The Panda Problem (Deborah Underwood)

Title:  The Panda Problem

Author:  Deborah Underwood

Illustrator:  Hannah Marks

Target Ages:  5 and up

Genre:  Post Modern Picture Book (Metafiction)

Publisher Summary: 

Every story needs a problem.  But Panda doesn’t have a problem.  Unless Panda IS the problem.

First Lines:

Once upon a time, there was a panda who lived in a beautiful bamboo grove.

But the panda had a BIG problem.

Nope.

Excuse me?

Memorable Moment:

BECAUSE THINGS CAN’T GET ANY WORSE!

Oh, can’t they?

What if suddenly there were…

Evaluation:

Author Deborah Underwood knows how to create a witty picture book. I became a fan after reading the Here Comes the … Cat series.  Her creative twists and turns as well as her memorable characters make for an entertaining reading experience.  The Panda Problem is no different.

Along with many readers—young and old—I love pandas. Underwood’s panda character is full of cheeky fun.  Though he is the main character (at least in theory), he does everything he can to undermine the story.  At the same time, he is creating the very story he attempts to usurp (more about that later). 

On a simple level, this picture book introduces children to the parts of a story—setting, character, plot, conflict, and resolution—in an engaging manner.  Characterization can be explored through the witty dialogue between the narrator and the panda. Suspense is craftily used to keep listeners predicting what will happen next. Underwood often subverts expectations with inventive surprises and humorous irony.  

The difference between realism and fantasy is another layer.  It is real that pandas live in a bamboo grove.  They eat lots of bamboo.  Pandas cannot live in Antartica.  However, elements like jellybean rain and a banjo-playing bear are fantasy.  The seamless blend of the two elements—fantasy and reality—is an ideal teaching opportunity for educators and parents. 

The story can be read as just a fun picture book.  However, older students can look at it more closely because it is deceptively complex. 

The Panda Problem subtly pokes fun at the cliché picture book—a story with a character that has a problem and then the problem worsens, but in the end everything resolves itself.  Like many post-modern books, it questions this plot development assumption while also sticking with it (somewhat) often including absurd elements, such as aliens and jellybean rain. 

Educators and parents can use it as an example of metafiction, fiction about fiction in which the author knowingly draws attention to the fact that it is fiction.  Older students (through college age) can dig into not only what metafiction is but what purpose it has and how it reflects post-modern attitudes about literature and life. For instance, The Panda Problem uses metafiction to epitomize the post-modern idea: Life is uncertain and truth is relative, but we might as well have some fun with them. 

Witty.  Subversive. Thought-provoking.  The Panda Problem is a must read for all ages! 

Lesson Plan Activities and Extension Ideas Recap:

• Parts of a Story: Use to introduce or reinforce the key parts of a story.  Then, identify the parts of this story.  Debate--Who is the real protagonist?
• Predicting Skills: Periodically stop to allow children to guess what is going to happen next and why they think so.
• Irony:  What are some examples of irony?  What type of irony is it?  What is the significance of each example?
• Suspense:  How does the author incorporate suspense?
• Fantasy vs. Reality:  Discuss which story elements are based on fantasy and which are on reality.
• Post-Modernism:  Demonstrates post-modern elements on a simple but complex level. For more post-modern picture books, click HERE.  (More post-modern picture book posts coming soon.)
• Metafiction:  Can be used up to college age along with novels (like Don Quixote) or short stories ("The Kugelmass Episode") that incorporate metafiction.  For more metafiction examples, click HERE.

Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary (Julie Larios)

Title:  Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary

Author: Julie Larios

Illustrator:  Julie Paschkis

Target Ages:  2-7

Genre:  Picture Book Poetry Collection

Publisher Summary: 

Have you ever seen a yellow elephant, glowing in the jungle sun?

Have you seen a green frog—splash!—turn blue?

Or a red donkey throw a red-hot tantrum?

In this bright bestiary, poet Julie Larios and painter Julie Paschkis color a menagerie of animals in brilliantly unexpected hues—encouraging us to see the familiar in surprising ways. 

Poem Sample:

“Brown Mouse”

Little brown clown,

looking for crumbs,

comes sneaking, sniffing, skittering

all around—sounds

like she jitterbugging

on tinfoil, sharp toenails

clicking and clacking

through the house.

She’s in a hurry

that’s for sure,

this brown mouse.

