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Performances for Young Audiencesis made possible by

Script and lyrics by Mo WillemsBased on his book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Music by Michael Silversher • Musical Arrangement by Deborah Wicks La PumaDirected by Rosemary Newcott • Choreographed by Paige Hernandez

A C A U T I O N A R Y M U S I C A L

Hello, teachers and parents!

Please see page 5 for

information and activities.

After a walk through their neighborhood,Daddy and Trixie arrive at the Laundromat, aplace where people go to wash their clothes.Trixie has fun playing with the dirty laundry.After starting the washing machine, Daddydecides they should walk home to get a snack.But they forget something very important.And when they remember, they begin a wildadventure to rescue a favorite friend.

AKnuffle KerfuffleWhat is a “knuffle”? First, it’s a Dutch word fora hug. Second, it’s an example of an exceptionto the rule—the one about not saying the hard“k” sound in words that begin with “kn,” like“known.” You say knuffle like this: “KA-nuff-ul.”And a “kerfuffle” (ker-FUFF-ul) is a really loudcommotion. You could say Trixie causesa kerfuffle about her knuffle bunny.

G E T T

It StartsWith a StoryMeet a very frazzled Daddy and Mommy livingin Brooklyn, New York. They are still gettingused to life with Trixie, their loveable, andvery energetic, 16-month-old daughter. Onthis day, Daddy plans to do the laundry withTrixie. That’s a big deal because Mommyusually takes care of her. Mommy warnsDaddy it’s tricky and a lot of work. Daddybelieves he’ll be just fine, because Trixie hasher favorite stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny,with her all the time. Trixie can’t say realwords yet, but they know she loves the bunnyby the way she hugs him and how she wailswhenever he’s gone.

It StartsWith a Story

AKnuffle Kerfuffle

All illustrations © 2004 by Mo Willems2

I N G R E A D Y T O S E E

What’s in a Song?The songs in Knuffle Bunny tell you a lotabout the characters, what they’re thinkingand feeling, and what’s happening in thestory. During the performance, watch andlisten for how the performers communicatethrough their actions and lyrics when theysing the following the songs:

• “Tricky with Trixie”sung by Mommy and Daddy

• “Aggle Flaggle Klabble”sung by Trixie

• “Really, Really Love You”sung by Daddy

What’s in a Song?FromPage to StageThe musical Knuffle Bunny began as a book.You might have read it, but if not, that’s okaybecause you’ll get the whole story and moreat the performance. Mo Willems, the manwho wrote the book and drew its pictures,believed the story could also be told withactors performing and singing on stage. So,he wrote the dialogue (words spoken by thecharacters) and added new parts to the story,like what Daddy and Trixie see and do ontheir way to the Laundromat. He also wrotethe lyrics (words) to the songs.

Other people also helped get the story readyfor the stage. A composer wrote music to gowith the songs and a director chose the actors.A set designer created thescenery, like the washingmachines. And puppeteers,people who work withpuppets, crafted severalpuppets of animals andother objects. Finally, withlots of practice, everyone’sready for the show.

FromPage to Stage

It’s just one load of laundry. How much trouble could Daddy and Trixie get into? But

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AWord of “Caution”Knuffle Bunny is called “a cautionary musical.”Why? Well, mostly that’s for you to find outduring the performance. But keep in mindthat cautionary can mean teachingsomebody to avoid something or to learnto do something a different way. After theperformance, think about and discuss howKnuffle Bunny is “cautionary.”

Welcome to BrooklynTrixie’s family lives in Brooklyn—that’s a partof New York City, just across the river fromManhattan. It’s crowded and busy and peopleknow their neighbors. You’ll see black-and-white images of Brooklyn neighborhoodsduring the performance. Notice the close-together brick houses, a style of home yousee a lot of there. These older houses maynot have a washing machine or clothesdryer. That’s why some people take theirlaundry to the Laundromat.

Bringing Bunnies andClothes to LifeTo help you imagine things that areimaginary or wouldn’t happen in real life,the performance uses large puppets. Theselife-size puppets are moved by puppeteersyou’ll see right on stage. This Japanese typeof puppetry is called Bunraku (boon-RAH-koo). Watch for a giant bunny and adancing shirt!

