Please, Mr. Panda - a great read for preschoolers
Teaching your child about manners usually starts at the preschool age - when little ones can start remembering the 'magic words' when they ask for something. Please, Mr. Panda is an endearing way to drive this point home with your preschooler!
By Ally Cooper
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony is a great read-aloud book for storytime or for a playgroup or classroom. The illustrations are vivid yet simple - children will enjoy the pictures of their favourite animals as they all ask for a doughnut from Mr. Panda.
As you read the story aloud, children may ask 'why isn't Mr. Panda giving a doughnut to any of his friends?' and as the story progresses, some children may guess or predict that none of the animals (until the very LAST one) has said 'Please!'
Re-reading again with your child lets you go back through all of the different ways the animals ask for something:
I want...
Give me...
Bring me more...
Until our final polite 'please and thank you' animal gets all of the yummy doughnuts!
The simple progression of the story offers great fodder for children to think about how they ask for things politely, in a fun and colourful story (that might make us all running out to the bakery...)
While manners are an important and ongoing teaching point for children of all ages, we also like the angle that our friends at Today's Parent took on How to Raise an Appreciative Child - great advice for all ages!
You can enter to win your very own copy of Please, Mr. Panda right here!
