I'll Wait, Mr. Panda

A penguin is rewarded for patience.Mr. Panda, large and with amusing gravitas, sports a tiny chef's hat and a pink-frilled, doughnut-patterned apron in this tale of delayed gratification. Mr. Panda is wielding a wooden spoon and mixing bowl, into which he mysteriously pours various ingredients (flour, milk, sugar). An assortment of curious animals, mostly black and white--an alpaca, an anteater, a herd of rabbits, and possibly an egret--pop in to ask what he's making. "Wait and see," is Mr. Panda's repeated answer. All but a steadfast penguin decide that, as the anteater says, "waiting is too hard," and are on their way. The penguin, who appears first opposite the title page, continues to wait, assuring the large chef, "I'll wait, Mr. Panda." When the gigantic surprise is produced at last, it is decorated with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. This would be purely purposive if not for the lively good humor at play in Antony's eager, silly creatures, who fly, hop, and peek from the sidelines and on the endpapers. Though the reward is rarely as spectacular as this, sometimes hope and anticipation are enough to strengthen the waiting muscle. Certainly young readers will find Mr. Panda funny, will be tickled at the hyperbole, and may find the idea of a huge doughnut delectable to contemplate while waiting for their own surprises. (Picture book. 2-5) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2016

PreS-K-The protagonist of Please, Mr. Panda is back with another manners lesson-this time on the value of patience. Large, block-shaped Mr. Panda, attired in a small apron covered with images of doughnuts and a toque that looks amusingly tiny on his large head, looks out at readers with a deadpan expression. He holds a bowl and wooden spoon. "What are you making, Mr. Panda?" asks an alpaca as the story begins. "Wait and see. It's a surprise," he responds. But Alpaca refuses to wait. Penguin, though, says, "I'll wait, Mr. Panda." An aardvark, a warren of rabbits, and a bird each in turn want to know what Mr. Panda is making, and his reply remains the same. They must wait. One by one, they, too, leave. Finally, a page turn depicts the penguin, who has previously been accorded a small space at the bottom or in the corner of a page, full size, beak wide open as he speaks the words written in large font on the opposite page: "I'll wait, Mr. Panda!" Even the background color changes from dull blue gray to stark white for this loud announcement. Two pages later, with Penguin still patiently waiting, Mr. Panda carries in a sprinkle-covered doughnut so big that it covers the page. Penguin declares it "worth the wait," and readers will, too. VERDICT This lighthearted treatment of the rewards of patience is perfect for group sharing and may help youngsters remember to exercise a little more of it when next the need arises.-Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.