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The Panda Problem
Every story needs a problem.
But Panda doesn't have a problem.
Unless . . . Panda is the problem.
The New York Times bestselling author of Here Comes the Easter Cat and The Quiet Book loses control of the narrative in this ode to what makes a story--and what makes a story great.
But Panda doesn't have a problem.
Unless . . . Panda is the problem.
The New York Times bestselling author of Here Comes the Easter Cat and The Quiet Book loses control of the narrative in this ode to what makes a story--and what makes a story great.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
2 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
April 29, 2019
Yes to all of this. You just need this book.
Characters that break the 4th wall? Check. Narrators that talk to the character? Check. Story that will make you laugh out loud? Check. Book that you can use to work on fluency and expression? Check.
Yup. Go find this one.
Characters that break the 4th wall? Check. Narrators that talk to the character? Check. Story that will make you laugh out loud? Check. Book that you can use to work on fluency and expression? Check.
Yup. Go find this one.
April 5, 2019
When the narrator of this new meta-fictional picture-book from author Deborah Underwood begins to spin a tale of a panda bear with a problem, the subject of her story blithely insist he doesn't have any kind of problem. No matter how much she questions him, the panda can't think of any issue. Finally he decides that she, the narrator, must be the one with the problem, and that that problem is him. Seizing control of the story, he takes it in a direction the narrator doesn't expect. But when he ends up in a jam, he appeals to her to get him back to his bamboo grove...
Having enjoyed a number of Deborah Underwood's other picture-books, from The Quiet Book and its sequels to Interstellar Cinderella , I picked up The Panda Problem with a feeling of anticipation. I don't know if it's just that I've grown a little tired of the meta-fictional "breaking the fourth wall" picture-book craze, but somehow this one just didn't appeal to me as much as I had expected. There's nothing really wrong here - the story is fun, the artwork cute - but I think I prefer books like Mélanie Watt's Chester , when it comes to this kind of thing. Still, tastes vary, so readers in the market for new meta-fictional picture-books might want to give this one a try.
Having enjoyed a number of Deborah Underwood's other picture-books, from The Quiet Book and its sequels to Interstellar Cinderella , I picked up The Panda Problem with a feeling of anticipation. I don't know if it's just that I've grown a little tired of the meta-fictional "breaking the fourth wall" picture-book craze, but somehow this one just didn't appeal to me as much as I had expected. There's nothing really wrong here - the story is fun, the artwork cute - but I think I prefer books like Mélanie Watt's Chester , when it comes to this kind of thing. Still, tastes vary, so readers in the market for new meta-fictional picture-books might want to give this one a try.
October 13, 2019
A hilarious meta twist on narrators and protagonists. A great book to read aloud, especially if your daughter is home from college for a long weekend.
April 25, 2019
The panda has no problems, and that's an issue for our narrator in this 4th-wall-breaking book. Would be nice to use in conjunction with a lesson on story structure and writing, plus it's just pretty darn fun with some kooky plot points and a mischievous panda.
October 29, 2020
The narrator is trying to write a story about a panda, but the panda is proving problematic. Because the panda doesn't have a problem and everyone knows that to write a story you've got to have a problem. But then the panda decides maybe the narrator is the protagonist and he is the narrator's problem. So he decides to be as problematic as possible. Until the panda actually has a problem and needs the narrator's help.
Such a funny book that breaks all the walls. The panda gets points for major creativity. A fun way to learn about story structure and how to create excitement. I can see this being a read aloud favorite and a child demanding to read it over and over and over. The illustrations have major kid-appeal. Highly recommended for kids who like imaginative books, pandas, and stories that are a little different.
Such a funny book that breaks all the walls. The panda gets points for major creativity. A fun way to learn about story structure and how to create excitement. I can see this being a read aloud favorite and a child demanding to read it over and over and over. The illustrations have major kid-appeal. Highly recommended for kids who like imaginative books, pandas, and stories that are a little different.
September 12, 2019
Very cute and meta. I love picture books that break the forth wall :D
June 4, 2019
Fun at face value, but also a great tool for teaching story elements.
August 18, 2019
I am babysitting my nieces tonight and it is the eldest turn to choose the book for their bedtime story and she chosen this one. The Panda Problem is a children's picture book written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Hannah Marks, which postulates what would happen if the main character of a book took over the storytelling from the narrator?
Underwood's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. It is a story where the main protagonist (the Panda) breaks the fourth wall and takes over the story and done in a humorous and silly manner. Marks' illustrations are tightly composed and choreographed cartooning that feels appropriately chaotic narrative.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Being a narrator should be straightforward: introduce and situate the main character, set the dramatic tension in motion, and solve the problem. However, what happens when the protagonist refuses to play along? Who won’t offer up as much as a sore paw to drive the narrative forward? The bear soon wrests control of the narrative and introduces a jelly bean rain, purple puffball aliens, a second panda, and a trip to Antarctica, and anything silly and funny.
