Buffalo Fluffalo

Buffalo Fluffalo

by Bess Kalb

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Introducing a sweet and silly buffalo who tries to bluff and fluff his way into being bigger than he really is. This laugh-out-loud story by an Emmy-nominated comedy writer shows it’s okay to be yourself.

I’m the Buffalo Fluffalo
I heave and I huffalo
Leave me alone because
I’ve had enuffalo.

Buffalo Fluffalo arrives on the scene puffed up with self-importance. Stomping around and raising billows of dust, Buffalo Fluffalo proclaims his superiority to the other creatures—the ram, the prairie dog, and the crow—who just want to be his friend. So Buffalo Fluffalo, who has had enuffalo, heads off to grumble to himself. Suddenly, a rain shower pours down from the clouds and—what’s this? All of his fluffalo is a soggy mess! There Fluffalo stands, a drenched pip-squeak without his disguise. The other animals, who could see through Fluffalo’s bravado from the start, circle around to comfort him. As prairie dog says with a smile in his eyes, You’re great how you are, no matter your size.

Listeners will find Buffalo Fluffalo’s insecurity endearing and will be moved to reassure him. This humorous and delightful book encourages self-acceptance with a lighthearted touch.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction, Emotion

Audible Audio

First published January 2, 2024

About the author

Bess Kalb is an Emmy Award-nominated writer for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! television show and journalist with The New Yorker magazine. She is the author of the best-selling book, Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (As Told to Me) Story, which recounts the life of her grandmother, Bobby Bell.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There once was a Buffalo Fluffalo...a snuffalo, scruffalo, surly old buffalo,"

The Buffalo Fluffalo is a super grumpy guy - and he's surrounded by kind-hearted and cheerful critters. UGH!

From a ram who wants to lend him a sunhat to a prairie dog who wants to have fun - that poor buffalo cannot escape! He just wants to be left alone on the great big prairie!

But...what happens when his grumpiness gets exposed and the prairie critters find out what's hiding beneath all the fluff? Will they be true friends or laugh and run away?

Ohmygosh. Guys. Gals. This is so stinking cute.

I had the greatest time reading this one out loud to my little one. I had so much fun with all the made-up words and the cadence to the rhyming scheme. Every time we hit the refrain:

"I'm the Buffalo Fluffalo - I heave and I huffalo.
Leave me alone because I've had enuffalo!"

I would get sillier. By the end, I had the goofiest, nasally, (and a little growly) voice and my little one could NOT stop laughing.

I really liked the artwork of this one - especially the buffalo. He was a lot of fun to see in every scene.

I also liked the message of the story - I thought it was well-done without being overdone (if that makes sense - it imparts a lesson but doesn't hit you over the head with it).

All in all, I cannot WAIT for book 2!

[Clara Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buffalo fluffalo is a fun little tongue twister. I love fluff. #keikogirl

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so freaking cute!! Absolutely adore the illustrations and love the little crow. ❤️

[Emily Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buffalo Fluffalo has had enuffalo. He’s grumpy, for no apparent reason, and scares away any would-be friends who try to cheer him up. After a rain, he loses all his fluff and now he’s grumpy but finally apologizes: “I’m sorry for being so grumbly and tuffalo, without my fluff, I’m tiny and missable.” But what about when he had his fluff? What was his excuse then?

[Reilly Zimbric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.
Size doesn’t matter.

[Parker Heger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! At last, some quality literature! So long Vonnegut, Kafka, and Melville, we are moving on to some hard-hitting works. Buffalo Fluffalo tells the tale of a large buffalo who has simply had ennufalo. When all of his animal friends want to hang out and chill, our fluffalo'd buffalo gets all bent out a shape and starts puffing his fur. Spicy! I won't spoil the ending, but I really liked the message that you don't have to huff- and puffalo for people to like and respect you. This was the first book Olive and I read together, so that gives it an automatic 5-star; however, I genuinely enjoyed this book! It was fun to read, and the prose had a bouncy rhythm to it that made me feel like the real slim shady sitting in my rocking chair. Olive still can't see more than 10 inches in front of her face, so I don't know if she liked the illustrations. For what it is worth, I liked the illustrations and thought they did a nice job. Keep it pushing y'all!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyonnnnnnd adorable!

[Kelly Gesker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this in Red Lodge, Montana after days in Yellowstone. I adore Bess Kalb and this is a fun to read aloud, beautifully illustrated book for my future grandkids.

