مهمان‌های پاندا

by Linda Sue Park, Matt Phelan (Illustrator), نگار عباس‌پور (Translator)

پاندای قصه­ ی ما توی باغ وحش زندگی می­کند. او تصمیم گرفته همه­ ی پانداها را به مهمانی­ اش دعوت کند، اما بعد متوجه می­شود او تنها پاندای باغ ­وحش است. حالا باید تصمیمش را عوض کند. چطور باید برای این مهمانی برنامه ­ریزی کند که هیچ­کس را از خودش نرنجاند؟ مثلاً برای خرس ­ها کارت دعوت بفرستد؟ خب تکلیف کوآلا چه می­شود که خرس نیست؟ همه ­ی پستانداران را دعوت کند؟ تکلیف کرگدن چه می­شود که بدون پرنده­ اش حاضر نیست توی مهمانی شرکت کند؟ شاید بهتر باشد از مارمولک مشورت بگیرد...
مهمانی پاندا، کتابی جذاب و شیرین، پر از شادی و دوستی و مهمانی­ است. این کتاب مخاطب را با گونه‌های مختلف حیوانات، ارزش و اهمیت دوستی و مشورت گرفتن از دیگران آشنا می­کند. تصاویر و متن کتاب جذاب و دوست­داشتنی هستند.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction, Humor

40 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2013

About the author

Linda Sue Park is a Korean American author of children's fiction. Park published her first novel, Seesaw Girl, in 1999. To date, she has written six children’s novels and five picture books for younger readers. Park’s work achieved prominence when she received the prestigious 2002 Newbery Medal for her novel A Single Shard.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's one more at the party? As they say, the more the merrier! Xander starts off with a plan to have a panda party but soon realizes he is the only panda at the zoo. What to do? Why not ask some other zoo friends? Soon all at the zoo are a part of Xander's party. Great illustrations and a good introduction to animal classifications for a younger audience.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you plan a little soiree and end up with a block party.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This winning author-illustrator duo does not disappoint.

In addition to being a super cute book for family reading, here's why it's great for schools and libraries.

Many concepts are addressed in a way that does not feel didactic. Broccoli disguised as cookies, if you will.

--Xander the panda contemplates his actions and adjusts his plans according to various results.
--Animal classifications are explored
--Careful (not simple) rhyme that will not be too sing-songy for older readers.
--Emotional range is wide and description words abound (e.g. "beguiling smile).
--Linguistic pronunciation and naming insight for a China-born character.
--Informative author note.

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xander wants to have a panda party, but there's one problem. He's the only panda at the zoo. So he keeps widening his criteria for guests and makes new friends along the way. Then just as the party's about to start, a crate arrives form China. What will be inside?

This is a fairly straightforward story, but enjoyable. The illustrations are great and there's a two-page spread at the end that gives some information on pandas and other animals that could be used by parents or teachers. I didn't agree with the evolutionary slant, but the information was interesting.

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't discount the power of the picture book. This collaboration between two legends, Linda Sue Park and Matt Phelan is a gem. My favorite line, "Amanda Salamander lent a hand to Xander Panda. Xander's party plans went from grand to even grander."

Buying this for every 3-6 year old I know.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and poetic story about a panda who is planning his birthday party. The poem is very well written by Linda Sue Park. The illustrations are great too. The poem and story incorporates classification of animals such as reptile, mammal etc.

[Dest · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rhymes in this are delectable and the illustrations are so cute! I love it, I love it! And, as Karen pointed out, it may be the best possible read aloud choice when you get to the letter X with preschool story time.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you write and illustrate a picture book people! Excellent rhyming and vocabulary and a funny story. Anyone who's ever tried to throw a party knows it never works out the way you intend, but most of the time things work out the way they're supposed to.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and great story about friendship. A must for your library! I think K-2 will particularly like this one.

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading age
2 - 6 years

[StormofCuteness · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an utter delight this children's book is! From its wonderful rhymes to its helpful understanding of both inclusivity and zoology, it made me smile brightly. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention the beautiful and humor-filled illustrations which elevate this to must have status. Oh, and it's extra fun to look for the salamander throughout.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie's Picks: XANDER'S PANDA PARTY by Linda Sue Park and Matt Phelan, ill., Clarion, September 2013, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-547-55865-1

"Then God way up in heaven, for whatever it was worth
Thought he'd have a big old party, thought he'd call it Planet Earth"
-- Bob Weir (1971)

"From her tree Koala hollered, 'Xander, I am not a bear.'
Xander didn't understand her. 'Koala Bear, you're not a
bear?' He stared at her in consternation.
'Sorry for the complication. I know I'm called Koala Bear.
but I am not a bear, I swear. I am a marsupial. Marsupials --
we're rather rare. Will I not be welcome there?'"

Do you remember learning "King Phillip Came Over From Greece Saturday" or one of its close variations? It is a mnemonic device taught by science teachers to help students memorize the levels of classification of life forms (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species). Sorting, grouping, classifying, ordering: these are essential concepts in science, math, and other curricular areas that need to be learned, beginning in preschool and continuing right up through high school and beyond.

