Pandas Juggling, Woodland Nutcracker |
Pandas Juggling, Woodland Nutcracker |
Title: Hi, Koo, A Year of Seasons By Jon J Muth Published by Scholastic, 2014, February 25 Ages: 4-8 Themes: seasons, haiku, poetry First Haiku: Autumn, … Continue reading
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When I was 5 years old, my father took me to the American Museum of Natural History in New York and I saw elephants close up for the first time. I had never seen anything more beautiful in my whole 5-year life! I even told my grandmother I couldn’t wait until I had elephant skin like hers. (I thought that was the nicest compliment, but she thought it was hilariously funny. Go figure!)
Ever since then, elephants have been my favorite wild animal, so I know my pick for today’s Who Would Win. How about you? Which animal do you think would win the unbearable cuteness contest: baby elephant or baby panda?
Leave your votes in the Comments!Baby elephant image credit: Hoffmann Photography/age fotostock/SuperStock. Baby panda image credit: Minden Pictures/SuperStock
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Book: Xander's Panda Party
Author: Linda Sue Park (@LindaSuePark)
Illustrator: Matt Phelan (@MattPhelanDraws)
Pages: 40
Age Range: 4-8
Xander's Panda Party, by Linda Sue Park, is, as you might expect, a picture book about a panda named Xander who wants to throw a party. It's also about inclusiveness and about battling loneliness.
Xander wants to have a rip-roaring panda party. But this turns out to be a bit tricky, as he is the only panda in the zoo. So he expands his idea to invite all of the bears. But it turns out that Koala is actually a marsupial. He doesn't want to leave her out, so Xander has to expand the party to encompass all mammals. But then Rhinoceros wants to bring his bird, and so on, and so on, until everyone at the zoo is invited to the bash. Xander's generosity of spirit is rewarded at the end, when a very special new friend arrives at the zoo.
Park's text is poetic, using lots of rhyme without being sing-songy. Like this:
"But Xander was the only panda. Just one panda at the zoo.
Xander sat and chewed bamboo. He changed his plans and point of view."
Doesn't that just beg to be read aloud? And this:
"Xander's party preparations took great pains and perspiration.
"The menu needs some taste sensations, plus the proper vegetation!""
Delightful! This is a book that parents will be able to read over and over again, because the cadence is so enjoyable. There are also plenty of strong vocabulary words, like "congregating" and "fidgeted."
The message of inclusiveness, while certainly present, is surrounded by the gentle humor of the story, such that it doesn't feel overwhelming. I like that it's not always obvious to Xander that he should keep expanding his party. He really struggles with the decision each time. This having to work to decide to do the right thing will certainly make the book resonate more with young readers.
As rendered in ink and watercolor by Matt Phelan, Xander is adorable. His loneliness at the start of the book is palpable. His joy at the end will bring a smile to any reader's face. The other animals are sketched in, interesting though not quite realistic, but the focus remains on Xander. My favorite page is one filled with small vignettes, as Xander races about the zoo, inviting other creatures to his party, leaving a trail of colored envelopes behind.
It sounds a bit trite to say that a picture book is heart-warming. But what can I say? Xander's Panda Party is heart-warming, entertaining, and eminently read-aloudable. It is not to be missed.
Publisher: Clarion Books (@HMHKids)
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
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© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
HarperCollins have announced today that they’ve signed Neil Gaiman for a new five-book deal, which will result in three new novels and two ‘picture-books’ straight from the pen of the man who wrote Sandman, Stardust… well you know what he’s written he’s Neil Gaiman isn’t he. Joining him for these projects will be artists Adam Rex and Skottie Young.
Also, pandas are involved.
It appears as though Rex will be drawing both of the picture-books, the first of which sees publication in January next year. Aimed at children, these two books will feature a new character created by Gaiman, called Chu. Chu is a baby panda, who has a ferocious sneeze. Are you already imagining Rex drawing Chu sneezing? Of course you are. It’s adorable. It’ll haunt your dreams tonight.
Skottie Young’s involvement comes as part of the novel side of things, as he will be providing art for a Gaiman novel called Fortunately, The Milk. Now whether this is about a talking bottle of milk whose name is Fortunately? Anybody’s guess. There’s no release date for this story as of yet, although it looks likely to be published sometime later next year.
The second of the novels will be a sequel to his 2009 book Odd and the Frost Giants, whilst the third novel remains an elusive mystery to all. If we cross our fingers, perhaps it’ll be the story of a baby panda and a bottle of milk realising that they were meant for each other.
“Pandamonium” is available to download free from www.sharing-books.com.
Topics include :
weight loss, diet, healthy eating, exercise, group activity, nutrition
This poem poster features a poem that is part of a collection called “Of Catalumphs and Hippograffes” written by J.R.Poulter and illustrated by Joy Steuerwald which will soon be available to download from Sharing Books.
ENJOY!!!!.
These pandas look so wonderfully jolly, and the grace of the Botticelli foxes is something to behold. xo