I always get a kick out of Penguin and Panda because they are two friends who care about each other and do everything together -- but they are so different! Getting ready to go camping is stressful when one of you prepares better, and the night can be scary if you don't know what's in the dark. But these two friends have their hilarious adventures and talk out their problems so they can have fun.

I'm not sure if it's the way I viewed this, but the formatting of the text made it painful to read.

I will check out the other books in the series in print, and if the formatting isn't an issue, I will purchase for my library.

The illustrations are charming, and who doesn' t love an unlikely duo?

Thank you for the ARC.

Penguin and Panda have such an engaging dynamic one that will keep the kids engaged for each page turn! The duo explore relatable emotions that we all feel, but especially kids, like indecisiveness, jealousy and fear, which will perhaps inspire a bit of reflection for the readers. Told through soft and vibrant illustrations, these characters will have this book on the nightly reading request list many times!

Brenda Maier’s The Adventures of Penguin and Panda is a lighthearted romp through the sticky, silly world of childhood curiosity, featuring two characters who couldn’t be more different — and that’s exactly what makes them work. Penguin is all energy and chaos, while Panda is the picture of sleepy calm. What follows is a series of delightfully relatable misadventures that many young readers (and adults) will recognize instantly.

The book opens, delightfully, with a hand-drawn map of Happy hills — a whimsical visual touch that immediately pulls readers into their shared world. The color palette, through the novel, feels cheerful without being too loud, and there are lovely details that reward a slower second read — such as the sly expressions or the environmental reactions around them.

There’s a quiet brilliance in how Maier captures the rhythms of friendship: the push-and-pull, the mismatched personalities, and the small, almost invisible compromises that make connection possible. I loved the factual tidbits layered throughout the story

The Adventures of Penguin and Panda succeeds at what it sets out to do: entertain, amuse, and sneak in a lesson about friendship without making it feel like homework. It’s a great read-aloud option, especially for classrooms or bedtime — and ideal for young readers who love the mix of slapstick and heart.