  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 05/01/2016 Mango’s father is very busy, so she has become self-sufficient. So much so that when a lumpy black-and-white creature cowers in the middle of a crosswalk, she takes it upon herself not only to resolve the ensuing traffic jam but also make sure that the creature—a Malayan tapir—feels right at home. Bambang, the tapir, is easily lured in by the promise of banana pancakes at Mango’s penthouse apartment, but he sticks around since Mango is such a good friend. Elsewhere, Mango and her tapir pal head to the park to go swimming, discover Bambang’s deep love for hats of all kinds, and fight off a mean-spirited neighbor hell-bent on collecting exotic artifacts . . . like a certain Malayan creature living at Mango’s place. Each of Mango and Bambang’s gentle adventures is discrete enough that emerging readers can break up the book into more digestible pieces, while Vulliamy’s cartoonish two-color illustrations—check out that adorable tapir in a tasseled sombrero—add to the whimsical atmosphere. Middle-grade readers tired of the usual animal shtick will be charmed by Bambang. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2016 In this British import, Bambang, a talking Malaysian tapir, is lost in the middle of a busy city street when young girl Mango finds him and gently leads him to her house with the promise of banana pancakes. In subsequent episodes, Bambang finds the perfect pool in a public fountain, escapes a neighbor with a taste for taxidermy, and reassures Mango as the girl struggles with an upcoming music concert. The absurdity of the premise, Mango’s combination of gentle kindness and steely determination, and the charm of Bambang himself provide immediate appeal, while the brief page count, large font, and plentiful illustrations will buoy novice chapter book readers. The slight formality of the narrative voice is matched by Vulliamy’s visual representation of Mango (she often appears in a cardigan, skirt, and knee socks and her sleek black bob sports a jaunty side bow), and there’s an easy elegance to the smooth mixed-media art, done in shades of white, gray, and black. Fans of the recent Paddington Bear movie and those who love Hilary McKay’s animal-centric “Lulu” series may especially enjoy this introduction to Mango and Bambang’s adventures. JH - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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