Hello, friends! Today, we’re going to have some fun with a story called The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood, with pictures by Hannah Marks. Are you ready to dive into a world of pandas, problems, and maybe even a little bit of silliness? Let’s go!
Once upon a time, there was a panda living in a lovely bamboo forest. The panda was happy and didn’t think there was any problem at all. But wait! The narrator of the story thought there should be a problem because that’s how stories usually go.
The narrator asked the panda, “Do you have a problem?” The panda replied, “Nope! I have everything I need: a beautiful view, lots of bamboo to eat, and a sunny day. What could be better?”
The narrator tried to find a problem for the panda. “Do you want to go somewhere? Are you afraid of spiders? Do you need a friend?” But the panda just said, “Nope!” to everything.
Then the panda had a funny idea. “What if I played a banjo really badly or sang a silly song?” Suddenly, the narrator realized that maybe the panda was the problem after all!
Things got even sillier when the panda imagined it raining jelly beans and aliens landing in the bamboo forest. How could the narrator tell a story with all these crazy things happening?
The panda and the narrator decided to work together. They spelled out “help” with jelly beans, and an alien spaceship came to the rescue! The spaceship took everyone back to the bamboo forest, where they had a yummy feast of bamboo and jelly beans.
After all the fun and adventure, the panda and the narrator learned that sometimes you don’t need to look for problems. Sometimes, it’s okay to just enjoy the story as it is.
And that’s the end of our story! Remember, stories can be about anything, and sometimes the best stories come from using your imagination.
Before we go, let’s give a big shout-out to some special friends: Mrs. Scher’s class, Henry, Ezekiel, Eloise, Rees from IA, Ohio, Willham, Grayson, Douglas from Fresno, California, Nathan Russell from Ontario, Canada, Ms. Boot T’s fifth-grade class, Mrs. Thornley’s class from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Miss Stender’s class from Ponte Vedra, Florida. Thank you all for joining us!
We hope you enjoyed the story. Until next time, keep imagining and having fun!
Create Your Own Story: Just like the panda and the narrator, you can create your own story! Think of a character, like an animal or a toy, and imagine what kind of adventures they might have. Draw a picture of your character and write a short story about them. What funny or silly things could happen in your story?
Problem-Solving Adventure: Go on a mini-adventure in your home or backyard. Look for “problems” that you can solve, just like the narrator tried to do with the panda. Maybe you can help a toy that’s stuck or find a missing sock. Write down or draw what you did to solve the problem. Remember, sometimes the solution can be as fun as the problem!
Imagination Station: With a friend or family member, take turns telling a story. Start with a simple sentence, like “Once upon a time, there was a magical tree.” Then, let the next person add to the story. Keep going until you have a fun and silly story. Notice how your imagination can take the story in unexpected directions, just like the panda’s adventures!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, I’m Ryan Le God and I’m Craig Tovy. Welcome to Story Time with Ryan Le God and Craig Tovy! Today’s book is *The Panda Problem* by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Hannah Marks.
What problem? The panda! Oh yeah, makes sense now, huh? No? Let’s get started!
*The Panda Problem* by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Hannah Marks. What problem? Once upon a time, there was a panda who lived in a beautiful bamboo grove, but the panda had a big problem.
Nope! Uh, excuse me, I don’t have any problems. Lovely view, lots of bamboo to eat, sunny day—what could be better? This is a story. I’m the narrator, and you are the main character.
The main character? That sounds important! It is, but you need a problem.
Why? So you can solve the problem. That’s how stories work.
You don’t always need to look for problems.
No? Okay, it’s kind of like you looking for problems in all the wrong places. Looking for problems in all the wrong places, checked in the attic and then in the basement, hoping to find a complication, but there wasn’t one. Didn’t think that it would be this hard. Checked in the front and then in the backyard—there was none.
So, just remember that. Yeah, ever like I’m looking for a problem? Sometimes there are none.
