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PLEASE, MR. PANDA

Simple yet funny enough for multiple readings.

The essential words are right in the title—and somehow forgotten by all but one of the animals offered a selection of brightly colored doughnuts.

The titular panda is large and blocky, black and white against a neutral background. Mr. Panda’s expression is neutral as well, lending him an air of solemnity though he carries a lovely box of doughnuts and wears a ridiculously tiny hat with just one word on it: Doughnuts. “Would you like a doughnut?” he asks several black-and-white creatures (a penguin, a skunk, an ostrich, an orca) in turn. The ostrich declines, “No, go away,” but the others speak right up. “Give me the pink one,” says the penguin. “I want the blue one and the yellow one,” says the skunk. Mr. Panda’s ever-so-slightly passive-aggressive but certainly dignified response: “No, you cannot have a doughnut. I have changed my mind.” By the time a ring-tailed lemur comes up with not only a polite “May I…?” but a big “PLEASE, Mr. Panda?” tiny young listeners may be so pleased—and relieved—to see the dazzling treats given away that they won’t notice how deftly they’ve been given a manners lesson. Households with toddlers may find a new family catchphrase as Mr. Panda demonstrates one approach to eliciting those elusive “magic words.”

Simple yet funny enough for multiple readings. (Picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-545-78892-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2014

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PETE THE KITTY'S FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL

From the Pete the Cat series

Likely to be popular with young Pete the Cat fans and parents seeking a gentle introduction to preschool.

The popular character enjoys storytime, painting, and a snack on the very first day of preschool.

The younger incarnation of Pete the Cat packs his backpack that he picked out from the store himself, gets a snack from his mom, and rides the school bus with his big brother, Bob (who isn’t much bigger than Pete, sizewise). At school, Pete meets his stylish teacher, Mrs. Lopez, and fellow feline classmates while keeping his signature cool. The day ends with Pete declaring: “Preschool is awesome! Pete loves everything!” James Dean’s big-eyed cats populate the simply drawn scenes that look as though they were painted in preschool-esque fashion with thick swaths of tempera. At a couple of moments (when he eats his banana and declares it tasty and when he sings along) his customarily expressionless face actually breaks into a smile. Kimberly Dean’s text is uninspired, but it’s in sync with the upbeat tone of the series. Pete’s preschool experience, while not particularly realistic, is a highly positive one; refreshingly, there is no trace of the separation anxiety or anxiousness found in many first-day-of-school books.

Likely to be popular with young Pete the Cat fans and parents seeking a gentle introduction to preschool. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: June 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-06243582-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: HarperFestival

Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019

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HOP

Minimal text yields maximum effect in this book of nonfiction for the very youngest children.

Children who have seen bunnies frolic in their backyards, scamper across the lawn of a park, or roam in fields in their imaginations will find Hurley’s latest charming and informative in equal measure.

Using the formula she established in Nest (2014), Hurley explores the worlds of rabbits—cottontails in particular. In this narrative, the one-word lines read as if they are instructions given by a mother to her kits. Each spread depicts a different scenario, each with its own tone and, in a couple of cases, tension. Matte colors applied digitally saturate the pages, most often in lush greens. As the members of a rabbit family emerge from their nest under a tree, they “hop,” “listen,” and “nibble.” In a stark white double-page spread, a hawk appears high above the family on the ground, making the rabbits "freeze." Danger appears again in the form of a fox. The word on this spread, "warn," will force youngsters to look closely to see the mother rabbit thumping her foot. If it’s too subtle, an author's note provides more information about this form of communication along with other details about habits and habitat. The rabbits "run," and the book ends on a satisfying note with a "snuggle" before "sleep."

Minimal text yields maximum effect in this book of nonfiction for the very youngest children. (Informational picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4814-3272-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2015

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