Evaluation:

This collection of 14 colorful poems are sure to surprise and delight young children.  The lyrical words capture the real and wonder of the animals while the vibrant pictures illustrate the fantastic and unexpected.  

Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary is a wonderful poetic experience.  I recommend it  for preschool and primary classrooms. 

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Colors:  Practice or review colors and color words. 
• Poetry:  Using a favorite color and animals, children can write their own creative sentence or short poem.
• Sound Devices:  Identify and discuss sound devices like rhyme and alliteration.
• Grouping:  Discuss ways to put the animals in groups like ones the students have seen in real life or touched.  Other groups can be based on type of animal (reptile, mammal, etc.) or where it lives (trees, water, house). 
• Art:  Create one or more animals using unexpected colors, patterns, or textures.
• Fantasy vs. Reality:  Use the pictures as a spring board to discuss the difference between fantasy and reality.  Which parts are realistic?  Which are imaginative?  For older students, ask them to guess why the illustrator used some of the imaginative elements. 

Visit Live Your Poem for more Poetry Friday fun!

Also visit Suzanne Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Book Round Up.  

Islandborn (Junot Diaz)

Title:  Islandborn

Author:  Junot Diaz

Illustrator:  Leo Espinosa

Target Ages:  4-9

Genre:  Realistic Fiction Picture Book

Publisher Summary: 

Every kid at Lola’s school was from somewhere else.  Hers was a school of faraway places.

So when Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families emigrated from, all the kids are excited.  Except Lola.  She can’t remember the Island—she left when she was just a baby.  But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories—joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening—Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to the Island.  As she draws closer to the heart of her family’s story, Lola come to understand the truth of her abuela’s words:  “Just because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it’s not in you.”

First Lines:

Every kid at Lola’s school was from somewhere else. 

Hers was a school of faraway places.

Mai was from a city so big that it was like it’s own country.

India and Camila were from a stony village at the tippy top of the world.

Matteo had lived in a desert so hot even the cactus fainted.

Nu was bone in a jungle famous for it tigers and poets.

And Lola was from the Island.

Memorable Moment:

Lola opens her book of memories—“and out busts the Island.”

Evaluation:

Lola’s exploration of her heritage is rich in imagery and figurative language.  As members of her family and community share their memories, they blend with the imaginative.  Bats the size and shape of blankets soar above.  People dance in the city streets. Coconut plants become part of the barbershop landscape.  Each image and memory brings up feelings of joy and longing.  

The story does not shy away from the unpleasant though.  One neighbor reveals the dark side of their island experience: A monster took power that instilled terror in the people. He destroyed whole towns with a single word.  Eventually, people fought back and defeated him.  But for some, there are still scars in their hearts.  Then a hurricane destroyed her family’s community—prompting them to come to America.  Lola learns that with joy there is also a sorrowful side of her homeland.  

Through these conversations, Lola feels more connected to her homeland and community.  She is inspired to draw a variety of pictures blending the real with the fantastic and the beautiful with the ugly.  Author Junot Diaz multi-faceted view of life is memorable and moving.   

Leo Espinosa’s vibrant multi-media illustrations capture all the heart and imagination of the story.  Striking colors aptly depict this beautiful story of diversity and family pride.

Islandborn is a must read! 

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Social Studies:  This story is perfect for starting a conversation or school project highlighting students’ lives.  It can be a simple one like bringing in “All About Me” pictures and information to more in-depth projects about family heritage. 
• Reading:  Use the story to discuss the different between reality and fantasy—both in the illustrations as well as the descriptive elements of the story.  Consider why Mr. Muir says a monster took over the island rather than an evil person/government.
• Language-Arts:  Identify examples of figurative language, like hyperbole, imagery, and simile.  Students can create their own examples and draw pictures of them.
• Geography:  Identify on a map the author’s home country of the Dominican Republic.  Read about this island nation.  Consider:  Do the descriptions of Lola’s island compare with what you learned about the Dominican Republic?
• Art:  Draw or paint an island that blends the real with imaginative. 
• Science:  Learn about hurricanes.  Compare hurricanes vs. tornados.

Ling and Ting Series (Grace Lin)

Title:  Ling & Ting Series

Author:  Grace Lin

Illustrator:  Grace Lin

Target Ages:  4-8

Level:  Early Reader Chapter Book/Passport to Reading Level 3

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Evaluation:

Ling and Ting is currently a four book early reading series. Each page has a combination of illustrations, simple text, and short sections, making the series ideal for youngsters wanting to move to the challenge of chapter books. 

