Panda Roja y Oso Lunar

Red Panda & Moon Bear #1

by Jarod Roselló

Dos niños latinx batallan contra amenazas sobrenaturales en su barrio con el poder de la ciencia, la magia y un par de sudaderas muy especiales.

¡Panda Roja y Oso Lunar son los defensores de su comunidad! Juntos, estos hermanos valientes rescatan gatos perdidos, regañan a niños abusones y resuelven misterios, todo antes de que Mami y Papi lleguen a casa. Pero últimamente... los misterios han sido EXTRA misteriosos. ¡Todos los poderes de PR y OL pueden ser insuficientes para manejar fantasmas, supervillanos, invasores extraterrestres y distorsiones del tiempo! Se necesitará toda su imaginación -- y algunos nuevos amigos -- para descubrir la causa secreta detrás de todos estos eventos antes de que todo el mundo se vuelva loco.

En su primer libro para jóvenes lectores, el dibujante cubanoamericano Jarod Roselló presenta una aventura caprichosa y tierna, llena de acción mañanera y con brillo del sol caribeño.

English Edition: Red Panda & Moon Bear/Jarod Roselló/9781603094443/7-23-19

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Comics, Humor, Childrens, Superheroes, Latinx

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2020

About the author

Jarod Roselló is a Cuban American writer, cartoonist, and teacher. He is the author of the award-winning middle-grade graphic novel series Red Panda & Moon Bear, and the early reader graphic novel series, Super Magic Boy, from Random House Graphic.

His debut graphic novel, The Well-Dressed Bear Will (Never) be Found, was a 2015 Honorable Mention in the Publishers Weekly Graphic Novel Critics Poll, and his chapbook, The Star, was the winner of the 2015 Epiphany Magazine chapbook contest for graphic literature.

His short comics and fiction have been published in PEN America, Hayden's Ferry Review, Sonora Review, Hobart, The Rumpus, The Collagist, and Barrelhouse. His arts-based and educational research has been published in Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, Bank Street Occasional Papers, and International Review of Qualitative Research.

Jarod holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, both from The Pennsylvania State University. Originally from Miami, he now lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, kids, and dogs, and is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of South Florida.

Reviews

[Jarod Roselló · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm definitely biased, but I think this book is great.

[Jarrett Lerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

‪I loved every single panel of this wild, one-of-a-kind, action-packed graphic novel. It made me laugh, think, wonder, and filled me with all sorts of creative energy and inspiration. Kids are going to gobble it up and be inspired and encouraged by it.

[Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was super!

[tony dillard jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sister and brother duo of Red Panda and Moon Bear are the defenders of their Floribbean community. They keep their neighbors safe from everything; from a pair of bad dogs to a disappearing apartment building to the most adorable but destructive beings in the universe. If there is evil in the barrio, Red Panda and Moon Bear will be there to defeat it!



This graphic novel was extremely funny. I’ve worked with kids for a number of years and both Red Panda and Moon Bear sound like kids do! The heroes come up with inventive yet far-fetched inventions to defeat crime. Only these gadgets work! Well, most do...



This is author/illustrator Jarod Rosello’s third work; his first however, for kids. I’m hoping that Rosello continues to write for younger readers because he does it extremely well. Here's to hoping that we might also see more adventures of Red Panda and Moon Bear!



Jarod Rosello is a Cuban-American writer. His background shows in many facets of this book from the smattering of Spanish words to the various Caribbean ethnic backgrounds of the many residents of our heroes’ hometown. This book is definitely a cultural account of his Florida upbringing. Though I doubt he got his superpowers from a magic hoodie like Red Panda and Moon Bear did.



The art was cartoonish and comical. It had notes of Adventure Time with Jake and Finn. But those arms! They looked as if made from the same rubbery substance of those of Mister Fantastic; just minus all the elastic. But as the recommended age range from this book is of readers 9-12 years old, I don’t think anyone is going to complain.



Readers younger than 9 might find a couple of characters a little scary. There is a ghost in this book, but she’s kind. The use of Spanish words without any sort of English subtitles might be a tad difficult for those not familiar with the language. So grown-ups might be needed to help interpret some passages.



