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Summary
Summary
Kindergarten has never been funnier with Amanda Panda--a hilarious, strong-willed new student who is about to take her school by storm--in this perfect back-to-school read!
Amanda Panda has BIG ideas for her first day of school. But when things don't go according to plan, and when a pesky girl in a pink bow decides to be her best friend, she walks out on kindergarten and joins her brother in second grade. It takes an unlikely partner to fix Amanda's terrible day-and to teach her about friendship, tolerance, and how to cope with life's ups and downs.
Amanda Panda perfectly captures the spirit, motivations, and humor of a headstrong five-year-old girl-and will be sure to soothe back-to-school jitters.
Author Notes
Candice Ransom was born in Virginia in 1952. She grew up in the country and spent most of her time daydreaming, creating stories in her head once she'd read all the books in her school library. After writing her first book at age 7, she has gone on to write over 100 books for children and young adults.
She has a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and is earning a Masters in Children's Literature from Hollins University. Among her popular titles are The Big Green Pocketbook (1993), One Christmas Dawn (1996), The Promise Quilt (2002), and Liberty Street (2003). Her books have received numerous awards, including the Hodge Podge Society Best Children's Book; Pick of the List; Notable Trade Book in Social Studies; New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Book; New York Library Best One Hundred Book; IRA/Children's Choice; and ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers.
Ransom is also a ghostwriter for the Boxcar Children Mysteries, having written 18 titles for the series. She has started the Promise Quilt Literacy Project, which gives books to the children of the Virginia Appalachians. Instead of donating to individuals or to school libraries, Ransom sends 30 new books to a classroom, choosing a different school each month and giving the teacher the option of keeping the books in the classroom or letting each child take one home.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a humorous take on first-day snafus, Amanda Panda expects to excel in kindergarten, but Bitsy, a gregarious classmate dressed in "so much pink it gives Amanda a headache," rubs her the wrong way. Even though Bitsy just wants to be BFFs, "Amanda Panda does not feel like being kind." Quitting kindergarten, she slips into her brother's second-grade class, but after Bitsy tracks her down there (and then promptly freaks out), Amanda confidently guides her back to their classroom, paving the way for a new friendship. Using splashes of warm color and with fine detailing, Grove creates an energetic cast of roly-poly pandas who exude style in their wardrobe choices. Ransom (Rebel McKenzie) sensitively addresses the challenges of handling expectations in new circumstances, as well as the roundabout path to friendship. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Victoria Wells Arms, Wells Arms Literary. Illustrator's agent: Maggie Byer-Sprinzeles, Byer-Sprinzeles Agency. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Amanda Panda ambitiously plans to be a star on the first day of kindergarten. Her plans go awry--annoying classmate Bitsy seems to be getting all the attention--so Amanda quits kindergarten. But when Bitsy gets lost searching for her, Amanda has a satisfying change of heart. The amiable school story features amusing illustrations of expressive panda characters in spiffy first-day-of-school clothes. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
For her first day of kindergarten, Amanda plans a series of triumphs: printing her name in big letters on the board, building a tall block tower, and winning a downhill race. But that's not exactly how things turn out. She begins by snubbing Bitsy, a friendly classmate dressed all in pink: So much pink it gives Amanda a headache. After a series of disappointments, Amanda quietly quits kindergarten and joins her brother in the second-grade classroom. Just as his teacher discovers her there, Bitsy appears in the doorway, tearfully lost and needing Amanda to lead her back to kindergarten. With strong dialogue and well-imagined details of wardrobe and play, Ransom writes an original story around the familiar situation: the beginning of school. The two childlike panda characters become friends despite their differences, or perhaps because of them. Grove's illustrations, line drawings washed with color, create the settings while expressing the characters' emotions through their expressions and body language. This wryly amusing picture book offers a fresh take on an old theme.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Amanda Panda is filled with excitement about starting kindergarten and has her entire first day planned. She will write her name in big, important letters on the blackboard and then wow the whole class by being the fastest runner. But as so often happens in life, things do not go exactly as she envisioned. On the bus, she is forced to sit next to Bitsy, a girl whose favorite color is "sparkles" and who seems intent on becoming Amanda's friend. Amanda does not feel like being kind and ignores this exuberant panda in pink. As if that isn't vexing enough, Bitsy proceeds to sit next to her in class, Amanda's block tower collapses in epic fashion, and worst of all; she trips during a race at recess. This is the end of the world, concludes Amanda, who decides to quit kindergarten and sneak off her to older brother's classroom. In no time at all, she realizes that the older grades don't have any of the kindergarten perks; the chairs are too big, the room is too quiet and worst of all, there is no building center. When Bitsy comes searching for her in tears, Amanda realizes she has made a true friend. And guess what? It isn't the end of the world after all. Grove's illustrations are the perfect medium for this story and she captures the young pandas' emotions expertly. Ransom has delivered a funny and relatable tale about how even when things don't go according to plan; they can still turn out okay. VERDICT Filled with droll humor that begs to be read aloud, this is an excellent back-to-school purchase and a great fit for storytime.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Amanda Panda starts off an unlikable kindergartner, but school (and exposure to other kids) teaches her how to be a friend, and that might be the most important lesson of all.Amanda Panda (not the Amanda Panda of Sarah Dillard's First Day at Zoo School) knows who she is, what she likes, and what she's good at, and she has big plans for kindergarten. Those plans don't include the girl panda in head-to-toe pink at the bus stop, though Bitsy does her best to be Amanda's friend. While Amanda knows that she should return Bitsy's compliment, she doesn't. And when Bitsy sits at the table next to Amanda, "It is the end of the world." Indeed, the day is rough, and Amanda can't do anything quite right. So, at the end of a disastrous recess, she stealthily joins her older brother's second-grade line and quits kindergarten. But the chairs are too big, and she can't read the words. Just then a lost and afraid Bitsy appears to find her new friend. Amanda's empathy finally manifests, and she leads Bitsy by the hand to kindergarten, where suddenly everything seems brighter and Bitsy is a friend. Amanda's transformation is a bit sudden and extreme, and instead of combining their interests, Grove shows Amanda playing with Bitsy's toys. Still, Grove's watercolors masterfully portray Amanda's every emotion, even the nasty ones. Empathy and kindness are just as important as ABCs and 123s, and Amanda gives readers a good lesson. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
