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January 6, 2020 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems

January 6, 2020 by Betsy Bird   4 comments

This past weekend I took a trip to the Chicago Children’s Museum with my kids, and lo and behold I stumbled upon a Mo Willems exhibit currently showing. I’ve seen plenty of similar exhibits in my day, but what stood out to me about this particular one was how it cleverly integrated elements of his books with honestly good, interactive stations. In a nod to Mo’s background in animation, for example, kids can turn (oddly sturdy) cranks which flip pages featuring his characters doing an array of different things.

Of course, by complete coincidence Kate and I had just finished recording our episode on Knuffle Bunny Too. It’s been a while since we’ve done a particularly famous book, and I figured this would be the perfect way to kick off the new year. Mind you, longtime listeners might remember that Kate has never been the biggest Mo Willems fan out there. She wasn’t particularly enamored of Knuffle Bunny the first. How would the second fare?

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Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, PlayerFM, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

Kate appreciates how tired the dad is in this shot. I appreciate that she appreciates this. Tired dads rule.

Here’s where Kate’s weird detective skills come into play.

So apparently the Clever Barber Shop is located at 869 9th Avenue. Kate said that address was in Manhattan, but I wasn’t so sure. I mean, I’ve seen plenty of NYC businesses that claim to be on more popular streets and amend their addresses accordingly. So I had to look up and see whether or not there is or is not a Clever Barber Shop at that address that is ALSO in Brooklyn and near 9th Avenue but not ON 9th Avenue. And there are Clever Barber Shops in Brooklyn . . . but not that one. Behold:

Kate was apparently right on this one.

I like that the parts of this book Kate admires the most involve exhausted people. For example, she gives Mo points for making this mom look exhausted too.

I’ll give her this much, though. That is a little weird that the board behind Sonja says these two occupations.

Knuffle Bunny never really moves but Mo gets a lot of mileage out of the tiny changes made to the bunny’s pupils.

This is Kate’s evidence that Trixie would have definitely noticed the bow on the bunny’s head in this shot.

That look translates roughly to, “Nice try, sucker.”

Extra points for the slightly wobbly reflection in the mirror.

And finally, this is the shot I explained about. Mo took this shot in the wee early hours of the morning.

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

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Fuse 8 n' KateKnuffle BunnyKnuffle Bunny TooMo Willems

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

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About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jill says

    January 6, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    In regards 2 the “manager/dishwasher” perhaps they were discussing Community Helpers? Omg – I totally remember “Watcher in the Woods” Disney movie from 80s. I refused to watch it – too creepy!

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      January 6, 2020 at 10:34 pm

      THANK YOU! Creepiest movie ever. And good call on the Community Helpers. Maybe?

  2. Kathy Ishizuka says

    January 11, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    Actually, my husband took that shot of Grand Army Plaza, believe it or not. Mo was his student.

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      January 12, 2020 at 8:42 am

      . . . .

      Well that just throws everything into a new light. We shall mention this on the next recording. Many thanks, Kathy.

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