96. Picky Panda

Picky Panda. Jackie Huang. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Everyone called him Mr. Panda. He was a very picky panda. Mr. Panda worked in the corner office on the highest level of the tallest building, where he made very important decisions. For Mr. Panda, decisions were easy. Everything was either yes...or no. Good...or bad. Right...or wrong. Black...or white.

Premise/plot: Mr. Panda likes his black and white world...literally. If it's not black OR white, then it's wrong. When someone gifts him a red flower, he becomes out of sorts. It's a lovely gift...but can it fit into his world? Through his perspective, his so-called 'picky' perspective, the flower just looks completely out of place no matter where he puts it. Can he find a place...a literal place...for color in his life.

This one is a lift-the-flap book.

My thoughts: I'm conflicted. I think perhaps I am overthinking this one a bit too much. I am making an assumption--right or wrong--that the book is meant to be humorous. Ha ha look at Mr. Panda act totally ridiculous. I personally didn't find the book humorous. (Then again, maybe that wasn't the author's intent?) 

I didn't find the book written to encourage empathy or understanding for Mr. Panda. (Though perhaps that wasn't the author's intent either?) There can be beauty in the simplistic 'order' of black and white. Black and white is not without its own perfect beauty. 

What I am missing in my analysis of this one is a sense of what Mr. Panda *actually* feels. What is it about black and white does he love? Is it a need, an impulse, a compulsion to have things be black and white? Is it just a slight preference? What is it about color that displeases him? How does seeing color effect him? Does color overwhelm him? What kinds of physical, mental, emotional reactions does he experience as he wrestles with color? His reactions to it feeling "wrong" may not seem "logical" to readers, but it doesn't negate his actual reactions.

Again, I'm 1000% overthinking this one. I am. I know I am. But it just didn't strike me as funny or inspiring. If it's meant to be inspiring, then it's a bit simplistic. There's always more going on behind the scenes.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers