*A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2023*

*An Amazon Best Book of 2023*

Caldecott Honor winner Cindy Derby delivers an endearing picture book about an adorable (and ingenious!) panda bear who must find the grit within to climb–and overcome–a snowy, slippery mountain.

Look! A butterfly! Up, up, and away it flutters, flying high above a large snowy mountain.

But Panda wants to play, and that mountain is clearly in their way. To reach their new friend, Panda will just have to climb it! Unfortunately, it’s very slippery…and very steep…and little Panda keeps tumbling to the bottom. Oh, Panda. Just how will they reach the peak?!

With spare text and dazzling watercolor illustrations, Panda’s journey reminds us that with a bit of moxie—and a lot of perseverance—we, too, can reach the top of our mountain.

★ "Tackling persistence and much more, this wryly empathic story from Derby thoughtfully models an instance of learning to respect autonomy and offer meaningful support." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Melding lovely art with toddlerlike determination, this amalgamation of ice castles and vibrant butterflies soars." —Kirkus Reviews

"Derby.... crafts a relatable tale of ingenuity and perseverance. Her soft-edged, wobbly-lined artwork, rendered in watercolors and gouache, gives the story a warmth despite the snowy landscape, and kids will enjoy seeing the little protagonist come out on top (of the world)." —Booklist

"Reminiscent of a human toddler struggling against the odds, the headstrong cub uses his energy and strong will to accomplish what he set out to do in this charming, effective picture book adventure." —School Library Journal