Tag Archives: panda picture book

pom pom panda gets the grumps + pom pom panda craft!

01.12.2016

Pom Pom Panda Gets the Grumps by Sophy Henn (2015).

Sophy Henn‘s debut, Where Bear? was exceptional. (See my post on what makes it A+). And her second picture book does not disappoint.

Pom Pom is cute as a button. He’s in a mid-century-inspired world with colors that pop while remaining pastel.

(click image(s) to enlarge)

But he can’t find his blanket, his hair’s all messed up, and it’s generally a rotten day. You know the kind. To this, Pom Pom says, “Harrumph!”

He takes it out on his friends when they try to play with him. He yells, “Go Away!” which is kind of like a “harrumph” blown up. The whole page explodes in red and Pom Pom’s friends are smart enough to flee.

Pom Pom is left very very alone. He realizes his mistake—that he let his grumps get the better of him. You know the feeling.

He repairs. He plays with his friends. And then, well, something small happens. Again. This may not be the end of Pom Pom’s journey. Because really, don’t we all have to learn things over and over in order for them to stick?

Thanks to Sophy Henn for images!

This is a book that calls out for a craft! That cute Pom Pom! This one’s super easy to make too.

What you need:

Black construction paper

White computer paper

Scissors

Pencil

Fabric glue (Elmer’s might work too)

One large white pom pom (like this)

Shave off the sides of the pom pom with scissors to make a more square-ish shape for Pom Pom’s head.

Cut out ears, a tiny sliver of a mouth shape, and the main eye patch shape from black paper. (I traced from the book, which always helps.) Then cut out white u’s from white paper. Glue all the parts in place.

You can cut out some starry shapes as well for Pom Pom’s background if you like.

Voila!

You might also be interested in making a Beekle character!

please, mr. panda + tea icing donuts from thirsty for tea!

PICTURE BOOKS +

07.07.2015

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony (2014).

The premise is simple and the words are few. The characters are all black and white animals and the only color in the palette is from that bright, poppy box of doughnuts.

This is a manners book, but done funny with a dose of edge. Come see!

Just look at Mr. Panda! His gloomy eyes. The slight smudge of his shape. His “Doughnuts” cap! He looks like an apprehensive offerer. It’s like he already knows what’s going to happen.

And what happens is every animal he approaches doesn’t say please. They’re kind of an entitled (to doughnuts) bunch. And that’s the pattern of the book, with slight variation. Mr. Panda asks an animal if they’d like a doughnut and they respond with “I want the blue one and the yellow one” or “No, go away” or “I want them all! Then bring me some more.” No doughnuts for those guys.

Then, brilliantly, a new animal shows up. A lemur, who turns the pattern and even the orientation of the illustrations upside down! A lemur who says please and thank you and gets all the doughnuts. That last spread with the polite lemur in the box of doughnuts, bright pastry rings on his tail tells us that if you’re a nice lemur, you get doughnuts. Which is a pretty good deal.

One exuberant treat and one straight-faced panda. And the need for PLEASE.

Please Mr. Panda images from Steve Antony’s website.

My talented friend Bonnie at Thirsty for Tea is a seriously creative cook and tea connoisseur in addition to being one of my favorite people. Her blog recipes are always gorgeous and full of fun!

For our Please Mr. Panda collaboration, she made a box of donuts, just like Mr. Panda’s! To a tea!

No artificial colorings found in these poppy pastries. Bonnie whipped up icing that’s colored and flavored using pea flower, hibiscus, matcha, Earl Gray, and rooibos tea! (I told you she was amazing.)

These are also on the healthier side—baked not fried and with a couple ingredients like coconut oil and flax seeds. But mostly, they’re fun and delicious and would make most creatures say, yes, PLEASE!