Cindy and Panda

Child baker Cindy likes "to do things her own way," but friendship encourages her to embrace flexibility in this winsome tale. On an excursion to pick rhubarb from the garden, Cindy, who cues as East Asian, meets Panda. The two become fast friends; a montage shows the duo playing dress-up, having a tea party, climbing a tree, and more. The fun continues when the purple and white animalian "sous-chef" joins Cindy in the kitchen, where the creature's natural inclination to "Chomp! Munch! Slurp!" results in a missing ingredient and some "sour" feelings (and luckily no consequences connected with rhubarb's notoriously toxic leaves). The predictability of the pair's eventual reconciliation makes it no less sweet, especially given the lively, Calvin and Hobbes--like exuberance in Shum's watercolor and ink scenes. A pie recipe concludes. Ages 4--8. (May)

Baking with a panda! What could go wrong? Young Cindy sets off to the garden for ingredients to make sweet rhubarb pie--her favorite--but returns with something even sweeter: a panda friend! After convincing her mother that she can be responsible for the panda, Cindy shows her lovable new sous-chef the basics of pie-making. First, of course, they must play dress-up, have a tea party, and climb some trees. After all, "playing is a very important part of pie preparation." Next, Cindy shows Panda how to measure ingredients, carefully pour them in…then throw out the recipe book and "freestyle!" But just as they are ready to add their final ingredient, conflict arises and feelings sour. There's nothing that the power of friendship and blueberry pie can't fix, though! Shum's chibi-style characters with their adorably plump proportions, squishable cheeks, and exaggerated expressions add undeniable charm and a touch of humor to the story. The endpapers depict scenes of Cindy developing a sense of independence along with cute moments with her mother and Panda, adding depth to the characters and their relationships. This endearing, relatable tale will especially speak to caregivers of children taking their first steps toward self-reliance. The story is finished off with a recipe for blueberry pie (which Cindy and Panda end up making). Cindy and her mother appear to be of East Asian descent. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A simple tale of friendship that's as sweet as pie. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.