by Linda Sue Park
illustrated by Matt Phelan
Clarion Books, September 3, 2013
Language: English
paperback: 978-0547558653
40 pages, ages 3-5
Xander's Panda Party
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.”
This book 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!
Resources
Recognition
2014 ALA Notable Book
2014 Bank Street CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year
2014 CCBC Choices
2014-2015 Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award Nominee
2016 Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee
2014 IRA Teachers’ Choices Reading List
Junior Library Guild Selection
2014 Michigan Library Association’s Mitten Award Honor List
2015 Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Nominee
2013 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
2015 Utah Beehive Award Nominee
2015 Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award Nominee
Reviews
“Phelan takes Park's jaunty story about a panda with a complicated social life and develops it still further. … There's food for thought throughout.”
“The upbeat, mostly rhyming text provides a surprising amount of information about animal families and species without tripping up the pace. … Perfect for young animal lovers and a great read-aloud for storytime.”
“Liberal use of internal rhyme … makes Park's text sing as it relates how Xander tackles each new challenge.”
“Newbery Medalist Park's playful rhyming text introduces young kids to different species of animals … Share this story about the importance of inclusion with birthday kids and those fond of a trip to the zoo.”