Monday book review – Please Mr Panda
From Emma Chichester Clark to Oliver Jeffers, children’s picture books are going through a golden age right now.
Steve Antony is another artistic talent to watch. His previous book, The Queen’s Hat, was a gorgeous story about the Queen pursuing her hat through the streets of London.
I wasn’t in the least surprised when it was nominated for the 2015 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Now, hot on its heels comes Antony’s latest picture book, Please Mr Panda. Once again, the illustrations are stunning, especially the front endpapers, which are festooned with multicoloured doughnuts.
Mr Panda patiently and politely offers his fellow animals a delectable looking doughnut. But although each animal says “yes” he refuses to give them a doughnut.
But finally a cheeky meerkat (I think it’s a meerkat) comes along and utters two all-important words. Please and thank you.
A lovely story with an important message at its heart.
Please Mr Panda by Steve Antony (Hodder Children’s Books, £11.99)