Mr. Panda shows that good things come to those who wait! Mr. Panda from Steve Antony's bestselling, funny manners book Please, Mr. Panda is back! This time, Mr. Panda's black-and-white animal friends are curious what he's making, but only one has the patience to stick around. An alpaca, an aardvark, rabbits, and a bird all wind up missing out. It's the penguin who declares, "I'll wait, Mr. Panda." The penguin is rewarded with a big SURPRISE: a giant doughnut! I'll Wait, Mr. Panda is a graphic, kid-friendly way of teaching the value of patience and the importance of saying "thank you." PreS-K—The protagonist of Please, Mr. Panda is back with another manners lesson—this time on the value of patience. Large, block-shaped Mr. Panda, attired in a small apron covered with images of doughnuts and a toque that looks amusingly tiny on his large head, looks out at readers with a deadpan expression. He holds a bowl and wooden spoon. "What are you making, Mr. Panda?" asks an alpaca as the story begins. "Wait and see. It's a surprise," he responds. But Alpaca refuses to wait. Penguin, though, says, "I'll wait, Mr. Panda." An aardvark, a warren of rabbits, and a bird each in turn want to know what Mr. Panda is making, and his reply remains the same. They must wait. One by one, they, too, leave. Finally, a page turn depicts the penguin, who has previously been accorded a small space at the bottom or in the corner of a page, full size, beak wide open as he speaks the words written in large font on the opposite page: "I'll wait, Mr. Panda!" Even the background color changes from dull blue gray to stark white for this loud announcement. Two pages later, with Penguin still patiently waiting, Mr. Panda carries in a sprinkle-covered doughnut so big that it covers the page. Penguin declares it "worth the wait," and readers will, too. VERDICT This lighthearted treatment of the rewards of patience is perfect for group sharing and may help youngsters remember to exercise a little more of it when next the need arises.—Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA Praise for Please, Mr. Panda : "Smart design decisions by Antony... distinguish his visual storytelling. The warm gray backdrop and parade of black and white animals (a skunk, an ostrich, an orca) make the candy-colored doughnuts look all the more tantalizing. Novel perspectives ... provide freshness, too." -- Publishers Weekly "Tiny young listeners may be so pleased -- and relieved -- to see the dazzling treats given away that they won't notice how deftly they've been given a manners lesson. Households with toddlers may find a new family catchphrase as Mr. Panda demonstrates one approach to eliciting those elusive 'magic words.' Simple yet funny enough for multiple readings." -- Kirkus Reviews "Though this is a book with a clear message, the humor and attractive design give it a bit of an edge and keep it out of the realm of the heavy-handed, 'Let's learn a lesson' titles. A fun storytime selection and a solid option for parents or teachers looking for a creative way to emphasize the importance of saying, 'Please' and 'Thank you.'" -- School Library Journal Mr. Panda is making a surprise. What is it? The animals must wait and see. But waiting is boring. Mr. Panda shows that good things come to those who wait! Steve Antony is the author and illustrator of the popular picture books Please, Mr. Panda ; Green Lizards vs. Red Rectangles ; and The Queen's Hat . He lives in Swindon, England. Mr. Panda is making a surprise. What is it? The animals must wait and see. But waiting is boring. Mr. Panda shows that good things come to those who wait! Steve Antony is the author and illustrator of the popular picture books Please, Mr. Panda ; Green Lizards vs. Red Rectangles ; and The Queen's Hat . He lives in Swindon, England. Steve Antony is the popular author and illustrator of Please, Mr. Panda (S'il vous plaît, M. Panda​) ; I'll Wait, Mr. Panda (C'est prêt, M. Panda?) ; Thank You, Mr. Panda (Merci, M. Panda) ; The Queen's Hat ; Green Lizards vs. Red Rectangles ; and Betty Goes Bananas . The Queen's Hat was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal in the UK. Steve lives in Swindon, England.