip, on a plane over the ocean to Holland to visit her Oma and Opa. It goes without saying to any parent of a lovey-toting child that Knuffle Bunny came along.

It also goes without saying, if you have read the first couple of books, that Knuffle Bunny goes AWOL. Trixie is older now, though, and after a few days, she realizes that she is okay without him.

When an amazing coincidence reunites her with her stuffed bunny, she discovers that she is even such a big girl that she is ready to pass him on to someone who needs him more. The book ends with a look into the future that may go over the heads of younger readers, but is sweet enough to make even the cynical let out a little, “Awww.”

I’m a children’s librarian and a mom, so I read a lot of books to a lot of kids, and I’m a bit of a kid at heart myself. What I share here on Shelf Candy are books I have enjoyed, and think you might, too. I’m not one to post negative reviews – I don’t want to trash someone’s hard work when there are so many good books to share.  I hope you find some great reads and new favourites here, and welcome feedback – leave a comment or question!