What do you think?
Rate this book
Panda at the Door
Pudding the Panda makes everyone smile at Edinburgh Zoo. But what would make her truly happy is a family to take care of - like her heroine, Mary Poppins. Meanwhile, callum is having a hard time at home. His parents keep arguing, his sister is annoying and his ninth birthday gift is a certificate for an adopted panda when all he wanted was Lego. Then, by a twist of fate, the unbelievable happens and the two come together on Callums front door step....pandamonium!
175 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
25 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Horne
195 books9 followersSarah grew up in Derbyshire, mainly under a snowdrift. She spent much of her childhood scampering in the nearby fields with a few goats. Then she decided to be sensible and studied Illustration at Falmouth College of Arts, graduating in 2001. She has illustrated many different projects including an ad campaign for Kew Gardens entitled ‘Plantastic Play’. She has also worked on commissions from The Guardian and The Independent newspapers.
Sarah is now based in South East London and specialises in funny, inky illustration and words for children’s fiction and picture books. Her books have sold internationally in Mexico, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Germany, Australia and NZ.
- from her website
Sarah is now based in South East London and specialises in funny, inky illustration and words for children’s fiction and picture books. Her books have sold internationally in Mexico, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Germany, Australia and NZ.
- from her website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 30, 2021
Imagine if a panda turned up at your door, how would YOU react?! That’s exactly what happens to Callum on his birthday. The panda his dad adopts for him shows up. Pudding aspires to be Mary Poppins (her favourite DVD) for the family! Loved this.
November 14, 2022
I love this book already simply for the idea of a Panda that adores Mary Poppins and wants to be like her.
January 22, 2022
For me this book left many avenues ignored and I felt frustrated - there is a bully with a home life that is troubling (he’d be a child as a teacher you would be worried about and be likely on the radar of wider agencies) and there are parents who are arguing about money and a father who storms out (but it’s ok because he was actually locked in a shed and a panda will make them money).
The ending seemed somewhat annoying, though it should perhaps be noted I’m not the intended target -maybe a child feels it touches on some. of the issues enough, and a silly ending would be enough.
The book creates some connections with Mary poppins and perhaps builds on the tiger who came to tea (insomuch a wild animal comes into a home). The book is interspersed with pictures and cartoon writing, it would have been great if there was some information about pandas or some facts at the end. Feels perhaps it would benefit from something with some depth (though again I’m not the intended audience).
The ending seemed somewhat annoying, though it should perhaps be noted I’m not the intended target -maybe a child feels it touches on some. of the issues enough, and a silly ending would be enough.
The book creates some connections with Mary poppins and perhaps builds on the tiger who came to tea (insomuch a wild animal comes into a home). The book is interspersed with pictures and cartoon writing, it would have been great if there was some information about pandas or some facts at the end. Feels perhaps it would benefit from something with some depth (though again I’m not the intended audience).
June 26, 2021
I have loved Sarah Horne’s illustrations for Sam Copeland’s books, including Charlie Changes into a Chicken and his latest book, Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything. I love the way that Sarah brings out the unique personality of each character she illustrates. Sarah has just published her first book as both author and illustrator and it is such a fun read. As soon as I heard that it was about a panda with a love of Mary Poppins I knew I would love it.
Pudding the panda lives at Edinburgh Zoo. Everyday she makes people smile, and at the end of the day, she snuggles in to her pen and watches Mary Poppins on her TV. Her keeper, Gerald, gave her the DVD when she first moved to the zoo as a young cub, and it helped her to feel less lonely. What Pudding really wants though is a real family to take care of, like Mary Poppins. Gerald tells Pudding that the zoo are sending her away to China, but Pudding is determined to run away before that happens. Luckily, Pudding discovers that there is a family close by in need of help, so she sets off to find them. On the day that Pudding escapes, it is Callum Campbell’s ninth birthday. Callum comes home from school to find his dad storming out of the house. His parents have forgotten all about his birthday, and the only present he gets is a certificate telling him that he has adopted a panda. The next day, Pudding turns up on the Campbell’s doorstep, ready to turn their lives around. However, news spreads about Pudding’s escape, and a large reward is offered for his return. The Campbell’s horrible neighbours are certain that the panda is hiding at their house and they are intent on getting the reward. With some panda cakes, some clever disguises, and a spoonful of sugar, Pudding just might be able to bring the Campbell family closer together.
