My son is currently two years old and I have become very aware of how important representation matters in the books we read our little ones. While I make a conscious effort to diversify his options, a book about WHY it is important that we do this is a phenomenal add. We did go out and purchase a physical copy once it was released, and we’ve read it several times now before bed. I loved the analogy of the pandas because it’s an easy example for a complex discussion — discussions that need to be had but may go over the heads of little ones too young to understand the complexities of our world. Thank you for a copy of this ARC!

Much has been written about the importance of seeing yourself in books but this is the first time I've seen that idea as the premise of a picture book. And it does more than point out the importance - it offers a solution. The plot is simple. Books about pandas only ever talk about Giant Pandas, so Red Panda sets out to write her own. The plot takes us through the whole author journey: initial excitement for the project, frustrations and set backs, even fear that no one will care about your book. The final pages emphasize the importance of encouragement as well as diversity in books. This is a sweet story that encourages children to seek out different narratives and to contribute to change in the world.

The world definitely needs more books that focus on RED pandas. The well known pandas are wonderful, but this book helps fill a gap that young readers have definitely noticed. Red pandas rock!

This was a very silly book. Red pandas are so cute and this was a great way for the kids and I to learn more about them.

Pandas Red and Gee are looking through some books when they find one about pandas! Being pandas themselves, they're very excited to get back to their tree house to give it a read. As they go through the book, Red is disappointed to see that the book doesn't mention red pandas like her at all. She decides to take matters into her own hands and write a book that shows how amazing red pandas can be too!

The book uses very cute illustrations to tell a story about the importance of diversity. Once other pandas (both red pandas and black-and-white ones) see the book that Red has written, they are all excited. Red pandas are happy to have representation that they do not always get and the other pandas are thrilled to be able to learn about them as well. This book is a great way to teach the importance of having diverse characters and to open a dialogue with children about it.

This would be a great read aloud for a classroom and then you can get the students to write a short story about whatever they think has been left out. The illustrations are wonderful. The book has a happy ending and also shows that there are such things are Red pandas!

This is a picture book that shows the importance of representation in literature. Red Panda was so excited to read a book about pandas, but then was upset when Red Pandas were completely left out of the story. So Red decided to write the story herself. The illustrations are very well done and there are facts about red pandas throughout.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very cute book!

I received an electronic ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids through NetGalley.
Giant Panda, Gee, and Red Panda, Red are dear friends. They are excited to find a book about pandas and read it together. It was only about Giant Pandas so Red was not included. They discovered there weren't any books sharing about red pandas. Red starts to create one but gets discouraged at all the books on pandas like Gee. After tossing her work, he learns that others are thrilled to read it. They encourage her to finish it and it takes off with readers. I love the subtle message about inclusion for all species. The illustrations capture the message and offer additional details to support the text.

There's more than one kind of panda, you know! Wait - you didn't know? Well - there is. Today I learned that Giant Pandas - the adorable black and white ones that you immediately think of when you hear the word "panda" - are actually named after the equally adorable Red Pandas! This book is about Red and Gee. They are very good friends - Red is a Red Panda and Gee is a giant panda (the black and white kind). They find a book about pandas at the library and hurry home to read it but... Red is shocked and disappointed to discover that the book does not even mention Red Pandas! So she decides to write her own. But she becomes discouraged - when she and Gee walk into town, she is overwhelmed by only seeing Giant Panda books and merchandise everywhere. So she throws her book away. Gee tries to cheer her up but nothing works until -- she sees other pandas reading her book! And they ask her to finish it. And soon there are more books about Red Pandas. Still not as many as there are about Giant Pandas, though...
Which is really the point of the book. I learned lots of things about Red Pandas that I did not know which reinforced the fact that we need inclusive books. Books that tell us all about every type of person. And that reflect different people - not just one sort. So the book teaches a valuable lesson on the importance of being able to find books where you can see yourself - and learn about other people, also. And it does it in a fun and educational way. I promise you will learn new things about red pandas! And gain a bit of empathy along the way.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this wonderful book!

This is such a cute story about a fox that thinks he’s a panda and wants books about red pandas so he creates a book himself. My son enjoyed being read this book. I will say the ending was a bit confusing and felt like we missed something but overall it was a cute book.

My son loved this book. The facts at the front and back were great as a teacher. The overall message was so nice. I love getting books that represent my students in my room. This book should be in every classroom.

Red, a red panda, mourns how all the books for pandas somehow omit red pandas! With the encouragement of his giant panda friend Gee, Red writes his own book about red pandas. The adorable picture book How This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias and pictures by Melissa Iwai (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, October 2023) narrates the journey of why and how Red’s illustrated story came to be, and then it shows the confidence-building reactions of others in the red panda community when they see themselves in the book!


With adorable watercolor and pencil illustration, How This Book Got Red delights the readers with the depictions of both red pandas and giant pandas. Red’s emotions rise and fall as his confidence in his illustrated story ebbs and flows. Readers can all relate to feeling nervous about creating something and putting it out in the world. When another red panda finds his book and reads it, the previously ignored red panda community shares their excitement and cheers for Red’s creativity and confidence.

