The Midnight Panther

Reviews / Votes

Indulge your senses in a stunning picture book brimming with intricate artwork and important messages about finding your place in the world. The Midnight Panther is a feast of visual beauty and verbal lyricism from Greenaway-shortlisted author and illustrator Poonam Mistry who blends her love of nature with her Indian roots to explore the relationships between pattern, shapes and colour. Here we meet Panther who thinks he is not like the other cats. Leopard has beautiful spots, Tiger has impressive stripes and Lion has a magnificent mane while Panther is small, shy and dark. One night he decides to go and find out where in the jungle he really belongs. Finally summoning up the courage to scale the treetops, he answers the call of moonlight and ink-black night. Perhaps up among the stars he will find out something about his own strength and beauty. Mistry's mesmerising and inspirational fable about courage and self-discovery resonates with colour, fabulous design and atmospheric illustration. The perfect gift for little ones seeking their own way in the world. -- Pam Norfolk * Lancaster Guardian * A gorgeous fable of self-acceptance, The Midnight Panther by Poonam Mistry (Templar) follows small, shy Panther as he tries to emulate Lion's magnificent mane and Tiger's stripes before finding the courage to climb into the treetops and look out into the night, as dark and exquisite as he is. Mistry's simple, effective story and stunning geometric artwork, influenced by Indian textiles and traditional designs, make this a picture book to remember. -- Imogen Russell Williams * The Guardian * Panther feels out of place and ventures into the jungle to overcome challenges, conquer his insecurities and find out where he belongs. The Midnight Panther is an outstandingly illustrated, spellbinding and magical modern fable picture book for KS2. The lyrical text and atmospheric storytelling make this book a joy to read aloud to a class and the breathtaking imagination lends itself to inspiring children's creative writing. * School Reading List * Lyrical text moves the action through static, decorative spreads influenced by Asian and South American art. -- Nicolette Jones * The Times *