Children's Book Review: Peter Panda Melts Down (Artie Bennett)

Hardcover, 40 pages
Published February 11th 2014 by Blue Apple Books
Book Provided by Author for Honest Review

Uh-oh. Here it comes. Here comes that frown. Peter Panda melts dowwwnnn!”
Poor Peter Panda. He’s only three and filled with frustration. And when things don’t quite go his way, he’s apt to throw a tantrum—in the car, in the library, in the supermarket, in the . . . He’s the most meltdownable panda we know.
Poor Mama Panda. How can she cope with Peter’s petulance while seeking to sidestep a monumental meltdown herself!? What’s a mama panda to do? Read this adorable new picture book by Artie Bennett, author of the much-lauded The Butt Book and Poopendous!, and virtuoso illustrator John Nez and find out! 

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Artie Bennett is a jet-setter and bon vivant— Shhh! He thinks he is. Let's start again.Artie Bennett is a rootin'-tootin', rip-snortin', two-fisted— Stop!!! Enough already. . . .Artie Bennett is the executive copy editor for a children's book publisher and he writes a little on the side (but not the backside!).

He grew up in Brooklyn, New York—born and fled, he likes to say—hightailing it to Georgia, where he matriculated at the University of, earning a journalism degree. He then went on to work for the local broadsheet, the Athens Banner-Herald, cheek by jowl with Kate Pierson of the B-52s, who was a paste-up artist there before her ship came in.

After seven years down south, he up and moved to a Galilean kibbutz, where he labored as the gardener's apprentice. "Good, honest toil," he calls it. He also put in his time in the kibbutz's banana orchard, so Harry Belafonte's "Day-o" ("It's six-foot, seven-foot, eight-foot bunch!") has a special resonance for him.

He came back stateside after nigh a year in Israel to a succession of (very) odd jobs, including cookware salesman, knishery counterman, and telephone solicitor for Poconos real estate. Then he found his way. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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This was such a very cute children's book!

This story follows Peter Panda and his Mom as they carry out their daily activities. Peter is having somewhat of a bad day and the story tells about how Peter's Mom reacts to each situation. Peter tends to have "melt downs" when things don't go his way. 

 I have read it to my son over and over! He loves it! I read it up until the part where "Peter Panda melts dowwwwwwnnn" and then my son likes to read that part! 

I loved how the story is really similar to real life. As I read the story my son giggled and said "Mommie do I sound like that some times?" HA! My answer to that was YES! 

The illustrations were so cute and colorful. I loved how the illustrator portrays safety throughout the book as well. Peter is buckled in his car seat and his Mom advises him that they will pick up his dropped toy when the car is stopped and they have arrived at their destination. I like how this enforces the importance of safety. The illustrator also draws Peter safety in his shopping cart. 

I just truly loved this story. At the end of the day Peter Panda realizes how he has been acting and apologizes to his Mom! I just thought that was so sweet! This book was a perfect example of how actions and consequences affect everyone including Moms and their kids.