Chengdu Can Do

June 15, 2017
The roly-poly panda of Chengdu Could Not, Would Not, Fall Asleep (2014) wakes up hungry. Just like a toddler, Chengdu can do a lot of things "all by himself." He can get down from his branch, jump, push and pull, climb, swing back and forth, even fly--almost. So he demonstrates in the soft-focus illustrations, though his efforts to get to the bamboo fronds that hang tantalizingly just out of reach are frustrated again and again. As in Chengdu's first outing, Saltzberg uses artful page turns, gatefolds, and half pages to endow his grave-looking panda's patient quest for breakfast with action and humor. Yes, Chengdu does a lot all by himself, but for some tasks, such as bending down a bamboo stalk, "there are times when Chengdu can... / use a little help." Enter a pair of pandas, one of parental size, to lend a paw. With a narrative text that extends to just nine sentences, the book depends on the design to pace readers. Manipulating the various gatefolds slows them down to panda speed, resulting in a satisfying read-aloud. A cozy declaration of independence--with a caveat that's not just for toddlers. (Picture book. 2-5)

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August 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Little Chengdu, a baby panda, is at the stage where he can do many things alone. He is growing up and becoming so independent that he probably does not even want to be called little. This story, with its calming background shades of pastel blues, calls to mind preschoolers who politely say "no" or "I can do it all by myself." This is, in fact, only partly true, as Chengdu realizes by the end of the story. Even though he can't do everything, each day is a new adventure because he is discovering more things that he is able to do alone. For example, he can find his breakfast. Chengdu feels proud. He is adventurous and curious about the world-but he still needs help. The book teaches readers how to be humble, interdependent, compassionate, and empathetic. VERDICT This well-written story with simple text and illustrations has the tone and appeal of The Little Red Hen and the Grain of Wheat.-Gwen Collier, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY

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