I adore Panda at the Door! It is brimming with heart and humour. I fell in love with Pudding the panda from the very first page and her antics kept me smiling right until the final page. Much like her idol, Mary Poppins, she changes the lives of those around her for the better and her positivity is infectious. The Campbell family have a few problems, and it seems that only a loveable panda can help.
The story is a lot of fun to read, and it would be wonderful to read aloud (especially to 6-10 year-olds). It is Sarah’s illustrations that make the story even better. So many of the illustrations made me chuckle, whether it is Mrs Campbell fainting in the hallway with her legs in the air, or Pudding dressed up like the Queen.
I love Sarah Horne’s first book as author and illustrator and I hope to read many more.
Pudding the panda lives at Edinburgh Zoo. Everyday she makes people smile, and at the end of the day, she snuggles in to her pen and watches Mary Poppins on her TV. Her keeper, Gerald, gave her the DVD when she first moved to the zoo as a young cub, and it helped her to feel less lonely. What Pudding really wants though is a real family to take care of, like Mary Poppins. Gerald tells Pudding that the zoo are sending her away to China, but Pudding is determined to run away before that happens. Luckily, Pudding discovers that there is a family close by in need of help, so she sets off to find them. On the day that Pudding escapes, it is Callum Campbell’s ninth birthday. Callum comes home from school to find his dad storming out of the house. His parents have forgotten all about his birthday, and the only present he gets is a certificate telling him that he has adopted a panda. The next day, Pudding turns up on the Campbell’s doorstep, ready to turn their lives around. However, news spreads about Pudding’s escape, and a large reward is offered for his return. The Campbell’s horrible neighbours are certain that the panda is hiding at their house and they are intent on getting the reward. With some panda cakes, some clever disguises, and a spoonful of sugar, Pudding just might be able to bring the Campbell family closer together.
I adore Panda at the Door! It is brimming with heart and humour. I fell in love with Pudding the panda from the very first page and her antics kept me smiling right until the final page. Much like her idol, Mary Poppins, she changes the lives of those around her for the better and her positivity is infectious. The Campbell family have a few problems, and it seems that only a loveable panda can help.
The story is a lot of fun to read, and it would be wonderful to read aloud (especially to 6-10 year-olds). It is Sarah’s illustrations that make the story even better. So many of the illustrations made me chuckle, whether it is Mrs Campbell fainting in the hallway with her legs in the air, or Pudding dressed up like the Queen.
I love Sarah Horne’s first book as author and illustrator and I hope to read many more.
May 27, 2021
What would you do when a Panda knocks on your door? This was a fun book!
I saw this book pop up on Twitter and was 110% excited! I love Sarah Horne’s writing + illustrations so I had to get this. Also, bonus points for pandas!
In this book we meet a family with arguments about bacon (I laughed when our MC didn’t get that and thought it was really about bacon, oh boy) and a panda who just doesn’t want to go to China (and I don’t blame her). They come together in this wonderful fun book. Because Callum just adopted Pudding, or well, his parents did, and of course the boy emails a panda. The story was great fun and I just loved how accepting the family was. Though I do guess it is a good thing that Callum’s friend Neil is around, because otherwise it would have been harder to convince mom that 3 million is nice and all, but this is Pudding! Yep. There is a reward to bring Pudding back! It made the story a dash more exciting, because everyone could use that much money. What will they choose? Panda or money?
I have to say I had to get used to Pudding. She is a sweet girl, sweet panda, but her constant OMG I AM MARY POPPINS and how she acted because of that, just niggled at me. Just be yourself, we see that at times and I loved that Pudding. But I did think it was a wonderful idea of her to help out Callum and his family. OK, maybe she also did it a bit because she didn’t want to go to China. Haha.
I had a big laugh at where the father was located. That is NOT where I expected him to be AT ALL.
The sister, well, just your typical sister in children’s books. Annoying, frustrating, please just go away. She did show some RARE moments of kindness, but mostly I just wanted her away.
The villains, aka the neighbours, aka dad and his son. Those were written pretty well. I do hope that with the ending they have learned a lesson, or at least part of it. Maybe stop being such bullies. Both of them.
The ending was fab and I loved it a lot. That is a great solution to the problem. Plus, I would love to see Dad’s show~!
I love love loved the illustrations! Sarah Horne has such a fun style!
All in all, despite some small things, I had tons of fun reading this one and I just flew right through it! There are tons of fun Pandapuns. I cannot wait what Sarah Horne will write next!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I saw this book pop up on Twitter and was 110% excited! I love Sarah Horne’s writing + illustrations so I had to get this. Also, bonus points for pandas!