Linda Sue Park and Matt Phelan are a very talented pair of homo sapiens. Through their tale of Xander Panda planning a party at the zoo -- conveyed in rollicking rhyme and ink-and-watercolor images -- they introduce young audiences to the concepts that underlie the classification of the various life forms who are going to be partying out.

At first, it was going to be a panda party. But that would make it a party of one. So then Xander adds the rest of the bears and the koala complication arises. This leads to his expanding the guest list so as to include all of the mammals in the zoo. But then...

"Soon Rhinoceros sent word:
'It may sound a bit absurd,
but I won't come without my bird.'"

"Xander felt a little blue. He chewed bamboo, a stalk or two. He fidgeted
and paced the floor, then scratched an itch and paced some more.
Finally, a firm decision: Xander's brand-new party vision!
'All the birds and all the mammals, from whooping cranes to hybrid
camels -- anyone with fur or feathers, congregating all together!'"

I particularly love the sweet illustration accompanying that passage, Xander standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a dozen-plus penguins, a youngster leaning its head on Xander's leg, and Xander with a look of "What have I gotten myself into?"

"All God's critters got a place in the choir"
-- Bill Staines (1978)

And this, to me, brings up the even-more important concept to be gleaned by young audiences from this story. Sorting and classifying is all well and good, but this is also a story about inclusiveness, about everyone being invited. It serves as a gentle, subtle, but unambiguous broadside against cliques, against boys-only or girls-only or whites-only or kids-with the-right-clothes-only.

"What a party! What a ball! Lots of new friends, tall and small! Every creature at the zoo…"

Look at the big smile on every critter's face! See what happens when everyone is made to feel welcome? Inclusiveness rocks!

Classify this book as a Yes!

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xander is planning a party just for pandas, but soon realizes that he is the only panda at the zoo. So he changes the invitation to include all sorts of the bears at the zoo. Then Koala is left out because she’s a marsupial, not a bear. Xander chewed some bamboo and thought a bit, then changed the party to be for all mammals at the zoo. After going through several more versions, Xander’s party changed to invite all of the animals at the zoo. It was almost time for the party to start, when a truck and a crate arrived at the zoo. It was a new creature for the zoo! But would it ruin Xander’s updated party plans?

Clever, clever, clever. This book carefully offers information on animal taxonomy to readers who will not even realize they are learning it thanks to the party-theme of the book. Park’s writing is so impressive. When I opened the book to see it rhyme, I must admit that I sighed. But Park managed to created a rhyming book that is not written in stanzas. She instead builds whole paragraphs that read like rhyming poems and make the rhymes work throughout the sentences. It is a smart way to approach a book that harnesses the rhyme rather than galloping away with it.

Phelan’s art is entirely brilliant. His lines have a looseness that really works, creating whole settings in just a few lines. All of the animals have their own unique personalities. I particularly enjoyed the rhino glaring from behind his wall and the montage of the different types of bears. There are small touches throughout that add humor and coziness to the story.

A book that has science mixed with a message of inclusiveness, this is one will mass appeal.

[Dex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon seeing the author's name, I had high expectations, but my initial reaction was disappointment. I'm not a huge fan of the rhyming text, but this is pretty well done, and fits well with the story. I also had concerns that there would be scientific inaccuracies, but those concerns were not founded. Ultimately, I ended up liking this book with its wonderfully strong message of inclusion, and its earnest focus on taxonomic accuracy, including an author's note (still somewhat of a biology nerd, I guess). Of course, there is still the whole zoo issue with the portrayal of wild animals living happily in captivity, which is a seemingly never ending battle...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xander the Panda is throwing a party, but he keeps changing the theme to make all his guests feel welcome. At first he plans a bear party, then a mammal party, then a mammals and birds party before he finally just invites the whole zoo. Text is lively and rhymes making this a fun read aloud.

An author's note about the author's inspiration for writing this book follows the story and gives readers a few websites and zoos to explore pandas in depth.

Ink and watercolor illustrations. PreK-2.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun. It rhymes, but without the standard cadences normally found in children’s books. Plus, the vocabulary building in this book is just awesome. I always remember books that are not afraid to mix the big words with the usual sort found in picture books. This book gets an A+ from me, and now I too want to join the Panda Party.

#beatthebacklist #hermione 2017

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Librarian Book Group
The kind of rhyming prose that inspires glee in me, rather than a chugga-chugga-sing-song thing. Very darling illustrations. I felt for that Panda, man. I've thrown parties. I know how it goes.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew pandas could be such party animals? A fun, engaging story. Phelan's brilliant illustrations make the most of the humor and bring depth to the story.

[Kirsten Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this for Xander for his first Christmas (for obvious reasons). It's a cute story with a little education thrown in for good measure (a Koala is a marsupial, not a bear!)

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This humorous, rhyming book would definitely delight the ears of any young child as well as help them learn about the various classes of animals. Xander is the only panda bear in the zoo, so he decides to have a party with the other bears, but soon other animals hear of the party and want an invitation too. The ending is delightful with a surprise present for Xander. This book also teaches a nice lesson about how others feel when left out of something.

