How This Book Got Red

Starred review from July 15, 2023
A red panda notices that media is dominated by giant pandas. One day, Red (an adorable red panda) and her friend Gee (an equally cute black-and-white giant panda) find a book about pandas. Red's initial excitement turns to disappointment when she sees that the entire book is about giant pandas, with nary a red panda in sight. "Who wrote this anyway!?" she fumes. "Ohhhhhhh!" says Gee as they spot a giant panda's author photo on the back flap. Red decides to write her own book about red pandas, but as the pair walk through the town, readers will notice all the giant panda merchandise (even red panda children have black-and-white dolls), including the bookstore display. "No one wants to read about red pandas," Red concludes and tosses her half-finished book away. Later, the friends find a group of pandas crowded around her unfinished book. "That one looks just like me!" one red panda points out. They tell Red that they want and need this book, which inspires her to persevere. Greanias illustrates perfectly, in a way that children will intuitively understand, why it's so crucial for everyone to see themselves depicted in media; Iwai's lovable panda characters, rendered in colorful watercolor, pencil, and digital tools, are irresistible. A final joyful spread portrays a future in which both types of pandas are represented everywhere, and crayon-drawn endpapers show pages from Red's book. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Astute and adorable commentary on media representation. (Picture book. 4-8)

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October 27, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-In a wildlife window-and-mirrors moment, the red panda who stars in this picture book resents that everyone's definition of "panda" seems to only make room for the black-and-white panda default. The small, determined creature decides to write a book about red pandas, to amplify their profile; but it's a difficult task, and giving up is the only recourse. In exuberant illustrations that chronicle the ups and downs of the tale, other red pandas come across the rejected project, ecstatic to find themselves in the pages of a story. The red panda is similarly overjoyed and recreates the book, putting it on to as many shelves as she can find with the help of her good friend, the black-and-white panda Gee, who illustrates. There are red panda facts in this story of empowerment, but what it excels at is breaking down the simplicity of wanting to be included into a charming friendship story. Gee, at first, doesn't really see the big deal, but quickly comes to support the heroine. And the delight of other red pandas is genuinely heartwarming. VERDICT A simple quest for inclusion unfolds for the very young, although the pun in the title deflects from the book's true worth.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

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