To the discerning reader, the underlying analogy becomes evident: much like marginalized communities that have been historically absent from children’s literature, in this story red pandas have lacked representation in this fictionalized “panda” community. So, when a book appears that celebrates their uniqueness, that group wholeheartedly celebrates this long-awaited validation. Kids mostly likely won’t get the subtleties of this message, yet they will undoubtedly enjoy reading about red pandas along with their giant panda friends, for once!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is the cutest! In a silly, colorful, and panda-filled way, this book talks about the importance of representation and feeling included when you see yourself in the media you’re surrounded by. Red panda doesn’t see herself in the books written by the pandas, and decides to take action! A great book to open discussion with a little about reading all sorts of books and asking whose stories are getting told and whose aren’t. Looking forward to sharing this one with my kiddo (when she’ll sit a little more still!). Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For best friends Gee and Red, living in a panda community is fun. When they visit the local library, Red gets upset when there's no book on red pandas. So, she takes matters into her own paws and creates her own red panda story. It's a fun and exciting picture book for all ages. I loved learning new things, especially about pandas. They're so cute! I just love the watercolor and colored pencil art styles throughout, it's gorgeous. I recommend this one.

What an adorable read about a red panda that just wants to read a book that shows pandas like herself. Gee was a great friend that kept encouraging Red to write a story even when they didn't believe in themselves. I wish we could have read a full verson of Red's finished story.

This is perfect for anyone who feels underrepresented in books. While I appreciate that many publishers have actively made steps to be more inclusive, it is still a problem many children accross many backgrounds face.

Red and Gee are pals and enjoy doing panda things together, but when they read a book about pandas they make a terrible discovery. There are no red pandas in the book!

So Red sets out to write her own book, where she and other red pandas can see themselves. It is hard and frustrating and it doesn't seem good enough. But when others discover her abandoned manuscript, they clamor for it to be finished. Maybe the world is ready for red panda representation after all.

The illustrations capture all of Red's many moods and Gee's friendly support. Everyone needs a pal who will take them out for bamboo bubble tea when they are having a bad day. And if you can also find a friend to illustrate your book for you, bonus!

End pages share red panda facts such as "We hang out in treetops to sunbathe and hide from snow leopards." and "We do a wiggle dance to mark our turf."

This book addresses lack of representation in a kid-friendly way, making it a good title to use in a lesson on how book publishing has tried in recent years to do a better job of including all groups. But for younger readers who love the movie "Turning Red," this will satisfy their red panda cravings in a delightful way.

I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.

I don't think there is a word to describe just how much I LOVE this book.

Red, a red panda, confides in her best friend Gee, a Giant Panda, that she feels sad that all the books in stores are about black and white pandas and none are about her. She starts to write her own red panda book then gets discouraged and throws it away. When some of her red panda friends find the discarded book they celebrate how awesome it is but are sad it is unfinished. Red realizes that people do want to read her book and that there is a need for books about pandas like her out there! She finishes her book and places it in a little free library for all to read!

It is my hope that children may relate to the fact that they don't often see themselves reflected in books. Beyond this, it is a cute story, with neat illustrations. There is a bit of a graphic novel feel, which for young readers who may not be familiar with GNs, may need a bit of preteaching/explaining how speech bubbles and navigating the page works. There are a few funny moments, especially when Red gets really mad, and some expressive text like "WHAT?" written in large letters taking up a large portion of the page, which I think will intrigue readers and encourage expressive reading when reading aloud. The font is a good size and is fairly decodable. There are some pages where the black font is over coloured backgrounds which may make it a bit difficult for some readers, but most would be fine, and most of the pages have black font on white or cream backgrounds.

In my classroom I could see doing an activity where the kids write books about themselves or "kids like me" or maybe even other things that they just can't find books about. I also think there could be lots of great conversations about own voices books and how authors can tell stories and share their own perspectives, like Red was able to do with her book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

Friends Gee, a Giant Panda, and Red, a Red Panda, find the perfect “panda” book to read. Unfortunately, the information was all about “Giant Pandas” with no mention of “Red Panda”. Sad and angry, Red decides to write a book about Red Pandas, but as she begins, she notices all the books are about Giant Pandas. Red assumes that no one cares about Red Pandas and in her discouraged state, she tosses her book in the trash. Since this is a story about the need for everyone to be represented in books and pictures, the book doesn't stay in the trash. Plot does not drag and the theme is timely--we are all pandas (humans) but there are variations.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, an imprint of Sourcebooks Kids, and Netgalley for the digital arc.

Margaret Greanias’ picture book is designed to be read on two levels-superficially and metaphorically. Elementary students will enjoy reading the sweet story of Giant Panda and Red Panda friends trying to figure out why there aren’t any books with Red Pandas in them and Red’s attempt to write a book featuring his species. But underneath the simple story is the very real battle in publishing and librarianship to represent all people in books that are on the shelves

Every person deserves to see themselves in books and, unfortunately, on some bookshelves, all the main characters look very similar but when we look at those around us, it is clear that we are all very different. Older elementary students could be guided to see the deeper meaning and those even older could be challenged to debate and discuss the metaphor. Watercolor/colored pencil/digital illustrations by Melissa Iwai are perfect and augment the text beautifully.