Dear Panda

May 19, 2014
What starts off like a standard getting-used-to-a-new-home story takes a playful turn when a girl named Florence, who is nervous about making friends and having to tell her new classmates about herself, writes a letter of friendship to the panda at the zoo next door—and gets a response. Soon, Florence and Panda are inseparable, climbing trees, playing in the water, and hula-hooping. While Latimer’s Panda doesn’t have quite the sagelike presence of Jon J Muth’s Stillwater, he’s exactly the companion Florence needs, and his cameo appearance at school both wins over Florence’s class and helps her make a (human) friend. Latimer (The Prince’s Breakfast) keeps things interesting in her mixed-media illustrations, playing with a variety of visual perspectives and telegraphing the characters’ emotions, from Panda’s pensive expression as he contemplates how to answer “his first-ever letter” to Florence’s giddy midair leap when she receives his reply. Despite the fantasy trappings of the story, anxious readers should finish the book reassured that making friends can sometimes be surprisingly simple, even without the help of a panda. Ages 3–7.

June 1, 2014
The new girl in town worries about making friends at her new school, but a panda from the zoo next door eases her fears.A letter from Florence's new teacher asking her to stand up in front of the class and tell about herself has Florence writing a letter of her own-to the panda, who she hopes will be her new special friend. This clever strategy to gather material to talk about on the first day works like a charm. The two write back and forth before planning a play date and exploring all the things they like to do together: swimming, hiding and hula-hooping. And when Flo finally confesses her first-day fears to Panda, he has just the solution. This in turn sparks Florence's friendship with the panda-loving Bea, who also loves to swim, hide and hula-hoop. Latimer's sweet illustrations depict round-headed, pink-cheeked multiethnic children with spindly legs; Bea is differentiated from Flo by her panda button and her lower-fastened pigtails. The many letters stand out for their different typefaces; Panda's is larger and slightly messier, as befits an animal with large paws and no opposable thumbs.Latimer's story flirts with fantasy, and while Flo's solution won't help children living in reality, maybe they can use her tale to recall something just as remarkable (though true) to share with their own classes. (Picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-Florence has just moved to a new house, right next to a zoo and is excited that she is able to see some of the animals from her window. However, even watching her favorite critter-the panda-can't make her feel better when she receives a letter from her soon-to-be teacher inviting her to introduce herself on her first day of school. Shy about standing in front of strangers, Flo worries that she won't make any new friends before the big day. Then she has an idea: she writes a note to her new neighbor (Panda is "flabbergasted" and delighted to receive his "first-ever letter"), initiating a correspondence that soon flowers into comforting camaraderie. Panda even accompanies Flo on that dreaded first day, paving the way for her to befriend a panda-loving classmate. Featuring subdued hues, soft edges, and crayon-textured highlights, the winsome mixed-media illustrations are filled with engaging details and expressive emotions. All of the missives are included in a variety of fonts, underscoring the power of written communication. Latimer's reassuring tale handles real-world issues with a charming touch of fantasy.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.