Pom Pom Panda Gets the Grumps

Pom Pom Panda is a squarish fellow whose blocky head and stubby legs somehow suit his grumpy day, which starts on the wrong side of the bed and gets worse: “Pom Pom’s mom sang silly, soppy songs all through breakfast. His cereal was soggy and there were bits of pulp in his juice.” When Pom Pom’s adorable animal schoolmates swarm around him, offering fun activities, his reaction is predictable: “Go away!” he yells, in a spread backed with angry red. A page turn reveals Pom Pom small and alone against a field of blue: “And they did.” Instead of dwelling on Pom Pom’s loneliness, Henn (Where Bear?) dispenses quickly with his anguish. He repents instantly—“Oops,” he says. “Sorry, everyone”—and is soon back on track (well, almost). Henn is a polished visual storyteller with a firm grasp of pacing and a disciplined approach to text. She supplies enough props to give distinct character to the spreads (and clearly enjoys decorating Pom Pom’s midcentury modern house), yet keeps the pages tidy and legible. Good fun. Ages 3–5. Agent: Paul Moreton, Bell Lomax Moreton Literary Agency. (Oct.)