Red Panda & Moon Bear (Red Panda & Moon Bear #1)

Gr 4-6-Two crime-fighting Latinx siblings star in this series starter that's perfect for readers who like their superhero stories with a heavy dose of humor. Red Panda's hoodie, complete with ears and a tail, gives her "the power of twelve fully grown red pandas," while her brother, Moon Bear, sports a blue hoodie and a gauntlet holding a mysterious magical crystal of unknown power. Between bringing Mauricio's Bakery (and his pastelitos) back from a fold in the space-time continuum and caring for two dubious stray dogs, Red Panda and Moon Bear still have time to teach readers important life lessons—for instance, an encounter with robot aliens leaves the protagonists awed by the "potential and promise" surrounding every kid. The tale is heartwarming and silly, with Spanish interspersed throughout. The bright and cartoonish artwork is just as charming; characters have elongated limbs, and details like a dog wearing an eye patch are reminiscent of Adventure Time's visual humor. VERDICT Offering plenty of fun along with insightful commentary on topics such as environmentalism and the power of storytelling, this graphic novel is a must.-Liz Allen, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Red Panda & Moon Bear is fun, wacky and heartfelt. Everyone can enjoy this adventure, but it will resonate especially with Latinx kids. I look forward to seeing more!" — Duncan Tonatiuh, author of Dear Primo and Separate Is Never Equal

"A delightful book... This book is fantastical in the best kind of way, with cool sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero elements woven throughout 11 chapters. And I love RP and MB's sense of adventure and cleverness. I think that perhaps the highest praise I have for the book is that I read it with my three-year-old, and he did not want to put it down." — Graphic Novel Resources