Xander's panda party by Linda Sue Park
Ill. by Matt Phelan. UQP, 2013. ISBN 9780702249983.
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Picture book, Animals, Pandas, Zoos.
When Xander decides to hold a party, he first issues invitations to
all the bears in the zoo, but the koala declines, telling Xander
that he is not a bear, but a marsupial. Xander rethinks his
invitations and invites all animals, but the rhino has a problem
with this and wants to invite birds, one of which is often on his
horn. So he invites all animals and birds, but this presents a
problem for the crocodile. Each time Xander thinks he has the
problem solved, another issue arises for him to solve.
The warmly inviting illustrations will encourage readers to find the
creatures being spoken of as they read, while the humour behind the
illustrations will cause merriment. A pleasing outcome draws the
story to a neat conclusion, and the whole will be well used to teach
readers about the different creatures that inhabit the world.
Fran Knight