The books are divided into six short story chapters. The first five stories are all connected to the same theme.  In the first three books, the last one is a story (usually silly and/or imaginative) that one of the girls creates from her perspective.  The final story is either a mash up of the details in the previous five or a contrasting narrative.  In the fourth book, this formula was not followed. Instead, all six chapters were stories about the weather.

The characters are kind, thoughtful, and inquisitive.  The author effectively conveys the girls’ animated and infectious personalities in the limited vocabulary and vivid snapshot illustrations. Their relatable experiences and charming personalities will draw children in while the positive themes and admirable character qualities will impress parents. 

One of my favorite characteristics of the series is how it celebrates reading and writing.  Ting and Ling are often found with books or reading. Also, each book encourages the characters (and readers) to become part of the storytelling.  The girls depict reading, creating, and writing as both fun and engaging. 

Here are the first four books in the series.

Not Exactly the Same!

Each chapter reveals (both directly and indirectly) the ways the Ling and Ting are different.  Ling sits still during her haircut, but Ting is wiggly (which causes a slight problem).  Similarly, one girl eats with ease using her chopsticks while the other struggles with hers.  The final chapter is a story that Ting tells to Ling using the elements of the narrative, but in an embellished, mixed up way. 

Extension Ideas

• Discuss how each girl is different. Look closely not only at the text but at the illustrations for clues.
• Using a graphic organizer or chart, show the similarities and differences between the two girls. 
• Compare the details in the “Mixed Up” chapter with what really happened in the story. 
• Write a mixed up stories using this story’s (or another one's) details. 
• Here is an educator's guide for the Ling and Ting series from the publisher. 

Share a Birthday

Ling and Ting celebrate their birthday together.  They buy gifts, bake cakes, make birthday wishes, and open presents.  They end their day with an alternate birthday tale. 

Extension Ideas

• Build on the previous book discussion on how the girls are similar and different.   
• Evaluate the different ways the girls show kindness and compassion to one another. 
• Compare the “Birthday Story” chapter with the birthday story of the previous five chapters. 
• Practice predicting skills in each chapter:  Which color shoes will girls each pick?  What gifts will they buy each other?  What will happen when they make their own birthday cakes?  What will their birthday wishes be? What will happen when the girls exchange gifts?
• Compare their birthday traditions to your own. 

Twice as Silly

The focus is on silly stories the girls imagine and act out. For instance, Ting plants cupcakes in the garden in hopes of growing a cupcake tree (wouldn’t we all love that!).  The girls have an imaginary swing contest that takes them up above the trees and beyond. My favorite though is their elaborate plan to convince monkeys to pick apples for them! Like the other two books, it ends with a story the girls created using the elements of the previous chapters in a unique way.  In this one, there are several illustrations of handwritten pages with pictures they drew. 

Extension Ideas

• Build on the previous book discussion on how the girls are similar and different.
• Compare the fantasy or silly elements with reality or realistic elements. 
• Come up with an imaginative plan to accomplish a goal or chore (like story 4). 
• Write and illustrate a silly story (like story 6).

Together in All Weather
Beginning with a lightening storm and ending with a double rainbow, the girls experience all 4 seasons.  In the summer they set up a lemonade stand, and in the fall they rake leaves.  My favorite is the winter story though. Ling comes up with a creative way to prove Ting is not too sick to shovel the snow.  The final two stories involve playing in the spring rain and finding a rainbow. Like the first three books in the series, the stories are sweet and entertaining. They also often have a witty or ironic ending.  

Extension Ideas

• Build on the previous book discussions on how the girls are similar and different.
• Before reading, brainstorm the reader's (or readers') favorite activities in each season.  How does it compare to Ling and Ting's?
• Pick a season. Together write (or tell it orally) a story about the girls experiencing the seasons in a different way, such as sledding in the snow, planting a garden, going to the pool, or carving a pumpkin.  
• Compare the pictures to the text in story one.  What is revealed?
• Like the mixed up stories in the previous books (in chapters 6), create one for this book.  Write down all the main events.  Mix them up.  Pick one from the pile and embellish it.  Keep going until all the events have been used up.

All children love to celebrate their birthdays, to use their imaginations, to participate in seasonal activities, and to play with their siblings/friends.  All children can show compassion and actively share.  In short, this multicultural series focuses on what makes us similar rather than different.  

The Ling and Ting series deserves a place in your primary classroom or home library.  Your children will enjoy reading and re-reading it.