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xander Panda parties hardy. He's so cool, he's the exception to the rule. What rule? I didn't really think out these rhymes, sorry...

[Leah]

Total disclosure: I needed a book that started with X for my alphabet reading challenge.

But this book is delightful. I'm sure your littles love it!

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, especially Amanda, the friendly salamander.

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rhyming story about a panda who is planning a party with an ever-changing guest list. Pretty watercolor illustrations and lots of drama. Good story about being more inclusive. Extra non-fiction information at the end. Recommended for Grades 2-4.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this aloud is fun. Great chance to talk about different types of animals, being inclusive, pandas in captivity/endangered species and tons of new vocabulary words for the littles.

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Xander's Panda Party' is a completely adorable children's picture book that tells the story of Xander the Panda who wants to throw a party for all the pandas at the zoo. Soon he realizes that he's the only panda, so decides to invite all the bears to the party too. The Koala Bear tells Xander that she's not really a bear but a marsupial and asks if she'll still be welcome at the party. After Xander thinks for awhile, he changes his invitation to include all the furry creatures at the zoo. Each time a new type of animal comes to Xander wanting to come to the party and he must decide what to do. By the end of the story, Xander decides to invite everyone at the zoo - creatures of all kinds - and even the humans too.

This was a fast and fun children's book that was totally enjoyable. The story speaks of Xander and his problems planning a party at the zoo. The story itself has some bigger words in it, so it's great for older children to read or listen to - that way if they come across a word they don't understand, it can be explained to them. For the smaller children, the story is done in a sing-song way with a definitive rhyme scheme that will keep their attention. It's a great book for young readers who are just starting to learn how to read as well as ones a bit older who want practice and to learn some new words. The illustrations in the book are gorgeous and absolutely adorable. Each page has color illustrations of Xander the Panda and different animals at the zoo. The illustrations coincide with the story line and it's easy to keep along with the story by looking at the pictures. The illustrations themselves are mostly bright and colorful, with the exception of Xander, who is black and white. They are done in watercolor and ink, and make the story that much more exciting and fun for the reader. This is a great book to read to small children or for young readers who are reading on their own.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Mcclanahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre= Post-Modern Children's Book

Xander is a panda who wants to celebrate his birthday the way he has always dreamed of doing- with several pandas. However, Xander is the only panda bear in the zoo. So, he decides to invite all bears of the zoo to his party, since there are no other pandas to invite. However, Xander soon finds out that Koala Bear is not really a bear but a marsupial, so Xander extends his invitation to all mammals. But some mammals are very close to the birds they co-exist with, so then Xander broadens his guest list to include birds and mammals. However, Xander discovers that birds and reptiles were once distantly related...

The text shows how Xander's stereotypes and classifications really hold no place in the modern world where creatures fall into multiple categories, and all creatures are dependent upon each other. As an ironic twist at the end, Xander finds out the zoo is getting another panda- so he will have someone like himself at his party. At this point, though, Xander has learned that all should be invited. This text not only challenges students to reconsider the classification of animal species, but also to learn the lesson of accepting everyone. The plot twist, challenge of stereotypes and reader interaction (part of the story is not told by the narrator or Xander but through the signs and invitations on the pages) classify this book as post modern. A very CUTE book!

[Charlot Lumacang Felizarta]

sasa

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book would be the illustrations--especially of all he various animals. The rhyming was ok. A little jerky on occasion but overall fine. The story is cute. I may consider for preschool storytime.

2014-2015 Beehive nominee

One of those stars is solely for the illustrations.

2/11/15 Closing book for Zoo Part 2 theme. It went well. It wasn't great. I still blame that on the huge crowd of newcomers that I got who by that time were so all over the place that there was no why I could talk over them and reach to the regulars who had retreated to their mothers' laps. Even the boy who LOVES this book and had asked me to read it (which is why I included it this week) showed no signs of connection. So sad.

10/5/16 Closer in preschool Bears theme. Not too bad. The group went back to being a bit less responsive as they had in the beginning of the session. But there were smiles, so they enjoyed the story. And, again, a panda. So, score.

7/19/17 Used as opener in X and Y theme. Glad to find something that began with X, even if it was a Z sound. Very small crowd, especially compared to what I have been getting this summer. But they were very attentive and enjoyed it.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xander the Panda wants to throw a Panda Party, but there is only one problem - he is the only panda at the zoo. So he decides to invite all the bears, including the koala (at this point, I got a little worried), but the koala points out that she is not a bear, but a marsupial. Every time Xander passes out invitations, there is something wrong that only can be solved by inviting more guests to the party. At the end, everyone is invited, including humans. And the zoo has a surprise for Xander.

This book was so cute! Phelan does a wonderful job on the illustrations, and Park had created a fun, yet informative, story. This is a great story, just to read for the fun of it, but can be also used in a couple of ways. First it would be a great book to read to introduce the idea of allowing everyone to participate in something (be it playtime, recess,a party, etc.). Also it would be a great book to introduce the idea of animal classification - mammals, birds and reptiles are all represented.

A wonderful author's note at the end of the book tells why the book was written as well as a brief introduction to classification.