Mr Panda is happy to help his friends prepare for a special surprise, so long as they remember to use their manners. The delightful Mr Panda, Lemur and a bunch of new friends are back for a third hilarious story about the importance of good manners.
Steve Antony, who is both author and illustrator, has had a passion for storytelling from an early age. It was the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge that really enable him to channel this passion. He has created picture books on a range of subjects – from the Queen’s hat to a full scale war between rectangles and lizards.
His slightly, so-called ‘off-the-wall’ books will definitely make children laugh, and Thank You, Mr Panda is no exception. The story is simple, yet effective and had both my toddlers laughing out loud at the unexpected gifts.
While the story may seem slightly odd to the adults, it gets an important message across in a lovely kid-friendly way. The book is also an easy read for reluctant adult readers, but can be made more complex for the natural storytellers. We love inventing new voices for each character each night. The final page in the book has no text, allowing both adults and children’s imagination and story-telling prowess to shine.
Antony’s bright, bold illustrations are simple yet very clever and help tell the story. His use of space, repeated patterns, and a very simple colour palette is refreshing and shows off his talent.
A nice wee addition to bookshelves, Thank You, Mr Panda is a lovely reminder all about the importance of gratitude and manners.
REVIEWER: Rebekah Fraser
TITLE: Thank You, Mr Panda
AUTHOR(S): Steve Antony
ILLUSTRATOR: Steve Antony
PUBLISHER: Hachette
RRP: $29.99