Overall, this is a silly but adventurous read that young readers will enjoy. Parents should find nothing objectionable. Though as mentioned earlier a couple of villains fought b Red Panda and Moon Bear may be too scary-looking for the youngest of readers. There’s still a few prime weeks of Summer reading left before the school year starts. Make Red Panda and Moon Bear a part of it now!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an adorable and fun book! I'm glad that while it's clearly aimed at younger readers it never felt like it had to dumb anything down too far and was still plenty creative and adventurous. A bunch of weird mysteries and monsters from living nightmares to evil ice-creams to ghosts and everything in-between, sometimes with some cool action but mostly with some smart inventions and plenty of kindness (even, or especially, when up against evil monsters that scare you and wish you harm).

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middle Grade Graphic Novel. This book was so fun! A brother and sister team fight bad things in their neighborhood. They find two evil dogs, decide they just need love, and adopt them. They mysteries around town abound-- disappearing buildings, monsters who create nightmares, spooky lights, and more! This was a fast-paced story perfect for kids who love superhero action. The main characters were bilingual of Latinx heritage, which was nice to see in a graphic novel.

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Panda and Moon Bear (a brother and a sister) protect their neighborhood from various evil villains.

[Emily]

Pretty much the cutest! I got this to practice my Spanish with and now I sure hope I get a chance to talk about magic sweatshirts and space robots!

[Julia]

Yo amo esos perros extraños

[Kristin Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students are going to devour this book and be hounding me for more Jarod Rosello, I know it. Red Panda & Moon Bear are the sweetest siblings in kidlit. They show their love for each other in ways big and small, and it was a joy to see. There are so many books for kids in which the siblings can't stand each other. This was a refreshing change!
Red Panda & Moon Bear started off very silly, but I found myself really drawn in to some of the later chapters. Kids will be pulled in by the funny & outrageous, and they'll definitely stick around for the more thought-provoking and sentimental chapters as the book goes on.
I'm seriously hoping Red Panda and Moon Bear become regulars in the graphic novel world. I'd love to spend more time with these characters (and their dog-alien-friends!).

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

An imaginitive pair of siblings out to fight evil.

[Andrea Beatriz Arango · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading RED PANDA & MOON BEAR felt like watching Cartoon Network on a Saturday morning while eating sugary cereal. It was chock-full of silliness, adventure, imagination, and sweet sibling love.

Serious middle grade books are great. And poignant graphic novels can pack a heartfelt punch. But sometimes kids just wanna goof off and fight evil in their animal hoodies, y'know? I highly highly recommend this one for any and all reluctant readers in your life, especially if they're on the younger side of middle grade. The book is divided into chapters (aka different evil-fighting adventures), so it's a good one to help kids with pacing and reading endurance too.

Extra cool points? The MCs are Cuban-American and the book is full of kids and adults from varying races and cultures (...and planets? 👀) This is Jarod Roselló's #KidLit debut and I'm excited to see what else he makes. For now, though, this one will definitely get highlighted in my classroom.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hilarious -- from the pragmatic emphasis on the value of playing and goofing around, to the elevated vocabulary (see: The Great Arboreal Uprising), to the not-so-secretive Bad Dog sidekicks, this book has a lot to offer any reader. Really dialed in to silliness, kindness and imagination. I also love the Latinx main characters and the bilingual moments. Wacky and delightful! The author has also shared his Cuban-American heritage and Miami location in the back of the book -- the stories feel very much like they draw on everyday experience with their colorful buildings and tropical foliage. I'm not sure I could handle wearing even a magical hoodie in Miami, but Red Panda and Moon Bear have no hesitation. I wonder if there really are secret tunnels and abandoned lairs there?

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could very easily be a gateway to super hero comics for young readers. Our protagonists are bouncy and imaginative, and equally at home dealing with space dogs and ghosts. Most of the stories wrap up without any actual violence, reminding me a bit of Squirrel Girl in that way. It's definitely child friendly throughout, and the eleven chapters could make for a good night-time storybook for kids. The art is whimsical and fun, and the whole experience is very welcoming to readers of all levels .