All in all, The Panda Problem is a wonderfully hilarious and zany story about a Panda who breaks the fourth-wall and takes control of the story.
Underwood's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. It is a story where the main protagonist (the Panda) breaks the fourth wall and takes over the story and done in a humorous and silly manner. Marks' illustrations are tightly composed and choreographed cartooning that feels appropriately chaotic narrative.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Being a narrator should be straightforward: introduce and situate the main character, set the dramatic tension in motion, and solve the problem. However, what happens when the protagonist refuses to play along? Who won’t offer up as much as a sore paw to drive the narrative forward? The bear soon wrests control of the narrative and introduces a jelly bean rain, purple puffball aliens, a second panda, and a trip to Antarctica, and anything silly and funny.
All in all, The Panda Problem is a wonderfully hilarious and zany story about a Panda who breaks the fourth-wall and takes control of the story.
September 7, 2020
When I brought a pile of picture books into my six-year-old’s room, last night, she said she hoped there was a book about a dragon or dinosaur. When she discovered there was not, she looked at the covers and picked this one to read. And we both had some pretty big giggles over a panda that simply won’t cooperate with the narrator. You’ll encounter a friendly spider and even an alien in this one, which is surprisingly very funny. There’s a cute twist ending where the panda turns the tables on the narrator. Just wait for the very last page – HA! HA! I could see this one being used as a funny introduction to the typical elements of a story. The artwork was created digitally with Photoshop.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
May 8, 2020
Yes, yes, yes. This is by far Underwood’s best book, ( not a fan of loud and quiet books). It was adorable, silly, educational at the same time. It is a great story to introduce kids to the parts of a book (characters, setting, problem, resolution, narrator). My kids enjoyed it, and then I enjoyed it twice more without them.
May 16, 2019
Very cute. I loved it. If the children I read it out loud to also like it I'm coming back and giving it two extra stars. This might sound unreasonable, but for my own purposes I only rate good read alouds five stars to have a quick list to reference when planning storytimes.
May 24, 2019
Kids will enjoy story. Art is cute
October 6, 2019
Pairs well with Chester by Melanie Watt.
November 17, 2019
A playful, relatable, engaging tool for teaching young children about the relationship between the main character and the problem of the story.
January 30, 2022
3 - 7 years
November 29, 2023
"How could you possibly tell a story about a burping panda and jelly bean rain and aliens?"
I laughed out loud reading this.
I laughed out loud reading this.
September 23, 2020
I thought this was hilarious. The girls thought it was hilarious. They needed a couple of read-through to entirely get it, but it was great. And they did some fun brainstorming of wild problems and solutions themselves.
May 22, 2019
This was just okay to me, not terrifically funny or clever. But I suspect it will go over well with some child audiences. Of course the panda is adorable, I can't argue otherwise--yet its banter and antics grew tiresome rather quickly. The media trope of the impudent cute animal/small child talking to the audience has worn rather thin for this reader, at least.
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for the review copy.
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for the review copy.
June 29, 2021
Very funny!
May 28, 2020
3.5 stars. Cute book which introduces young readers to the idea that every story needs a problem to be resolved.
September 18, 2021
Nothing new or out of the ordinary with this book, but it was cute and the kids loved it.
March 13, 2022
My students LOVE the Perfectly Messed-Up Story by McDonnell which has nothing to do with the Panda Problem. Except that when we read the PMUS I point out the three voices - 1st the narrator, 2nd Little Louie, and 3rd their own voice (their thoughts interacting with the text). This conversation makes meaningful the reading of picture books to older students who think they are too mature for this format. They have an epiphany about the magic of reading. Teachers might have fun reading this book to their students and have a similar discussion about voice.
Nominated for the 2022 Washington Children's Choice award, as predicted, my students loved this book. I actually heard students say, I'm voting for this. After reading, students got a graphic organizer to map out a story of their own, using the basic elements: narrator, main characters, supporting characters, conflict, conflict resolution and setting. Students said the panda was sassy, smart (@$$), and that it roasted the narrator.
Nominated for the 2022 Washington Children's Choice award, as predicted, my students loved this book. I actually heard students say, I'm voting for this. After reading, students got a graphic organizer to map out a story of their own, using the basic elements: narrator, main characters, supporting characters, conflict, conflict resolution and setting. Students said the panda was sassy, smart (@$$), and that it roasted the narrator.
May 7, 2019
This fun picture book shows what happens when the characters take control of the book. The author is trying to write a good story about a panda. The trouble starts when Panda insists that he doesn't have a problem. The author explains that there has to be a problem for him to solve. It becomes clear that Panda is the problem as he takes the story further and further off the track. This would be a fun book to share with young readers to talk about story elements and to help them create their own stories with good problems and solutions.
