pandamonia

7/19/2017

"...so don't wake the panda whatever you do." This is the recurring theme of Pandamonia, a playful picture book from Kane Miller (written by Chris Owen and Chris Nixon) about the possible implications of waking a blissfully sleeping panda. This is a book you and your kids will love to read together because of the whimsical illustrations, the goofy storyline, and the lyrical rhythm and rhyme.

The essential storyline of this book is that you need to be careful of waking a panda because of the riot that might ensue. The story itself outlines the snowball effect of this possible occurrence: the hippos will create a hullabaloo, which will make the termites tickle the toes of the elephants, which will make the zebra, giraffe, and hyenas laugh, etc. etc. - until all chaos ensues! ...so don't wake the panda whatever you do.

I have to say, I love this book not only as a parent of toddlers, but as a high school English teacher. Straightforward books with strong rhyme and rhythm are ideal for teaching poetic form to students, and a book where these aims are achieved with playful content is going to be more effective than a classic poem students may find stuffy before they even give it a chance.

And here, we have the added benefit of some excellent vocabulary! kerfuffle, shimmy, yakking, fandango, and palaver are all words that make an appearance in this book. I'll admit, I had to look up palaver! (it's a prolonged and idle discussion, btw.)

The animals themselves will spark curiosity. Your kids will recognize zebras, crocodiles, and grizzly bears... but jabirus? echidna? galahs? There are plenty of animals within the pages of this book to spark further exploration. And I love books that are worth repeated readings not only because they are fun stories, but because the details spark curiosity and questions that require investigation.

It's that book that'll get you jumping and dancing and giggling... just don't wake the panda whatever you do!

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