In this book we meet a family with arguments about bacon (I laughed when our MC didn’t get that and thought it was really about bacon, oh boy) and a panda who just doesn’t want to go to China (and I don’t blame her). They come together in this wonderful fun book. Because Callum just adopted Pudding, or well, his parents did, and of course the boy emails a panda. The story was great fun and I just loved how accepting the family was. Though I do guess it is a good thing that Callum’s friend Neil is around, because otherwise it would have been harder to convince mom that 3 million is nice and all, but this is Pudding! Yep. There is a reward to bring Pudding back! It made the story a dash more exciting, because everyone could use that much money. What will they choose? Panda or money?
I have to say I had to get used to Pudding. She is a sweet girl, sweet panda, but her constant OMG I AM MARY POPPINS and how she acted because of that, just niggled at me. Just be yourself, we see that at times and I loved that Pudding. But I did think it was a wonderful idea of her to help out Callum and his family. OK, maybe she also did it a bit because she didn’t want to go to China. Haha.
I had a big laugh at where the father was located. That is NOT where I expected him to be AT ALL.
The sister, well, just your typical sister in children’s books. Annoying, frustrating, please just go away. She did show some RARE moments of kindness, but mostly I just wanted her away.
The villains, aka the neighbours, aka dad and his son. Those were written pretty well. I do hope that with the ending they have learned a lesson, or at least part of it. Maybe stop being such bullies. Both of them.
The ending was fab and I loved it a lot. That is a great solution to the problem. Plus, I would love to see Dad’s show~!
I love love loved the illustrations! Sarah Horne has such a fun style!
All in all, despite some small things, I had tons of fun reading this one and I just flew right through it! There are tons of fun Pandapuns. I cannot wait what Sarah Horne will write next!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 24, 2025
This one was a miss for me.
CW:
- Lang- blithering, sweet heavenly haggis, poo-bottomed
- talk of the panda needing to start having cubs, and as if she can't be anything else, as if motherhood is opposed to having aspirations. I hate it when motherhood is shown as being a negative thing that holds you back from your potential.
- arguing parents
- dad walks out on his family
- emotionally, verbally and physically abusive father. The boy, in turn, becomes a bully. I think he's the one who needs the Mary Poppins bear. He isn't treated well by any of the 'good' characters
- the zoo is looking for their priceless panda, but the whole family cover up the fact that they have her because they say she should be free. It's a bit morally grey because the panda talks and is rather anthropomorphic, but she also belongs to the zoo.
- you find out that the father was just stuck in a shed and hadn't actually left them, so though it's a very happy ending it isn't particularly helpful for children reading who have actually had a parent leave them. So it would have been a lot better if the author didn't even broach the subject because it wasn't handled sensitively for the kids whose absent parents aren't stuck in the shed.
CW:
- Lang- blithering, sweet heavenly haggis, poo-bottomed
- talk of the panda needing to start having cubs, and as if she can't be anything else, as if motherhood is opposed to having aspirations. I hate it when motherhood is shown as being a negative thing that holds you back from your potential.
- arguing parents
- dad walks out on his family
- emotionally, verbally and physically abusive father. The boy, in turn, becomes a bully. I think he's the one who needs the Mary Poppins bear. He isn't treated well by any of the 'good' characters
- the zoo is looking for their priceless panda, but the whole family cover up the fact that they have her because they say she should be free. It's a bit morally grey because the panda talks and is rather anthropomorphic, but she also belongs to the zoo.
- you find out that the father was just stuck in a shed and hadn't actually left them, so though it's a very happy ending it isn't particularly helpful for children reading who have actually had a parent leave them. So it would have been a lot better if the author didn't even broach the subject because it wasn't handled sensitively for the kids whose absent parents aren't stuck in the shed.
September 25, 2022
This is the story of how the Panda Pudding ends up as a nanny in Edingburgh. When Callum has a tough birthday he sends an email to Pudding. She responds by showing up at his house and taking on the role of Nanny, like her idol Mary Poppins. This story is exactly what I want in a book called Panda at the door. It was cute, short, and sweet.
Read
September 27, 2021Needed a short audiobook (2:07:03) to get me through the week and this one did not disappoint!
A delightful tale about a panda who escapes the Edinburgh Zoo and shows up at Callum's doorstep. Callum's father didn't know that by adopting the panda that she would join him in person on his birthday! It was a fun story that reminded me a lot of Paddington Bear sprinkled with tons of references to Mary Poppins.
