PETER PANDA MELTS DOWN! Premieres in Park Slope on Saturday, February 22!

Peter Panda Melts Down! Premieres in Park Slope!

Free: Meet acclaimed children’s book author Artie Bennett on Saturday, February 22, 2 pm, at Barnes and Noble, 267 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (718-832-9066). Artie, author of the beloved, highly praised picture books Poopendous! and The Butt Book, will be there to sign and discuss—and read!—his superfun, spanking-new book, Peter Panda Melts Down! Hailed as the Dr. Seuss of your caboose, Artie will also sign and discuss his picture-book classics. You won’t want to miss it!

“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!

     Visit ArtieBennett.com . . . before someone else does!

 A small smattering of reviews:

Peter Panda Melts Down!

"I love Bennett’s dexterity with rhyming text. His lines are always a joy to read, and they roll off the tongue like in the best of rhyming picture books. This particular story also includes a fun, repeatable refrain: ‘Uh-oh. Here it comes. Here comes that frown. Peter Panda melts dowwwwnnn!’ It’s a line that will be tons of fun for young readers to recite during the story. I couldn’t help smiling whenever Peter began to have one of his meltdowns, as they feel so genuine in how they occur. Peter apologizing for making his mom melt down rings very true, too. Nez’s illustrations, which are big and bright, depict the action of the story along with the text, giving this title great potential for read-alouds and one-on-one sharing with a child. I’ll be using this title in story times for sure. I’ll also include it in book displays at ECRR and other parent story time workshops, as this would be a great title for parents to share with their kids to talk about feelings and work through difficulties transitioning between activities.”

            —The Show Me Librarian

“What a sweet little book. Peter Panda may be having a meltdown, but I’ve never seen one look so cute! If it isn’t already obvious, it was the illustrations that initially made me want to check out this book. Even on my iPad, the illustrations were big, bright, and perfectly matched the lines on the page. Kudos to Jon Nez! The rhyming scheme is spot on for beginning readers, and the repetition of Peter Panda’s meltdowns make it easy to follow along. Young readers might even see a little of themselves in Peter as they read. After all, meltdowns happen! This has the potential to be an excellent parent/child read.”
            —Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

Poopendous!

“For anyone who loved The Butt Book, you must immediately go and buy Artie Bennett’s follow-up, Poopendous! It appears there is no topic Mr. Bennett can’t make funny and educational. There aren’t many picture books that teach kids that “Monkeys fling when under stress. It helps the monkey decompress” and “Seeds inside a critter’s poop might go as far as Guadeloupe!” I’m not kidding when I say this came in handy at my son’s preschool last week.” 

—The Huffington Post

“If Dr. Seuss decided to write about bodily functions, he probably would have come up with something as zany as Poopendous! Do you want your kids to be eager to read? I bet this book will help. Highly recommended!”
           —The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

“I absolutely love books that make kids laugh, and all the while entertain the parents who are reading with their kids. The illustrations are really cute and make the copy sing. Most little kids are intrigued by the subject of poop, and this book will certainly satisfy their interest, teach them a thing or two, and make them howl with laughter. I promise you will love this book!” 

—Good Reads with Ronna

“There are kernels of wisdom in Poopendous!, but the main point is entertainment.”

            —Publishers Weekly

“Guess what?!? We already have Poopendous!, and I have even been known to give spontaneous in-store readings. What a delightful, hilarious, informative, fascinating book.

Thank you for writing to us, and for writing such great books! Best of luck to you, and hip-poop-hooray!”

           —Tegan Tigani, children’s book buyer for Queen Anne Books

“Artie Bennett’s newest story covers a loaded topic that is immensely funny and surprisingly educational. Poopendous! engages my 4-year-old son’s mind and tickles his funny bone. He simply adores this book. We have actually read Poopendous! so many times that my son recites it from memory. Poopendous! takes you on a fun adventure discovering the many practical uses of poop. Now after reading Poopendous! nearly a hundred times, many insightful conversations have been initiated by my son regarding poop and its many uses. The story flows amazing well with Bennett’s clever rhyming words and the funny illustrations by Mike Moran. I can honestly say I never thought I would enjoy a book about poop but Poopendous! is an engaging story that you won’t soon forget.”

           —The Children’s Nook

“READ THIS BOOK! If Dr. Seuss or Roald Dahl were to pick up this book, I’m quite certain that they would take delight in the title alone, and find the actual content even more delightful!”

           —Gathering Books

“If you are looking for a really funny book, with great pictures, any kid will sit through, this is the book. Artie Bennett obviously knows what makes kids laugh and the former children’s librarian in me applauds him for his use of unique vocabulary and content that keeps kids engaged and talking.”

           —Long Days, Short Years  

The Best Picture Books of Summer 2012

“A new classic for the potty genre! Who doesn’t crack up when it comes to potty talk? (Maybe grandmas?) Artie Bennett first impressed us with The Butt Book (LOVE) and he’s delighting us with Poopendous!, an everything poops book whose rhymes work perfectly (and I’m picky about rhyming books) to delight and impress young (and old) readers.”

           —Imagination Soup

“Poopendous! is a hysterical look at a bodily function everyone can relate to from the smallest bird to the largest human. It’s a clever way to show children that pooping is no big deal and can actually be quite helpful.”

           —Margo Dill

“Artie Bennett is one of my absolute favorite children’s authors. He has an incredible talent for writing catchy tales that children of all ages absolutely love! This book actually exceeded even my highest expectations. I absolutely love this book!”

           —Shopaholic Mommy  

The Butt Book

“The Butt Book is the funniest book I have ever read. I have to give the author a lot of credit for writing this hilarious book. I read the book at least twenty times, enjoying immensely the rhyming on each page. As a former kindergarten teacher, I can see how the book can be used in the classroom to teach students all about rhyming words. Every elementary classroom should have a copy of this book, so it can be used to teach kids about that important part of the human body.”

            —Blogcritics

“The Butt Book is a hilarious rhyming tribute to our bottom end! The pictures will make you laugh out loud, the story line is even funnier! Everyone in our house enjoyed this book and the kids were thrilled to read it. The book is a wonderful edition to the kids’ library for those silly moment reads! It captures the essence of a child while being appropriate and tastefully written. It was wonderful for readers of all ages!” 
            —A Cozy Reader’s Corner

“It is uproariously funny, and the illustrations provided by Mike Lester are just as crazy as Bennett’s rhymes. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Boys and girls will love this one!”

            ¾The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

“The Butt Book reminds us what a good children’s book can do—tap into a child’s interest without ever seeming like it is coming from the adult world. This has quickly become one of their favorite books, and I suspect will become the same for many others.”

            ¾Daddy Says

“It’s energetic, amusing, and yet largely tasteful, and the verse is reliably and rewardingly silly. Goofily drafted scratchboard figures, with a geometric regularity to the hatchwork that suggests linocuts, are tinted with softly regular shades that emphasize flesh tones and fanciful animal hues. Use this for revving up the silliness anytime, or for bringing a health and anatomy lesson to a satisfyingly comic end.”

             —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books