"I am your Fairy Godmother, and all is well," this glorious vision told me. "I have breathed life into you, and now I shall care for and watch over you."
Child's Play Toy Store lay home to a magical story, where a toy panda was granted life by his Fairy Godmother. Panda soon befriends a rocking horse, called Rocky.
One day, a lady and her daughter bought Rocky. Panda felt sad gazing at the space Rocky once occupied. Shortly afterwards, a kind, grey-haired woman bought Panda for her granddaughter. At the family home, Panda became known as Percy Panda. Join Percy Panda in many exciting adventures.
Years later, Percy Panda looked shabby. Suddenly, he was put into a black bag, and thrown out. What will now become of Percy Panda, and would he ever return home again?
"Oh, Percy Panda and Rocky, do keep up! Don't you recognise meee? Joy was such a darling, wasn't sheee? Do anything for anyone. No job too big or too small, but I guess she's served her purpose now. She was my best disguise yet. Ohhh! Now come along, my loveliiieees! Time to take a stroll in these deep, dark woods, we're almost there."
"I am your Fairy Godmother, and all is well," this glorious vision told me. "I have breathed life into you, and now I shall care for and watch over you."
Child's Play Toy Store lay home to a magical story, where a toy panda was granted life by his Fairy Godmother. Panda soon befriends a rocking horse, called Rocky.
One day, a lady and her daughter bought Rocky. Panda felt sad gazing at the space Rocky once occupied. Shortly afterwards, a kind, grey-haired woman bought Panda for her granddaughter. At the family home, Panda became known as Percy Panda. Join Percy Panda in many exciting adventures.
Years later, Percy Panda looked shabby. Suddenly, he was put into a black bag, and thrown out. What will now become of Percy Panda, and would he ever return home again?
"Oh, Percy Panda and Rocky, do keep up! Don't you recognise meee? Joy was such a darling, wasn't sheee? Do anything for anyone. No job too big or too small, but I guess she's served her purpose now. She was my best disguise yet. Ohhh! Now come along, my loveliiieees! Time to take a stroll in these deep, dark woods, we're almost there."
By Anthony William Gapper
My story began at Child’s Play Toy Store, a grey Edwardian building with leaded windows and a plum-red iron door sheltered by an elegant, lantern-lit porch.
This evening, after the shopkeeper flipped the closed sign on the door and the more expensive toys and gifts were locked away, I had settled down for the night and slept soundly.
Without warning, I heard somebody whisper to me. I felt sure I was dreaming, but then I heard it again … a small voice calling me … it seemed so real.
“Panda, Panda,” it trilled softly. “Oh Panda, sweet Panda … open your eyes, and don’t be afraid. I have the best ever surprise for you …”
Well, how could I resist? I opened my eyes, and standing before me in the familiar surroundings of the toy shop I had come to know so well, I saw the kindest, most rosy-cheeked face you could ever imagine.
“I am your Fairy Godmother, and all is well,” this glorious vision told me. “I have breathed life into you, and now I shall care for and watch over you.”
I sat up anxiously but then lost my balance on the shelf, tumbling down onto the cold, wooden floor. I landed with a resounding thud and banged my head.
“Ouch! That really hurt!” somebody cried out.
I peered up at the towering shelf above, trying to work out where that voice had come from. As I couldn’t see anybody else, I realised that it was ME crying out! Hearing my own voice for the first time was a memorable experience I will never forget.
How is that even possible? I’m just a toy panda, after all. How do I know all this? So, not only can I think and reason, but I can sit up, too, which means I can move.
“Here, let me soothe your sore head,” the wonderful voice said, stroking it softly before carefully placing me back on my shelf.
I stared doubtfully at this woman who called herself my Fairy Godmother.
“Panda, I understand this may be unsettling for you …”
“Look, thank you for my gift of life and for comforting me when I fell.”
“You are most welcome, Panda.”
“When I first arrived at Child’s Play Toy Store, I was just an ordinary toy panda, but what you have done changes everything. I feel amazed and overwhelmed at the same time, but what will become of me now?”
“I cannot tell you what will happen in the future, Panda, but you do need to be patient. I’m sure that you’ll find a truly wonderful home.”
I shrugged, unsure what to say, and tried to put on a brave face.
“It’s only natural that you should feel this way, Panda. After all, it’s not every day that you are visited by your Fairy Godmother. Now, before I go, you need to know a few more things. Firstly, when a person comes into this shop to buy you for their child and welcomes you into their kind and caring family, you can talk to that child.”
“But what if the family who buys me is not kind and caring?”
“I understand your concerns, Panda, but you need to have faith in yourself and me, for that matter. Secondly, you’ll find talking to children and animals easier, as they are much more open to magic than adults.”
“It’s easier to talk to children and animals? Hey, that’s so cool.”
“Indeed. Thirdly, you need to take care of yourself and not venture too far away from home.”
“But earlier, you told me you would care for and watch over me, Fairy Godmother!”
As I looked intently at my Fairy Godmother, her expression reflected sadness. Momentarily, she averted her gaze. I noticed tears in her eyes as she lowered her head.
“Oh, Panda, if you are in danger, real danger, I shall come to you.”
“What do you mean, real danger?”
“There are other-worldly forces that exist. I’m sorry, I’ve said too much already. We will meet again, Panda, and then I can show you.”
“Sounds wicked! Well, hopefully, it won’t come to that. Anyway, I need to remain strong and focused. If I put my mind to it, that shouldn’t be too difficult.”
At least, that’s what I wanted my Fairy Godmother to think. Once I left there, nobody would stop me from investigating my new surroundings. I’d be sure to have adventures all of my own.
“You have great potential, Panda … use it wisely.”
“Yes, I intend to, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun on the way,” I mumbled sleepily and drifted off.
The story of Percy Panda begins in Child’s Play Toy Store. There is kept a stuffed toy panda, much like any other, until one day, a fairy godmother descends and brings him to life. However, she warns him to be careful and not to reveal his life and ability to speak to just anyone. Panda soon finds one other toy alive, “a second-hand but loveable rocking horse” named Rocky, and they quickly become fast friends. They are purchased by different families, and Percy finds himself on a multitude of adventures under the care of a girl named Laura. Between getting lost at school, finding himself in a washing machine, and a complicated relationship with the family cat, Ginger, Percy is in for many shenanigans both strange and perilous.
Percy is a simple but engaging protagonist. He is curious and loyal but often timid. Several times, his curiosity does get the better of him. However, the driving aspect of his character is in his relationships with Rocky, Laura, and his Fairy Godmother. The emphasis on friendship grounds an otherwise whimsical story about a toy panda who was brought to life.
The magic system was fascinating. It plays on the usual tropes of a Fairy Godmother, descending to deliver blessings to people and protect them. It distinguishes itself from most fairy-tales in that most of the adventures themselves are commonplace, and it is primarily the main character who is strange and magical.
The plot was engaging. It starts out episodic with one adventure after another, but it does not shy away from letting its main character suffer. In each adventure, the situation becomes more and more dire. All the while, Percy, in spite of his faults, must hold on to his loyalties and his friendships, as well as trust in what his Fairy Godmother told him when he first came to exist.
The story is short, fun, and exciting, and it is sure to make an excellent read aloud for kids.