A delightful tale about a panda who escapes the Edinburgh Zoo and shows up at Callum's doorstep. Callum's father didn't know that by adopting the panda that she would join him in person on his birthday! It was a fun story that reminded me a lot of Paddington Bear sprinkled with tons of references to Mary Poppins.
November 6, 2021
This is a heartwarming and humorous tale of finding family and valuing what you have. I loved the Mary Poppins references and the idea that adopting a panda from the zoo could cause one to end up outside your door! I’m thinking of reading this to my class later in the year.
October 30, 2022
Cute I guess.
January 17, 2023
Was funny and my daughter really enjoyed it
July 17, 2023
A panda who wants to be Mary Poppins.
Very strange. Even for a kids book.
Very strange. Even for a kids book.
December 24, 2024
A very simple story, but it's full of heart and it works.
February 4, 2026
Lief, schattig en grappig boek over een panda die de nieuwe Mary Poppins wil worden. Een doldwaas avontuur met leuke tekeningen. Het boek leest als een trein.
August 11, 2022
Beim neunjährigen Cal geht im Moment einfach alles schief. Nachdem seine Eltern sich gestritten haben ist sein Vater weg, seine kleine Schwester nervt ihn, sein bester Freund ist weggezogen und stattdessen wird er von seinem gleichaltrigen Nachbarn schikaniert. So wendet er sich in einem Hilferuf an die Panda-Dame Pudding, die im Zoo in Edinburgh lebt. Er hätte nie gedacht das sie auch wirklich eines Tages vor der Tür steht!
Dies ist ein ganz bezauberndes und herzerwärmendes Kinderbuch, das ich gar nicht aus der Hand legen wollte! Der Schreibstil ist wirklich super, zwar leicht und einfach zu lesen aber dennoch sehr emotional. So ist es mir überhaupt nicht schwer gefallen mit dem armen Cal mitzuleiden und zu hoffen, dass die Panda-Dame an seiner schir ausweglosen Situation etwas zum besseren wenden kann. Doch Pudding hat bald eigene Probleme, die sie zusätzlich zu Cals lösen muss...
Ich mochte die Charaktere sehr gern, von Cal und der Pandadame an, die am liebsten Mary Poppins sein würde und die Dialoge und Lieder des Film auswendig kennt, bishin zum leicht schrulligen Tierpfleger, der mit der neuesten Techik nicht umgehen kann, aber dafür das Herz am rechten Fleck hat.
Die Geschichte ist ereignisreich, spannend und teils auch sehr humorvoll erzählt. Da wurde einem beim lesen warm ums Herz. Lediglich den Ausgang für den Nachbarsjungen mit seinem jähzornigen Vater hätte ich mir anders gewünscht.
Fazit: Ein wirklich bezauberndes britisches Kinderbuch, das genauso viel Spaß macht wie ein Fernsehnachmittag mit Mary Poppins!
Dies ist ein ganz bezauberndes und herzerwärmendes Kinderbuch, das ich gar nicht aus der Hand legen wollte! Der Schreibstil ist wirklich super, zwar leicht und einfach zu lesen aber dennoch sehr emotional. So ist es mir überhaupt nicht schwer gefallen mit dem armen Cal mitzuleiden und zu hoffen, dass die Panda-Dame an seiner schir ausweglosen Situation etwas zum besseren wenden kann. Doch Pudding hat bald eigene Probleme, die sie zusätzlich zu Cals lösen muss...
Ich mochte die Charaktere sehr gern, von Cal und der Pandadame an, die am liebsten Mary Poppins sein würde und die Dialoge und Lieder des Film auswendig kennt, bishin zum leicht schrulligen Tierpfleger, der mit der neuesten Techik nicht umgehen kann, aber dafür das Herz am rechten Fleck hat.
Die Geschichte ist ereignisreich, spannend und teils auch sehr humorvoll erzählt. Da wurde einem beim lesen warm ums Herz. Lediglich den Ausgang für den Nachbarsjungen mit seinem jähzornigen Vater hätte ich mir anders gewünscht.
Fazit: Ein wirklich bezauberndes britisches Kinderbuch, das genauso viel Spaß macht wie ein Fernsehnachmittag mit Mary Poppins!
August 15, 2022
Panda Pudding als Kindermädchen
Der Klappentext und das Cover von "Ein Panda zieht ein" von Sarah Horne hat uns neugierig auf dieses ungewöhnliche Buch gemacht.
