Buffalo Fluffalo
by Bess Kalb, Erin Kraan (Illustrator)
DETAILS:
Publisher: Random House Studio
Publication Date: January 2, 2024
Format: Hardcover
Length: 40 pg.
Read Date: April 6, 2024
I’m the Buffalo Fluffalo—
I heave and I huffalo
Leave me alone because
I’ve had enuffalo.
What’s Buffalo Fluffalo About?
We start off meeting a buffalo who is focused on being the biggest, meanest, orneriest buffalo around. Multiple other animals of various sizes and types try to befriend him, and he rebuffs them with the above words. But they keep trying.
And then a rainstorm comes along and drenches him and the “Fluffalo” part of his name is explained—because that’s pretty much all the bulk he has—fluffy hair. And the grown-up readers of this book know what happens when fluffy hair gets wet, right?
So how will this cantankerous bovine react to all the other animals seeing him for what he is? How will those would-be friends treat him? Will he get ever get his fluff back? Can an adult reading this aloud make it through the line containing the word “BLARK” without feeling ridiculous? Many of these questions—and more—will be answered.
Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute
No offense to any of the other illustrators I’ve talked about this year, but Erin Kraan is likely my favorite so far. I mean, first off, I bought the book because of the cover, so I was primed to like it. But the art within needed no priming and was simply delightful—particularly the buffalo once his hair gets so wet that it de-poofs (or de-fluffs)…he just looked so pathetic and yet so cute.
Every page had at least something that made me grin—usually multiple somethings.
Kraan has some sample images and pages over on her site. Take a look, and you’ll see what I mean.
How is it to Read Aloud?
I had a blast with it. I got into the rhythm right away, I got to use some fun voices to really bring out the goofy rhymes. There’s a good time to be had simply reading it aloud (as I noticed when I sampled it before the Grandcritter came over and verified when I got to read it to him).
What did the Little Critter think of It?
I think it was just a little too long for him, but he seemed to have a pretty good time. He really liked the “uffalo” rhyming words, the rhythm, and the pictures when he looked at them. I predict as that attention span grows just a little bit, this will be in heavy rotation.*
* Sure, that might be because I want it there more than anything, but…
So, what did I think about Buffalo Fluffalo?
I’m not sure I’ve had as much fun with a book in 2024 as I had with this one. Great art, fun text, and a pretty good message, to boot. Who could ask for more? Not this Grandpappy.
It looks like a sequel is coming in 2026—so maybe I could ask for a little more.
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