So what’s your problem? Do you want to go somewhere? Nope. Are you afraid of spiders? Nope. Do you need a friend? Uh, nope. Do you wish you could fly? Nope. Do you wish you were green? Nope. Is your paw sore? Ooh, let me check—nope.
How am I supposed to tell a story if you don’t have a problem? I don’t know. Looks like you’re the one with the problem, buddy!
Hey, maybe you are the main character, and I am your problem.
What? Ridiculous! You’re right. How could a sweet little panda like me be a problem? Unless I started playing a banjo really badly.
Hey, where did you get that? And what if I hung upside down and sang the Bamboo Burp song?
Bamboo, bamboo burp! You are definitely starting to feel like a problem!
And there you have it! That is what happens when you look for problems—you find one. You’re going to find them.
I think somebody needs to hear the song again. Alright, if you need it, go looking for problems in all the wrong places. Great! And what if it started raining jelly beans? Now there’s a problem for you! How will you explain that?
Next time, I’m going to narrate a book about rocks. Nice, quiet rocks.
And what if a bunch of aliens landed? How could you possibly tell a story about a burping panda and jelly bean rain and aliens?
Aliens? There’s no such thing as—boink! Hello, aliens!
And what if we built a boat and sailed to Antarctica? But the setting for the story is a bamboo grove. There are no penguins in bamboo groves!
Okay, we’ve got a main character—you—and a problem—me. So what happens next? Handle with care!
Well, sometimes the problem gets worse, but that won’t happen now because things can’t get any worse.
Oh, can’t they? What if suddenly there were two pandas?
Gug glug splash! Wow, I’m tired and hungry—very hungry! I think we have a problem finally.
What is it? We’re very hungry, and there’s no bamboo in an area.
Well, that is a problem! How will you solve it? Oh dear! Handle with care!
Wow, aliens in Antarctica raining jelly beans? This has gone to Crazy Town, Ryan! And all because you had to look for a problem. It’s almost like you didn’t get the advice that somebody gave you in a beautiful harmonic format before.
I think you might need a little more advice, Craig.
Oh, are you ready to give it to him? I think so! Check one, check two.
I don’t know; I’m too hungry to think straight. Clippity gorp!
Hey, great idea, alien! Okay, narrator, if you get us home, we will stop making problems and help you tell your panda story. No banjos, no burping, no penguins? Really?
Well, alright! Together, the pandas and aliens came up with a great plan. The pandas and aliens spelled out “help” with jelly beans. The alien ship scooped everyone up in its tractor beam.
Help! Handle with care!
Clip, CL, BL, waoclippy! I find that hard to believe; this is fiction—anything can happen!
And drop them safely back in the bamboo grove, where everyone settled down to a bamboo and jelly bean feast. What a satisfying ending!
I’m really sleepy.
Wake up! We need to help the narrator tell a story. We promised!
That’s okay; let’s try again tomorrow. I’m sleepy too.
Hey, why don’t you tell me a bedtime story? Sure! We are story experts now.
Once upon a time, there was a narrator, but the narrator had a big problem.
Nope! Oh man, it seems like the narrator learned his lesson.
Yeah, not looking for problems anymore. Maybe it’s a trick.
Or there is a problem; he just hasn’t seen it yet.
Because it looks like Ryan and Craig are looking for problems! Looks like somebody needs to hear a certain song again!
That’s right! Check one, check two!
Listen good! Ryan and Craig looking for problems in all the wrong places! Looking for problems, looking for problems!
*The Panda Problem* by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Hannah Marks. What problem?
And now it’s time for shout-outs! Let’s get shouting!
Mrs. Scher’s class, you know who you are! Henry and Ezekiel, Eloise, Rees from IA, Ohio, Willham, Grayson, Douglas, Fresno, California, Nathan Russell, Ontario, Canada, Ms. Boot T, fifth-grade class, Mrs. Thornley’s class, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Miss Stender’s class, Ponte Vedra, Florida, good pronunciation! Thank you! Miss Moran’s class, Gardnerville, Nevada!
[Music]
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This version removes any inappropriate or unclear content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
