Monday 11 January 2016

I'll Wait, Mr Panda by Steve Antony (Hodder Children's Books)

The world's most polite panda is back! Steve Antony's sequel to "Please Mr Panda" is every bit as tasty!
It's not unusual to spend most of your time reading a particular book with your stomach constantly rumbling but when we read "Please Mr Panda" we couldn't resist ducking out to our local supermarket to stock up on sugary treats.

The book's core message about saying please and thank you, and being polite was utterly deliciously delivered with just the right amount of frosting and sprinkles. So can Steve Antony possibly pull off the double and serve up a sequel that's just as scrumptious?

Now Charlotte's at an age where picture books are "Boring, babyish" and it's getting tougher to review EYFS stuff, it's a delight to see a book that turns our grumpy tweenager's head (are tweenagers starting earlier with opinionated grumpiness or is it just ours?)

As soon as she spotted Panda's trademark donut-covered apron Charlotte wanted to sit down and read "I'll Wait, Mr Panda".

This time Panda is in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Most of Panda's friends are desperate to know what's being made, but only one little penguin is patient enough to wait and see what emerges from the oven.

Bunnies. Too skittish to wait around for tasty treats!
As much as we love Panda, the tiny Penguin steals practically every scene as Panda mixes and bakes.

We're not going to be meanies and spoil the big reveal, suffice to say that Penguin's patience does indeed pay off in the most marvellous way.

Once again, Steve comes up trumps with a great little moral tale chock full of fabulous characters - and you could see this turning into a series. "I'll queue patiently for the bus, Mr Panda!" or "I won't run around in restaurants, Mr Panda" could be up next! Luckily for you, you won't have long to wait for Mr Panda's next outing as it's out on Thursday!

Charlotte's favourite bit: Penguin patiently shouting at the top of his voice "I'LL WAIT, MR PANDA!" just in case we were in any doubt :)

Daddy's favourite bit: A sumptuous treat of a sequel, gloriously served up to us patient folk who couldn't wait to see more Mr Panda. A fabulous lesson in patience and politeness deftly delivered by a truly talented dude!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Hodder Children's Books)

"I'll Wait Mr Panda"

Written and Illustrated by Steve Antony

Published by Hodder Children's Books

Publication Date: 14th January 2016