May 13, 2019
Funny story on how to (or how not to) tell a story. The narrator starts the story with a main character, but soon learns that her character doesn't have a problem. Now she doesn't have a story. But the panda quickly becomes the problem and ends up in Antarctica with a clone, a box of jelly beans, and several aliens but nothing to eat for dinner. So the narrator helps Panda to return home with her clone, jelly beans, and alien friends. After she is full and ready for bed, Panda decides to tell a story about a narrator....
April 7, 2019
Once there was a panda who lived in a bamboo grove. But the panda had a problem...except that he really didn’t. This hilarious new offering from the author of Here Comes the Easter Cat introduces young readers to a main character who doesn’t realize that he’s in a book, and who doesn’t care. In this book, the panda doesn’t HAVE a problem. The panda IS the problem! And he embraces his role as the problem with panache. A delight for kids and parents alike!
January 8, 2026
Just adorable! We did this at work for storytime at my library and as a team one of us was the narrator and the other was the panda. The kids loved it! Great story idea that explains to the kids how a story is set up!
May 11, 2019
I laughed out loud several times while reading this book! It is charming and funny and even manages to teach about the critical elements involved in writing or telling a story. Brilliant, fun story.
April 29, 2020
Justification: Texas 2 X 2
Who can resist a cute little panda, and what problem could such a cuddly little critter possibly have?
Evaluation:
The illustrations are flat-out fun. As shown on the cover, the illustrations and text are interwoven, so the letters of the title appear to be tucked into the leaves of the bamboo shoot where the panda is climbing. This book has aliens which resemble purple yarn pom poms, and the voice of the panda is hand-lettered in speech bubbles.
This book begs to be read by two speakers, and in fact my students insisted on reading the panda's lines once I began the book. The argument, ahem, discussion between the main character and the narrator is about whose problem, and whose story, it is. The banter is engaging and lively, and my students could not wait to see what further trouble the panda could produce.
The real genius of this book is the entertaining way it introduces the need for a problem and its solution to form the basis of a story's plot. I can see this book as a helpful read-aloud for students all through the elementary grades who are working on their skills in writing fiction.
Conclusion:
Fun and creative, this book is a sure hit with children who are old enough to ask "What happened next?" and young enough to laugh at the antics of a problematic panda. Recommended without argument!
Citation:
Underwood, D. & Marks, H. (2019). The Panda Problem. New York: Dial.
Who can resist a cute little panda, and what problem could such a cuddly little critter possibly have?
Evaluation:
The illustrations are flat-out fun. As shown on the cover, the illustrations and text are interwoven, so the letters of the title appear to be tucked into the leaves of the bamboo shoot where the panda is climbing. This book has aliens which resemble purple yarn pom poms, and the voice of the panda is hand-lettered in speech bubbles.
This book begs to be read by two speakers, and in fact my students insisted on reading the panda's lines once I began the book. The argument, ahem, discussion between the main character and the narrator is about whose problem, and whose story, it is. The banter is engaging and lively, and my students could not wait to see what further trouble the panda could produce.
The real genius of this book is the entertaining way it introduces the need for a problem and its solution to form the basis of a story's plot. I can see this book as a helpful read-aloud for students all through the elementary grades who are working on their skills in writing fiction.
Conclusion:
Fun and creative, this book is a sure hit with children who are old enough to ask "What happened next?" and young enough to laugh at the antics of a problematic panda. Recommended without argument!
Citation:
Underwood, D. & Marks, H. (2019). The Panda Problem. New York: Dial.
June 23, 2019
This book reminds you of the basic parts of a story, main character, setting, problem, solution, etc. It does this while the narrator tries to write a story about a panda, but the panda gets involved and starts changing the problem and giving the author more problems. It is a funny book where the author, the characters on the page, and the reader are all interacting in the story. In the end, they accomplish their mission. This could be a fun book to use in the upper grades as a reminder of the components of a story because it does it in a different way and with humor. Then at the end of the sotry, it would be fun to have a discussion about what actually was the problem in the story and how was it solved. It could also be included in reading a number of books where the author and the "characters" interact with the reader. They really are fun stories and could be fun for students to write.
April 6, 2022
The Panda Problem is a very funny story that children would love to read or have read to them. It would be a great story to use to teach about points of view and narration in stories. It follows a panda who creates conversation with the narrator to create a problem for the story since the panda doesn't have any problems himself. As he goes on he creates a lot of problems for the narrator to annoy him until they have to negotiate to get back to the panda's home. The story ends with a funny twist where the Panda becomes the narrator of the the story about the narrator in which the entire story would be reversed as if the narrator creates the problem for the panda. I would definitely use this in an older classroom to discuss points of view and narration in a story. The illustrations are also fun and eye-catching due to the bright and appropriate use of color. Overall, this would be a really great book to use with kids and they would enjoy it a lot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews