Has your biggest problem ever been that you don’t have a problem…? Yes, even pandas suffer from #firstworldproblems!
This book breaks the third wall, a theatre term which refers to the barrier that prevents characters in a story from knowing that they are fictional characters.
The narrator begins the story of a panda who has a “BIG problem,” but the panda protagonist loudly disagrees. Panda goes on to explain that they have no problems as they have lots to eat, a great view from their bamboo trees and lovely sunny weather.
The narrator explains that every story needs to have a problem to overcome. This incites the panda to become the problem instead! The panda rebels against the narrator, playing the banjo really badly and then introduces a second, equally problematic panda.
Losing control of the narrative makes this book a laugh-out-loud story to read with children as they delight in the panda’s obnoxious rebellion. This book appeals to the mischievous side of me, which has to come every now and again to play!