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be one of my favorite kids graphic novels I've read. There wasn't anything I didn't like. I was literally laughing out loud through the whole book. Cuban-American author Jarod Roselló does a hilarious job of melding culture and humor in a way that is just normal and fun. I could EASILY give this to any kid and tell them to read it and they would love it. I want to buy all of these for myself to own. I also hope there are more adventures of Red Panda and Moon Bear to read.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this at first. The plot is not believable and the drawing is somewhat crude. But as the book goes on, you realize that it's like that on purpose. They kind of make fun of the ridiculous plot a few times. I still don't love the drawing but it grew on me. I think the book has some good messages embedded (like taking care of the environment, loving one another, etc.) and lots of fun imagination.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Panda and Moon Bear mistake a pair of dogs for evil alien monsters! It turns out, they're just a couple of bad dogs . . . maybe. These sibling crime-fighters work hard to protect their community from ghosts, robots, and alien invaders before their Mami and Papi get home in this playful graphic novel by Jarod Roselló.

[Cromaine Library]

What do a yeti, ghosts, and talking dogs (that are definitely regular dogs and are absolutely, positively not aliens) have in common? Find out in Red Panda & Moon Bear, where two siblings save the world from all things evil!

This book is super funny and is sure to delight young readers.

Recommended by librarian Heather

[Francis S. Poesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun mix of adventure, silliness, and heart fill this graphic novel while the swooping rubber arm and leg drawing style dances across the page. A sweet sister and brother super-hero team who are at once both danger seeking and conscientious make for very funny situations that only their can do attitude can get them out of. I look forward to reading more adventures of RP & MB!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 5th grade teacher, I’m always looking for fun and interesting books that represent the students I teach- this book fills out all those qualifications and more! This book was such a joyful ride! The story was sweet and lighthearted, but had some real substance readers can latch on to!

I can’t wait to put this in my classroom library on Monday, please write a sequel!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I picked it up for my 3rd grade classroom and am so glad I did. My Littles will love the graphic novel format, the zany adventures of the brother-sister protagonists, and the fun foreshadowing about the ending. I like that little bits of Spanish are woven throughout, but not so much that my English-speaking Littles won't enjoy it as well.

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Panda and Moon Bear are two kids who won't stop fighting evil and solving mysteries.

This is everything I want in a superhero comic. The style is reminiscent of 90s Nickelodeon, and the stories are random enough that I never know quite what to expect. I love the way Hispanic culture is woven into this story. I can't wait to read the next one.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an awesome book for elementary AND middle school students alike! Love the brother/sister duo and how well they work together to keep their neighborhood safe and happy! The dog monsters at the beginning were my fave!

[Nicole Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was seriously So Cute! I absolutely loved this brother & sister duo & all the evil they fought throughout this graphic novel. My favorite graphic novel read in a bit. Definitely a recommended read!

[Lisa]

This is a fantastic book and is wonderfully specific and I love the red panda/moon bear duo and my 7 year old liked it and... I couldn't get over the artwork. It's expressive, which is great, but the style never really grew on me.

[Kare Batten · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Laugh-out-loud funny, great drawings, and fun stories that kids can read themselves! Engaging enough for 1st-language speakers, and easy enough to follow for second-language speakers in a dual immersion school. (3rd-5th grade)

[Morgan Joyner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red Panda and Moon Bear is about two siblings bravely defending their community from all kinds of ne'er-do-wells. The siblings very much sounded like kids, and the monster hijinks reminded me of Adventure Time.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look out superheroes from Marvel or DC - there’s a new duo in town, defending their community from all sorts of evil, wearing their magic hoodies. Love the Latin flavor, goofy villains, and sprinkling of Spanish.

[Megan Sanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! I also loved that all the villains' motives were addressed so Red Panda and Moon Bear could help them, not just punish them.

[Lori Emilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny adventures of two Latinx kids that will appeal to the Gr 3-5-ish bunch. Sparse text, but impressive vocabulary will stretch early readers.