Xander's Panda Party

Xander’s Panda Party written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Matt Phelan (University of Queensland Press)
HB RRP $19.95
ISBN 978-0-7022-4998-3
Reviewed by Jo Antareau

Park’s latest picture book ticks all the boxes! The writing is simply a joy to read aloud, exquisitely crafted with internal rhymes that flow within a rhythmical structure. The narrative at times consists of delightful tongue twisters (try saying “Amanda Salamander lent a hand to Xander Panda. Xander’s party plans went from grand to even grander!” out loud five times!). Great fun to listen to, but Park never allows the style to over-power the story. The situation remains clear and easily accessible to young listeners.

This beautiful picture book is immediately appealing with the cute roly-poly panda distributing a ribbon of colourful invitations on the cover.  Phelan’s water colour illustrations are simple and bursting with life, sometimes telling little anecdotes in themselves.

The story follows the dilemma of Xander Panda who, as the zoo’s only panda, has nobody to celebrate his birthday with. So he invites all the resident bears to a party, mistakenly including a koala on the guest list. After he understands a koala is not a bear at all, he stresses that other non-bear residents might feel left out. In order to not offend, he expands the guest list to all the mammals. Then finds he has to include all the birds, so that rhino might come with his bird. Then the reptiles, offended that they were left out, receive an invitation too. His party has grown into a mammoth event!

This is a lively story about inclusion and reaching out to others who might seem different to oneself. Xander’s Panda Party is a wonderful addition to any child’s bookshelf. Linda Sue Park is a Newbery award winning author of A Single Shard.

A Single Shard

 A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (UQP)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 9780702239373
Reviewed by Jo Burnell

A Single Shard won the Newbery Award for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children in 2002. Fancy words for a simple tale that will touch the hearts of all who hear or read it.

Linda Sue Park has woven historical facts from 12th century Korea and Korean Celadon pottery with unlikely heroes. The result is a warm, enticing tale for all.

Tree Ear was orphaned as a toddler. Monks asked Crane Man, homeless, disabled and living under a bridge, to mind the child as they searched unsuccessfully for relatives. When they return ready to take the child to a nearby monastery, Tree Ear would not be parted from Crane Man.

So began the pair's happy struggle for survival under the bridge. Together they eked out a simple but honourable existence on the edge of starvation, adhering to Crane Man's philosophy: 'there are many ways to garner a meal, but stealing and begging make a man no better than a dog'.

A Single Shard is the tale of how, amid this fight for survival, ten year old Tree Ear's hopes and dreams of being a Celadon Potter rise and fall in a village filled with potters. Tree Ear's longing collides with the cantankerous Min, Master Potter, and his kind-hearted wife.

Join Tree Ear as his efforts to be a trustworthy assistant are met with obstacles and resistance. I could't put the book down as I cheered him on, only to find him fall once more. Tree Ear is not the sort to give up easily, but the peaks of tiny triumphs wrestled time and again with difficulties and tragedy.

Will Tree Ear ever reach his dream? A Single Shard touched me to my core, revealing my own real life fears and hopes. Sometimes life blocks us on our journey to fulfilment, or does it?