Bio:
Cynthia Bardes is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. She lives with her husband and Pansy in Vero Beach, Florida. Pansy at the Palace is her first picture book.
Review:
Pansy at the Palace is a delightful story told by a dog named Pansy who has spent most of her life in a shelter. Everyday the dog sees people coming in and out of the shelter but no one really pays much attention to her--until one day when a little girl comes and falls in love with her, taking her home with her. Avery, Pansy's new owner, is a girl with means who lives with her family inside of a hotel, but not just any hotel mind you, but the Palace Hotel in Beverly Hills.
To say this hotel is designed for the well-to-do is an understatement, very similar to some of the hotels in Beverly Hills. It has it all for the filthy rich and their pets. Pansy meets the many people who work at the hotel. She finds them interesting and fun, certainly different than her humble beginnings. One day as Pansy follows a white silky cat named Desiree, she discovers something strange, a smelly fish odor. It won't be the only time she notices it either.
Soon, the calmness of the hotel is disrupted by a lady yelling in hysterics that her jewels have been stolen. With that news the hotel is now put into an uproar as concerned guests begin to leave the hotel fearing for the safety of their expensive items.
Soon, the calmness of the hotel is disrupted by a lady yelling in hysterics that her jewels have been stolen. With that news the hotel is now put into an uproar as concerned guests begin to leave the hotel fearing for the safety of their expensive items.
Pansy is more than happy to follow the clues, finding her self in a mystery Avery and her family hope can be solved before all of the guests of the hotel leave, and the hotels reputation is ruined. Can Pansy solve the mystery?
Pansy teaches the reader that no one is too small to make a difference. Pansy finds her inner strength and shows the world what she can do. The illustrator Kim Weissenborn does a wonderful job visiualizing the characters for this story. They fit well with the tone and text. Children will enjoy the mystery of the story in this 32 page picture book, as well as Pansy and her journey through the hotel as she settles into her new life, being rewarded with wonderful family and friends who love her for the wonderful dog that she is.
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