The Not-So-Sleepy Little Panda

by David Walker, David Walker (Illustrator)

Overview

A charmingly cozy rhyming picture book about a sweet little panda who has trouble falling asleep.

The moon is too far,
the stars are too high.
Little Panda is scared
by the dark of the sky.
But a marvelous bug,
with a magical light,
is just what she needs
to sleep through the night.

It’s time for bed, but Little Panda wants to stay awake! Her bed is too lumpy, lullabies don’t work, and the dark is a little scary. But with the help of her parents and some twinkling friends, Little Panda might face her fears after all. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll even fall asleep!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665943857
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	02/25/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

David Walker is a bestselling artist and has happily drawn and painted all his life. As the illustrator of more than fifty books, he’s beginning to write them as well, including The Not-So-Brave Little Lion and The Not-So-Sleepy Little Panda. Dave’s days are spent in his Apex, North Carolina, studio in the company of two big snoring dogs, surrounded by paper, pencils, paints, and coffee cups. To learn more, please visit him on Instagram @DavidWalkerStudios.

David Walker is a bestselling artist and has happily drawn and painted all his life. As the illustrator of more than fifty books, he’s beginning to write them as well, including The Not-So-Brave Little Lion and The Not-So-Sleepy Little Panda. Dave’s days are spent in his Apex, North Carolina, studio in the company of two big snoring dogs, surrounded by paper, pencils, paints, and coffee cups. To learn more, please visit him on Instagram @DavidWalkerStudios.

Editorial Reviews

"Walker’s sweet, lyrical rhyming lines are accompanied by the author’s soothing pastel illustrations that feature wild animals who are as cute as stuffed animals and going through their own challenges just like human children. Little Panda’s tale is sure to resonate with kids who like to ask a lot of questions when the lights go out and everyone is tucked in for the night."

February 2025 - Booklist

2024-11-23
A young panda is reluctant to go to sleep until the real reason she’s been putting off bedtime comes to light.

Little Panda plays all day with her friends, but when it’s time to climb into bed, she isn’t ready. She tries to explain to Mama that her friends are still up, so why can’t she stay awake, too? Mama tiptoes with her through the forest to show her that Bird, Monkey, and Little Lion are all fast asleep. Back at home, Little Panda grumbles that her pillow is too thick, and she’s hungry and even a little thirsty, too. Mama and Papa try reading aloud and singing, but nothing helps. Finally, Little Panda admits that she’s afraid of the dark. Mama thoughtfully asks some fireflies if they’ll share their light; they agree, and Mama fills a jar with a few insects—a makeshift night light! Walker’s gentle rhymes (“Come, my sweet girl, day’s turned into night. / So drift off to sleep and close your eyes tight”) will lull readers to sleep even amid Little Panda’s protests. Mama and Papa meet every obstacle with reassurance and patience (though their eyes become increasingly drowsy, and their heads droop down). Smudged greens, blues, and purples wrap readers in a cozy nighttime blanket, getting them ready for sleep, too.

A sweet nighttime offering that will lead to snuggles and yawns.(Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews