Panda Book Awards

Poor Mouse! A bear has settled in his favorite chair, and that chair just isn't big enough for two. Mouse tries all kinds of tactics to move pesky Bear, but nothing works. Once Mouse has gone, Bear gets up and walks home. But what's that? Is that a mouse...

A teen at boarding school grapples with life, love, and rugby in a heartbreakingly funny novel. Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He's living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with...

NOW A NETFLIX SERIES! Dive into the first book of this frightfully fun series and join the ghost-hunting gang as they defend our world from the most fearsome phantoms! A sinister Problem has occurred in London: all nature of ghosts, haunts, spirits,...

After inheriting a grieving fox spirit, a Chinese American boy must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother's death in Jesse Q. Sutanto's magical, action-packed middle grade fantasy, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit. Theo Tan doesn't...

With war looming on the horizon and winter setting in, can two children escape North Korea on their own? WINNER OF THE FREEMAN BOOK AWARD! North Korea. December, 1950. Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without...

A funny and creative look at how to turn a problem into a solution. Max is a big dog who lives with Izzy, a medium-sized girl, who has big ideas. Izzy can build anything--a birdhouse, a wooden swing, a tent, and even a catapult that really works. So when...

Perfect for readers of Song for a Whale and Counting by 7s, a neurodivergent girl campaigns for a memorial when she learns that her small Scottish town used to burn witches simply because they were different. "A must-read for students and adults alike."...

The haunting and poignant story of a how a young Japanese girl's understanding of the historic and tragic bombing of Hiroshima is transformed by a memorial lantern-floating ceremony. Twelve-year-old Nozomi lives in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. She...

One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian. On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her...

A #1 New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the Caldecott Medal about the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued...

Ann Sei Lin's enchanting and action-packed debut, first in a series, will sweep readers away to an aerial world of magic, danger and political intrigue. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim, Kalynn Bayron and the films of Studio Ghibli. Kurara has never...

A fairy tale for any age, Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart. Winner of the Eisner Award for Best Publication for TeensWinner of the Harvey Award for Best Children or Young Adult Book Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:...

A multicultural teen struggles to fit into her elite prep school, her diverse Queens neighborhood, and even her own home. A hilarious, poignant, and powerful YA novel from the award-winning author of Re Jane. "Simply brilliant!" --David Yoon, New York...

This middle grade mystery adventure, told in a unique format including diary entries, maps and photos, takes readers along on the harrowing journeys of two twelve-year-old siblings, separated just before the Nazi siege of their city and each desperate to...

A 2023 White Raven selection. A brilliant onomatopoeic text accompanies the iconic illustrations of Anna Walker in this hilarious and utterly adorable frog adventure. How will Frog escape the swoops, snips, and snaps of all sorts of animals in the forest...

A hide-and-seek picture book from New York Times award-winning author Leo Timmers, about three silly knights and a clever dragon in disguise. The king can't sleep for fear of the dragon, so he sends his three knights outside to find it. With only one...

In this riveting debut, a boy struggling with OCD is uniquely qualified to solve a kidnapping.Lisa Thompson's debut novel is a page-turning mystery with an emotionally-driven, complex character study at its core -- like Rear Window meets The Curious...

From Newbery Honor author Ann M. Martin, who wrote the Baby-sitters Club series, comes a New York Times-bestselling middle grade novel about a girl, her dog, and the trials of growing up in a complicated and often scary world. Rose Howard is obsessed...

In this hilarious and clever "how-to," a little girl and a know-it-all narrator are thwarted by a cat who refuses to take a bath. The perfect read-aloud for fans of Snappsy the Alligator and Interrupting Chicken. Step one: fill the bathStep two: put the...

A "witty thriller" (The New York Times) for middle-grade readers about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world--and how the painting by Leonardo da Vinci should never have...

The suspenseful tale of two courageous kids and one inquisitive scientist who teamed up to stop an epidemic. "A delightful combination of race-against-the-clock medical mystery and outwit-the-bad-guys adventure." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Eel has...

An award-winning, "unforgettable" novel for fans of Ibi Zoboi and Erika L. Sánchez (SLJ, starred review) about two sisters when the line between family and foe is blurred. Sisters Cheta and Zam couldn't be more different. Cheta, sharp-tongued and...

Gene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress's fifth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. His graphic novel...

In a YA thriller that is Crazy Rich Asians meets One of Us is Lying, students at an elite prep school are forced to confront their secrets when their ex-best friend turns up dead. Nancy Luo is shocked when her former best friend, Jamie Ruan, top-ranked...

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Two intrepid queer girls of color embark on a legendary treasure...

MOONGATES DOTTED THE LANDSCAPE OF OLD CHINA. Ancient Chinese architects had sculpted stone piled on sculpted stone to form round doorways, with the spiritual symbolism of the full moon. To step through one of these doorways was to step into a world of...

Reminiscent of Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow's Mommy's Khimar, this beautifully woven tale about the bonds of love, culture, and memory follows a young girl learning about her family history through her grandmother's katha chest. Asiya loves to visit Nanu's...

A Kirkus Reviews "Best Books of the 21st Century" PickWinner of the 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder AwardA July/August 2021 Kids' Indie Next PickA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionFrom renowned Japanese children's author Sachiko Kashiwaba, Temple...

Art and family transcend differences in language and culture in this sensitively told, exquisitely illustrated story of a child starting a new school. When Shu Lin starts at her new school, she wears yellow rain boots and a pink coat. At recess, she...

Let boys cry! This picture book imagines a world in which boys are encouraged to express their full range of emotions. It's Levi's first day at a new school, and he's scared. His father tries to comfort Levi by telling him "Big boys don't cry." Though...

"Aven is a perky, hilarious, and inspiring protagonist whose attitude and humor will linger even after the last page has turned." --School Library Journal (Starred review) Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling...

The Mighty Odds is first in a fun series about a diverse crew of middle school kids who develop very limited superhero powers after a strange accident and manage to become unlikely friends on the adventure of a lifetime. From the renowned...

Best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces this fantasy adventure by New York Times best-selling author, Roshani Chokshi, inspired by the great epics she grew up on.Named one of 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Time magazine! Twelve-year-old Aru...

In this action-adventure fantasy, young Prince Sing must overcome monstrous obstacles to help his clan return to their homeland.The Wong Clan must leave their ruined homeland for a better life in the mythical Old Land, but to get there they must follow...

Dan Gemeinhart brings his signature blend of action, heart, and beautiful writing to a tale of misfits struggling to survive.Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys -- an ancient, crumbling fortress of...

The amazing New York Times bestseller about what you can do when life gives you a second chance.Chase's memory just went out the window.Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember...

Stargazing is a heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel in the spirit of Frizzy and Mexikid, from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Jen Wang. Moon is everything Christine isn't. She's confident, impulsive, artistic . . . and though they both...

Derek Fallon lands his dream job as a professional video gamer testing out new games in Book 5 in the popular My Life series! Derek Fallon gets the chance of a lifetime--to participate in a gaming company focus group and to test out a new video game...

A heartwarming and hilarious story about a girl and her dog, and of kindness, friendship, hurdles, tunnels, see-saws, and--most importantly--bringing out the best in yourself and others. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Annie Shearer lives in the...

***ALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature honor*** Nina loves visiting her two faraway grandmas--one in Malaysia and one in England. Spot the similarities and differences between their homes in this cozy and beautifully illustrated picture book!...