The Panda Problem - by Deborah Underwood (Hardcover)

About the Book

The "New York Times"-bestselling author of "The Quiet Book" loses control of the narrative in the funniest, most exuberant, most kid-delighting way in this adventurous ode to what makes a story--and what makes a story great. Full color.

Book Synopsis

The critically adored, New York Times bestselling Deborah Underwood delights with a hilariously meta celebration of storytelling out of control.

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 the funniest, most exuberant, most kid-delighting way in this adventurous ode to what makes a story--and what makes a story great.

"Highly entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny."--Kirkus
"Supremely silly."--Publishers Weekly
"Excellent...Cute, cute book."--School Library Connection
"Entertaining...humorous." --BCCB
"Kid-friendly...visually appealing...cheeky...adorable."--The Horn Book
"Hilarious, inventive...A joyful read aloud." --SLJ, The Classroom Bookshelf

Review Quotes

An Indie Next List Selection

"Master of meta Underwood's witty narrative and Marks' cute, colored-pencil illustrations come together to create a comical struggle for control between a narrator and their rebellious creation. Highly entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny." --Kirkus

"Being a narrator should be straightforward . . . But what happens when the protagonist refuses to play along? . . . Readers will gleefully embrace the anarchy that Underwood's supremely silly repartee has unleashed." --Publishers Weekly

"Excellent . . . [a] cute, cute book." --School Library Connection

"Kid-friendly . . . visually appealing . . . cheeky . . . adorable . . . Underwood's latest meta tale creatively explains storytelling fundamentals, slyly defining plot, setting, and characters as the panda upends the norms. Now, thanks to the panda's shenanigans, readers will be 'story experts, ' too." --The Horn Book

"This read-aloud thrives on its quirky self-awareness, and it's an entertaining introduction to humorous meta-textuality for young kids. . . . Listeners who take to this may want to check out Underwood's series starring Cat, starting with Here Comes the Easter Cat." --BCCB

"A hilarious, inventive, laughter-inducing meta tale. . . . A joyful read aloud." --School Library Journal, The Classroom Bookshelf blog

About the Author

Deborah Underwood has worked as a street musician and at an accounting firm but for years has been a full-time writer who occasionally plays the ukulele. She is the author of several picture books, including New York Times bestsellers
The Quiet Book and Here Comes the Easter Cat, as well as Monster & Mouse Go Camping, Interstellar Cinderella, and Bad Bye Good Bye.

Hannah Marks is a self-taught illustrator and designer, who often gets her best ideas after eating cake. She lives in England with her husband, three children, a bonkers cat, two gerbils, and a teeny-tiny Roborovski hamster.​​​​​​​ The Panda Problem is her U.S. picture book debut. Find her on Twitter @Hannah_Marks, on Instagram at hannahmarks_, and on Pinterest at hannahemarks.