[James 🦤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book about an angry buffalo I’ve ever read. 5/5.

[Abdie Estrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super super cute story. Absolutely perfect for Library or classroom Storytimes. All the lines rhyme and the dialog is dynamic and fun. The illustrations are immaculate and will grab the attention of everyone reading, including adults. I loved this JP, totally recommend if you're looking for a new book for your little reader.

[Brittany Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am buffalo fluffalo

[Emma Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top Tier book. One of the best books of our generation NGL.

[Stellar Nursery · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read many versions of this "friendship" story, and this reiterartion is tired and misguided. If people tell you to leave them alone, do so. If they yell at you and reject them, leave them alone. It's not cute that the main character is a miserable grouch, and all he needs to do is offer a belated apology to be universally beloved. Stop writing this story!

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a great moral, but even more striking is the breathtaking color palette and beautiful illustrations. This book is really a feast for the eyes. I love how the story has an unexpected twist (using a rain storm).

[Trevor Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tongue twisting

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the coolest kids book I’ve read. Rolls right off the tongue.

[Hannah Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book isn’t only written well but it also has the undermining message of body positivity. Whether you’re big or small, or short or tall you are loved 🥰. This book is the perfect book in every way shape(pun Intended) and form. This was a very amazing book that I will be reading again and again. I recommend this to everyone who needs some positivity in their life. Such a good book. Apparently there’s a sequel coming soon! Im so excited! Can’t wait to read!

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buffalo Fluffalo does not want to be bothered. He's big and tuffalo and doesn't need any help. But then it rains.

I giggled at the nonsense words sprinkled throughout this book, and I adore the illustrations. The message is a bit trite, and the side characters are way too quick to forgive, but this is still a very fun book to read to kids.

[Alisha Cassady · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this and it had such a cute message!

[Sara N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way better than the wonky donkey.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! My 3-y.o enjoyed the rhymes.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A buffalo asserts dominance over other animals with his imposing physical presence until a rain shower shrinks his fur and reveals a scrawny build.

The moral of the story, as expressed on the book's back cover, is "You're great how are you."

This book does feature the iconic American Bison and contain artwork depicting the landscape of the North American interior plain.

I was excited to find a new picture book whose main character was a buffalo, but overall I was disappointed. This is an example of how the common misconception that writing for children is easy enables celebrities to get book deals for picture books and create trite didactic moral stories with flat characters in a very weak imitation of Aesop for which they expect elaborate praise. In this case "an Emmy-nominated comedy writer" wishes to impart the message that one should not bully others out of fear that one is unlovable or unlikeable because others will always love and accept one for who one is. Children, despite having less prefrontal cortex development, know when they are being preached to as if they are blank slate simpletons and, rightly, take offense.

The author also shows a lack of respect to the animals in the story by using them as window dressing rather than bothering to learn anything about the animals that are characters in the story in order to use their characteristics to tell the story she wants to tell. A quick Google search will yield the general behavior and traits of animals on the Great Plains. These animals have an important cultural significance to the humans whose habitat they share, so a little bit of consideration goes a long way. Despite the rhyme, buffalos aren't animals who bluff, and they don't try to intimate other animals in order to be left alone. They look like peaceful and quaint fluffy cows right up to the moment they charge, throw, and gore with their horns, which is why tourists are warned to stay at least 25 yards away from them. Buffalos are incredibly dangerous, and they are built rock solid, weighing between 700 and 2,200 lbs. They are not cuddly. Neither are Bighorn Sheep.

[C CE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and cute illistations! A fun rhyming story about letting your guard down and accepting love from others.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I LOOOOOOVED the illustrations - so so good. Writing in rhyme is hard - really, really hard. For the most part the read was smooth, but a few hiccups here and there. But it has a good message about acceptance and not needing to be big and tough to be liked.

[Raven Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was the cutest things I've ever read

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Buffalo Fluffalo and know children will love this rhyming, rollicking book that sends great messages! The way the text just rolls off your tongue...what a delight!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is adorable! Little kids will love it and ask for it again and again 👍👍👍

[Mvplaats · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet!!

[pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wordful of fun! Sometimes you can only take so much before you’ve had enuffalo and leave in a huffalo. 😤😅

Every grump deserves to be happy! 😃

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish he had been angry because his hair was pulling on him from being matted or something, instead of being insecure about his size.