A formidably grumpy Mr. Panda and his box of doughnuts are at the center of this droll book about manners. He has a simple question: "Would you like a doughnut?" The other animals not only want doughnuts but each has a specific demand: "Give me the pink one." "I want the blue one and the yellow one." Mr. Panda's reply is consistent: "No, you cannot have a doughnut. I have changed my mind." After blowing off a penguin, a skunk, and a killer whale, Mr. Panda asks, "Would anyone else like a doughnut?" He is looking directly out of the page, challenging the reader to guess why none of the animals got their treats. Finally, a cheerful lemur reaps the rewards by using please and thank you. Antony reinforces the idea that manners are absolute by contrasting the black-and-white animals with the rainbow-colored box of doughnuts. He also has fun with the layout, particularly with the lemur and his penchant for hanging upside down. Simply stated d slightly aggressive is etiquette book lays down the law.

PreS-K In this witty picture book primer on manners, Mr. Panda offers a variety of animals a doughnut. All respond rudely, and Mr. Panda goes on his way, until he meets a ring-tailed lemur who's aware of the power of politeness. The book is appealingly spare. The large-font text consists entirely of dialogue between Mr. Panda and the animals. Antony relies upon a mostly muted palettethe textured background is entirely gray, and all the creatures black and whitewith the box of doughnuts the only example of bright color. There are no backdrops, and few objects are depicted, resulting in an elegant, pared down look. However, the author injects humor into the mix, from the over-the-top ways in which the animals request doughnuts ("I want them all! Then bring me some more," demands the killer whale) to their reactions when Mr. Panda leaves (the orca sports a crestfallen expression, with a gigantic tear). The smudgy black-and-white illustrations are appealing, and while Mr. Panda, a large, squat creature with a sour expression, isn't as adorable as some picture-book pandas—Neil Gaiman's Chu comes to mind—he's definitely endearing. 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."— Mahnaz Dar , School Library Journal