  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2015 PreS-Gr 1—In this British import, a young panda wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and is in a grouchy mood all morning. When his friends at the preschool playground invite him to play, he shouts, "NO!" and tells them to go away. So they do. Pom Pom suddenly has a change of heart and apologizes to everyone. All is forgiven and they begin to play. This slight story has a predictable plot and no character development. The retro artwork has some nice touches of color, but the pictures are static and every page is dominated by Pom Pom's scowling face. The illustrations follow the simple text but do not add to the story. British spelling and terminology ("flannel" instead of "towel," "chase" instead of "tag") may confuse American readers. Jeremy Tankard's Grumpy Bird (Scholastic, 2007) tells a similar story but offers a more convincing cure for the grumps. VERDICT An unnecessary addition.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/15/2015 Pom Pom Panda wakes up on the wrong side of the bed one day, and every annoying thing just makes his case of the grumps worse. Cereal too soggy? “Harrumph!” Toothbrush too scratchy? “Harrumph!” Birds too noisy on the way to preschool? “Harrumph!” The scowling panda’s foul mood continues all the way to his class, where his friends try to cheer him up, but Pom Pom will not be swayed. “GO AWAY,” he yells, and his friends dutifully obey. But now Pom Pom has another problem: he is lonely! Luckily, he has the good sense to apologize, which also, happily, lifts the storm cloud from his head. Henn’s bright, blocky illustrations have a childlike look, and Pom Pom’s black-ringed eyes are perfect for showcasing recognizable emotions. The cheerful palette is in comical contrast to Pom Pom’s mood, and little ones will likely chuckle at the panda’s over-the-top surliness and find comfort in the fact that Pom Pom’s friends forgive him for his grouchy outburst. Hand to kiddos who liked Samantha Berger’s Crankenstein (2013). - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Loading...
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