6 Books About Losing Treasured Stuffed Animals

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, by Mo Willems
Trixie and Daddy head to the Laundromat with her beloved stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny, in tow. They put the laundry in, feed the quarters into the machine, and head back home. Trixie soon realizes Knuffle Bunny is missing, yet cannot communicate her concern to her father. Her gibberish is hilarious and her body language conveys her despair. With an urban setting and retro styled illustrations, this cautionary tale will delight readers as they discover Daddy becomes a hero to Knuffle Bunny, and Trixie finally utters her first word.

Olivia . . . and the Missing Toy, by Ian Falconer
Our favorite precocious three-year-old pig, Olivia, has lost her favorite toy. The green and red rag doll goes missing, after Olivia insists it was last seen on her bed. A pighunt ensues and couches are lifted, cushions are moved, and a relentless piglet even looks under the family cat. Finally, on a dark and stormy night, Olivia hears a noise and sees a scary shadow. It turns out the family dog found the doll and has chewed it to bits. Rather than getting upset, Olivia mends her doll and adores it with all the imperfections. Your little detective will love following along with Olivia and searching for clever clues within the illustrations.

I Lost My Bear, by Jules Feiffer
Drama ensues when a little girl loses her bear. She cries, she whines, and she has no sympathy from her parents. Big sister encourages her to throw another stuffed animal to see where it lands and a slew of lost items are discovered. She gladly plays with these toys until bedtime, when she suddenly remembers that her beloved Bearsy is still missing. She scorns her mother for not helping her, continues howling, and when she gets into bed discovers her bear tucked between her sheets. This story will ring all too true for many parents out there!

The Teddy Bear, by David McPhail
Teddy bear goes everywhere with the little boy in this story. Teddy travels with the boy, eats with the boy, and sleeps right beside him every night. On a family trip, the little boy accidentally leaves his beloved bear behind and teddy finds himself in the dumpster out back. A homeless man finds the bear, cleans him up, and loves the toy as his own. One day, the little boy sees his teddy in the park sitting next to the homeless man on the bench. He reclaims teddy bear, only to see the pain this causes the man. The little boy decides to give his treasured teddy to the man as a gift. A heartwarming story about the love we get from things and the love we give when we give those things away.

Where’s My Teddy?, by Jez Alborough
Eddie loses his teddy bear, Freddy, and must brave the dark woods to find him. When he encounters another bear with a giant teddy of his own, questions ensue. Could this all be a case of mistaken identity? A comedy of errors over which teddy belongs to Eddie will keep your little ones laughing, and holding on tight to their own beloved stuffed animal. Rest assured, Eddie tucks into bed at night with his very own Freddy. Slightly scary fun pairs well with the cartoonish illustrations.

Bun Bun Button, by Patricia Polacco
Paige loves cuddling with her Gramma in their favorite blue chair, surrounded by all their pets. That is, five Siamese cats, two terriers, a goldfish, and an unlikely pet squirrel all share the chair with them! Gramma makes Paige a homemade bunny with a button for a nose to make their cuddle time even cozier. Then Paige ties the bunny to a helium balloon and it flies away. Gramma assures her the wind might bring it back. Meanwhile, Bun Bun braves the dark night sky, honking geese, and quite the adventure, eventually finding the way back home with a little love and a lot of luck. This book is a perfect intergenerational tale for your family.