StoryBeam KidsListening roomPodcast transcripts
Read along with the cast
The Panda Problem
The book by Deborah Underwood
- Ages 3-8
- 8 minutes
- Read aloud
The words below light up as they are spoken.
Listen in the playerPicks up at the same spot in the listening room, words and all.
Saturday Splash - The Panda Problem
Saturday Splash with The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood, a narrator who wants a story and a panda who refuses to have a problem, and the wacky thing Allison would add mid-story.
What the cast said
Welcome back to StoryBeam, the daily podcast where imagination shines bright.
I'm Kat.
I'm Allison.
Happy Saturday Splash!
Yes, it is time for our Saturday Splash, where we jump head first into a brand new weekend adventure.
Today, our StoryBeam is shining a light on a story that goes completely off the rails because the main character refuses to follow the rules.
We are reading The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood.
That Panda does not want to have a problem.
He really doesn't.
The narrator is trying so hard to tell a normal story, but this silly panda just wants to play with a banjo, eat bamboo.
Let's see how wacky things get when the characters take over the book.
Let's get our ears on.
I've got mine.
Ready?
Ready?
Three, two, one, let's read!
Here the cast reads The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood. The book's own words stay with its author and publisher, so that part of the recording is not written out. Press play to hear it.
That has to be one of the silliest stories we've ever read.
The Panda ended up creating a problem for the narrator instead.
Co-host, if you could change the middle of a story right while someone was reading it to you, what wacky thing would you make happen?
I think I would play a banjo where nobody knew I got that.
And I would play something very silly and it would start raining banana peels.
Banana peels.
Oh my goodness.
That would definitely shake up any story.
I love it.
Grown-ups.
If your little rule-breakers loved the fourth-wall-breaking humor today, our StoryBeam suggestion for your weekend reading is The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak.
It is an absolute masterpiece of comedy that forces the grownup reading it to say completely ridiculous things.
Look for it in our show notes.
Send us your favorite book requests.
That's right.
Send us your favorite book requests in the comments or send us an email.
Go make your own rules today.
Yes.
Have a wonderfully creative Saturday everyone.
We will see you tomorrow night for a cozy Sunday Sparkle.
And don't forget.
Keep on reading.
Bye.
A little conversation goes a long way
After the story
Kat's read: the panda created a problem for the narrator instead. Try telling a story where someone will not cooperate.
If you could change the middle of a story right while someone was reading it to you, what wacky thing would you make happen?
Every story needs a problem. What problem would you give the panda?
Who is the narrator of a story, and what happens when a character stops listening to them?