Pudding, die Pandadame die groß auf dem Cover prangt, büxt aus dem Zoo aus um einer Familie als Kindermädchen zu helfen.
Man merkt dem Buch an, dass es ursprünglich für den englischsprachigen Raum geschrieben wurde. Immer wieder gibt es Anspielungen (Mary Poppins, König Artur), die für englischsprachige Kinder sicherlich schlüssig und selbstverständlich sind, zumindest für unsere Kinder aber Erklärungsbedarf hatten. Auch sind einige Wortspiele durch die Übersetzung leider verloren gegangen.
Ich, als Mutter, habe mich mit Pudding ein wenig schwer getan, da Sie doch sehr vermenschlicht ist. Meine Kinder hat das nicht gestört.
Das Buch an sich ist flüssig geschrieben. An einigen Stellen wirkt es leider sehr konstruiert und für Kinder ab sieben ist es hin und wieder, meiner Meinung nach, auch zu heftig (zB. Mike wird von seinem Vater als Platzverschwendung betitelt).
Wirklich toll gelungen sind die schwarz-weiß Illustrationen. Sie haben die Geschichte bereichert und aufgelockert und fügen sich perfekt ins Gesamtbild. In die Illustrationen haben wir uns wirklich verliebt. Auch dass mit Schriftgröße und -art an einigen Stellen variiert wurde lockert das Buch auf.
Fazit: Uns hat das Buch leider nicht überzeugt. Die Idee ist toll, die Umsetzung hat uns leider nicht so gut gefallen.
Der Klappentext und das Cover von "Ein Panda zieht ein" von Sarah Horne hat uns neugierig auf dieses ungewöhnliche Buch gemacht.
Pudding, die Pandadame die groß auf dem Cover prangt, büxt aus dem Zoo aus um einer Familie als Kindermädchen zu helfen.
Man merkt dem Buch an, dass es ursprünglich für den englischsprachigen Raum geschrieben wurde. Immer wieder gibt es Anspielungen (Mary Poppins, König Artur), die für englischsprachige Kinder sicherlich schlüssig und selbstverständlich sind, zumindest für unsere Kinder aber Erklärungsbedarf hatten. Auch sind einige Wortspiele durch die Übersetzung leider verloren gegangen.
Ich, als Mutter, habe mich mit Pudding ein wenig schwer getan, da Sie doch sehr vermenschlicht ist. Meine Kinder hat das nicht gestört.
Das Buch an sich ist flüssig geschrieben. An einigen Stellen wirkt es leider sehr konstruiert und für Kinder ab sieben ist es hin und wieder, meiner Meinung nach, auch zu heftig (zB. Mike wird von seinem Vater als Platzverschwendung betitelt).
Wirklich toll gelungen sind die schwarz-weiß Illustrationen. Sie haben die Geschichte bereichert und aufgelockert und fügen sich perfekt ins Gesamtbild. In die Illustrationen haben wir uns wirklich verliebt. Auch dass mit Schriftgröße und -art an einigen Stellen variiert wurde lockert das Buch auf.
Fazit: Uns hat das Buch leider nicht überzeugt. Die Idee ist toll, die Umsetzung hat uns leider nicht so gut gefallen.
December 4, 2022
Wow schon lange nicht mehr, konnte eine Kindergeschichte mich so in den Bann ziehen und fesseln. Der Schreibstil ist super leicht und flüssig und man fliegt nur so durch die Seiten. Ich konnte einfach nicht mehr aufhören zu lesen. Die Geschichte von Panda Pudding, beginnt im Zoo. Sie soll nach China gebracht werden um Babys zu bekommen, dass möchte sie aber gar nicht. Gerade Recht kommt es ihr da, dass ein kleiner Junge ganz dringend ihre Hilfe brauch. Seine Eltern haben sich gestritten und sein bester Freund ist weggezogen. Somit ist er an seinem Geburtstag total Einsam und beschließt, dem Panda der sein Pate ist eine Email zu schreiben und um Hilfe zu bitten. Panda Pudding ist total verrückt nach Mary Poppins und sieht hier die Möglichkeit ihrem Traum zu einer Familie zu gehören nachzugehen und ihrem Schicksal in China zu entgehen. Eine wundervolle, zuckersüße Geschichte für Groß und Klein. Wundervoll von der Autorin selbst illustriert.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews