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Full Text Reviews:

School Library Journal - 10/01/2014 PreS-K—In this witty picture book primer on manners, Mr. Panda offers a variety of animals a doughnut. All respond rudely, and Mr. Panda goes on his way, until he meets a ring-tailed lemur who's aware of the power of politeness. The book is appealingly spare. The large-font text consists entirely of dialogue between Mr. Panda and the animals. Antony relies upon a mostly muted palette—the textured background is entirely gray, and all the creatures black and white—with the box of doughnuts the only example of bright color. There are no backdrops, and few objects are depicted, resulting in an elegant, pared down look. However, the author injects humor into the mix, from the over-the-top ways in which the animals request doughnuts ("I want them all! Then bring me some more," demands the killer whale) to their reactions when Mr. Panda leaves (the orca sports a crestfallen expression, with a gigantic tear). The smudgy black-and-white illustrations are appealing, and while Mr. Panda, a large, squat creature with a sour expression, isn't as adorable as some picture-book pandas—Neil Gaiman's Chu comes to mind—he's definitely endearing. Though this is a book with a clear message, the humor and attractive design give it a bit of an edge and keep it out of the realm of the heavy-handed, "Let's learn a lesson" titles. A fun storytime selection and a solid option for parents or teachers looking for a creative way to emphasize the importance of saying, "Please" and "Thank you."—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2015 A formidably grumpy Mr. Panda and his box of doughnuts are at the center of this droll book about manners. He has a simple question: “Would you like a doughnut?” The other animals not only want doughnuts but each has a specific demand: “Give me the pink one.” “I want the blue one and the yellow one.” Mr. Panda’s reply is consistent: “No, you cannot have a doughnut. I have changed my mind.” After blowing off a penguin, a skunk, and a killer whale, Mr. Panda asks, “Would anyone else like a doughnut?” He is looking directly out of the page, challenging the reader to guess why none of the animals got their treats. Finally, a cheerful lemur reaps the rewards by using please and thank you. Antony reinforces the idea that manners are absolute by contrasting the black-and-white animals with the rainbow-colored box of doughnuts. He also has fun with the layout, particularly with the lemur and his penchant for hanging upside down. Simply stated—and slightly aggressive—this etiquette book lays down the law. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2015 Mr. Panda offers doughnuts to a variety of critters, and though most of them are interested, not one of them asks politely. Mr. Panda, apparently a tyrant where manners are concerned, gives each of them the same brusque response: “No, you cannot have a doughnut. I have changed my mind.” When Mr. Panda makes his offer one last time (“Would anyone else like a doughnut?”), a courteous lemur asks, “May I have a doughnut . . . PLEASE, Mr. Panda?” and Mr. Panda rewards him with the whole box. It’s not entirely clear what’s going on with Mr. Panda, who doesn’t even like doughnuts, but the terse dialogue is funny to read aloud, and Mr. Panda’s gruffness and grumpy facial expression are a humorous contrast to his otherwise cuddly appearance and the general cheeriness. Young listeners, who might not always remember their own manners but who have high standards for justice, will likely also savor the abrupt way Mr. Panda shuts down the ruder animals. Antony’s illustrations are bold and orderly, featuring a parade of black and white supporting animal actors (penguin, skunk, ostrich, killer whale), along with the equally monochromatic (and pudgy) Mr. Panda and the topaz-eyed lemur. A subtly rippled light gray background helps keep the unadorned design clean and crisp, and all the monochrome serves to deliciously highlight the candy-colored doughnuts in their white bakery box. Use this in a panda- or manners-themed storytime, or simply serve it up with a side of doughnuts-but make the children say “please.” JH - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.