"Knuffle Bunny" by Mo Willems

(To Readers: I had a beautiful blog that took me a long while to write, then I clicked the wrong button and POOF! It was gone. So here is an abbreviated version so I don't get behind in my regular blogging.)

THE BOOK: 

Knuffle Buny by Mo Willems is a delight for kids ages 3-8. Most kids can relate to Trixie and her dilemma when she loses Knuffle Bunny. The award-winning art and story will bring the family together with giggles and good memories.

USE THE BOOK: 

As I said, this is a great one for ages 3-8, or grades preK-2. There are a million uses for this book, but my favorite is in the realm of art...

Grade Levels- preK, K, 1, 2, 3

Materials-

• Digital Camera or access to GoogleImages
• Printer
• Pencil
• Markers
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Construction Paper
• Ruler

1. Show off the book.

2. Ask kids how Mo Willems made the art.

3. Now read kids the description contained on the copyright page.

4. Tell kids they will make Mo Willems-styled art.

My postage-stamp-sized backyard.

5. Give each child a chance to take a digital photo--maybe on the playground, at the beach, by the street... wherever. If you don't have a camera, use GoogleImages and search for a scene.

6. When you print the photo, select the printer properties and select grayscale (not black and white).

7. Mat the photo on colored construction paper. 

8. Now that you have the photo, give the child a ruler to measure how tall drawn items will be.

9. On a separate piece of paper, have children measure out how big their drawings should be. I have kids cut the paper to that size. (The are turns out better when you do this.)

10. Once the paper square is cut out, they can draw their image in pencil and color in marker.

Before they are glued down.

11. Now have the kids cut out their actual drawing.

12. Glue the drawings to the photo. Notice how Mo Willems uses the mat to create even more depth--encourage children to have characters of objects slightly off of the photo as in the example below.

A finished product.

A sample page from the actual book.