Review: Xander's Panda Party by Linda Sue Park

Xander's Panda Party

Author: Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Clarion Books

Description:

Xander planned a panda party. Yes, a dandy whoop-de-do!But Xander was the only panda. Just one panda at the zoo.

The zoo’s paucity of pandas doesn’t impede Xander’s party planning for long. He decides to invite all the bears. But Koala protests. She’s not a bear—she's a marsupial! Does that mean she can’t come? Xander rethinks his decision to invite only bears, and “Calling all bears” evolves into “Calling all creatures.” The Newbery Medal author Linda Sue Park introduces animal taxonomy in a wonderfully engaging way, and the celebrated artist Matt Phelan’s charming ink and watercolor paintings are the icing on the cake. A read-aloud whoop-de-do!  

Xander's Panda Party is a completely adorable children's picture book that tells the story of Xander the Panda who wants to throw a party for all the pandas at the zoo. Soon he realizes that he's the only panda, so decides to invite all the bears to the party too. The Koala Bear tells Xander that she's not really a bear but a marsupial and asks if she'll still be welcome at the party. After Xander thinks for awhile, he changes his invitation to include all the furry creatures at the zoo. Each time a new type of animal comes to Xander wanting to come to the party and he must decide what to do. By the end of the story, Xander decides to invite everyone at the zoo - creatures of all kinds - and even the humans too.

This was a fast and fun children's book that was totally enjoyable. The story speaks of Xander and his problems planning a party at the zoo. The story itself has some bigger words in it, so it's great for older children to read or listen to - that way if they come across a word they don't understand, it can be explained to them. For the smaller children, the story is done in a sing-song way with a definitive rhyme scheme that will keep their attention. It's a great book for young readers who are just starting to learn how to read as well as ones a bit older who want practice and to learn some new words. The illustrations in the book are gorgeous and absolutely adorable. Each page has color illustrations of Xander the Panda and different animals at the zoo. The illustrations coincide with the story line and it's easy to keep along with the story by looking at the pictures. The illustrations themselves are mostly bright and colorful, with the exception of Xander, who is black and white. They are done in watercolor and ink, and make the story that much more exciting and fun for the reader. This is a great book to read to small children or for young readers who are reading on their own.