You’ll Need YourImagination,TooAt the performance, you’ll get to see whatTrixie imagines. But you’ll need to use yourimagination, too. The actors perform withlarge background photos and sets, but you’llhave to imagine the rest, like the streets ofBrooklyn, the inside of the Laundromat, andwhat Trixie is trying to say.

AWord of “Caution”

Welcome to Brooklyn

Bringing Bunnies andClothes to Life

You’ll Need YourImagination,Too

then again…life is tricky with Trixie.

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Dear Grownups:

Welcome to theKnuffle Bunny Cuesheet. This guide isdesigned to help children prepare tosee and appreciate the performance.Please help your young theatergoersread and understand the information.Here’s more background information foryou and some activity ideas designedto add to the children’s experience.

For Teachersand Parents

Activities for ChildrenStarring: A ToddlerWhen Trixie realizes what she and Daddyforgot at the Laundromat, she doesn’t knowthe words to tell him. So she tries every wayshe knows to communicate. Imagine you’rean actor playing a 16-month-old toddler. Howwould you move, what expression would youhave on your face, and what sounds wouldyou make to be believable as a toddler? Howwould you show that you are happy, angry, sad,and confused? Practice your ideas with friends.

Lost Something? Find a Story in ItOf their adventure, Daddy says, “One day thisis going to make a really good story!” Think ofa time when you or someone in your familylost something. Try writing a short story aboutit; be sure to include what you learned fromyour experience.

Rhyme TimeDuring the songs, listen for the rhymingwords, like “jeans” and “mean,” or “listen” and“mission,” or these lyrics from “Washy Washy:”

We gotta stop itAnd plop itAnd drop it

Try it yourself. Using the pattern above, createnew rhymes to the italicized words:

“We gotta sing itAnd itAnd it”

or

“We gotta clean itAnd itAnd it.”

Go behind-the-scenes of this production at:artsedge.kennedy-center.org/multimedia/series/VideoStories/knuffle-bunny.aspx

Activities for Children

MeetMoWillemsEven if they haven’t read Knuffle Bunny:A Cautionary Tale, children probably alreadyknow the work of writer/lyricist/illustratorMo Willems, whose illustrations from the bookappear throughout this Cuesheet. He wrote

for TV’s Sesame Street and he’swritten and illustrated numerouschildren’s books, includingDon’t Let the Pigeon Drivethe Bus! and other books in thePigeon series. Willems has won

three Caldecott Honors for his work,including one for the book, Knuffle Bunny:

A Cautionary Tale.

Psst!Look for the Pigeon’scameo during theKnuffle Bunnyperformance.

Meet MoWillems

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Go behind-the-scenes of this production at:

Don’t Get “Lost” During the PerformanceWatch for…

• what happens when Trixie goes “boneless”

• a special appearance by another animal during the performance

• how the puppeteers and the lighting suggest something ismake-believe

Listen for…

• the sound effects in the Laundromat

• how the music changes when the family members realizewhat they forgot

• what Trixie says that surprises her parents

And remember…

A good audience—stays quiet, doesn’t eat, listens,doesn’t leave anything at the Laundromat,and claps.Have fun!

David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education

Additional support for Performancesfor Young Audiences is provided by thePresident’s Advisory Committee onthe Arts, Capital One Bank, the Carterand Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust,The Clark Charitable Foundation, Fightfor Children, Inc., Mr. James V. Kimsey,The Kirstein Family Foundation, Inc.,The Max and Victoria DreyfusFoundation, Inc., Linda and TobiaMercuro, The Morris and GwendolynCafritz Foundation, Park Foundation,Inc., Mrs. Irene Pollin, Dr. Deborah Roseand Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk, The TheodoreH. Barth Foundation, Inc., the U.S.Department of Education, and theVerizon Foundation.

Major support for the Kennedy Center’seducational programs is provided byDavid and Alice Rubenstein throughthe Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

All illustrations © 2004 by Mo Willems

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE,an education program of the KennedyCenter. ARTSEDGE is a part of VerizonThinkfinity, a consortium of freeeducational Web sites for K-12teaching and learning.

Learn more about Education at theKennedy Center atwww.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarilyrepresent the policy of the U.S. Department ofEducation, and you should not assumeendorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2011 The John F. Kennedy Centerfor the Performing Arts

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Don’t Get “Lost” During the Performance

A good audience—stays quiet, doesn’t eat, listens,doesn’t leave anything at the Laundromat,and claps.

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