The Panda Problem

February 1, 2019
What if the main character took over the storytelling from the narrator?The (presumably adult) narrator begins the story of a panda who has a "BIG problem," but the panda protagonist (represented opposite the narration) loudly disagrees. Panda goes on to explain that they have no problems: Their view from atop the bamboo tree is great, there's plenty to eat, and the day is sunny. When the narrator explains to the panda that they are the main character and that they need to overcome a problem, because "that's how stories work," the panda suggests that they become the problem instead! The panda then begins a series of activities to frustrate the narrator, ranging from the merely obnoxious (playing the banjo really badly) to downright outrageous (introducing a second, equally problematic panda into the story). This metafictive picture book's success lies in the creation of two distinct voices, which makes the exchange of dialogue possible. The voices can be told apart by the difference in type: The narritorial text is set in formal black typeface that denotes a sense of authority, and the panda responds through hand-lettered speech bubbles. Master of meta Underwood's (Here Comes the Easter Cat, 2014, etc.) 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. (Picture book. 4-8)

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February 4, 2019
Being a narrator should be straightforward: introduce and situate the main character (“Once upon a time there was a panda who lived in a beautiful bamboo grove”), set the dramatic tension in motion (“But the panda had a BIG problem”), and solve the problem—end of story. But what happens when the protagonist refuses to play along? “Looks like you’re the one with the problem, buddy,” says Panda, who won’t offer up so much as a sore paw to drive the narrative forward. The bear soon wrests control of the meta-comedy (“Maybe YOU are the main character and I am YOUR problem!”) and introduces a jelly bean rain, purple puffball aliens, a second panda, and a trip to Antarctica (“This is fiction. Anything can happen!” a penguin observes). The embattled narrator may start yearning for stories that are about “nice, quiet rocks,” but readers will gleefully embrace the anarchy that Underwood’s (Interstellar Cinderella) supremely silly repartee has unleashed. Marks, making her U.S. picture book debut, is an able accomplice, offering tightly composed and choreographed cartooning that feels appropriately chaotic. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agency: Astound US Agency.

July 1, 2019
An offstage narrator insists this book's panda protagonist needs a problem to solve: "that's how stories work." Things devolve as the uncooperative panda hijacks the story. Kid-friendly design distinguishes the narrator's traditionally formatted text from the panda's speech-bubble dialogue while plentiful white space makes the appealing digital illustrations easy to follow. Underwood's meta tale creatively explains storytelling fundamentals, slyly defining plot, setting, and characters as the panda upends the norms.

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