The Panda's Child

Two wholly exceptional talents come together to create a story with the resonance of a legend and a passion for the wild world.

In a faraway forest a baby is lost and found, protected by a she-panda. Nine years later another baby, the panda's child, is in great danger, and only a boy and the spirit of the forest can save him.

This magical, powerful story by Jackie Morris, co-creator of The Lost Words, and award-winning illustrator Cathy Fisher, is a book for all ages to treasure, exploring our most vital connection with wild nature.

Winner of UKLA Awards, 2024: Fiction 7-11 Prize 2024 (UK) Long-listed for The Wainwright Prize for Children 2024 Nominated for Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2025

"A panda protects a baby who has been separated from his mother, and several years later that same child rescues the panda’s baby, who has been stolen by a band of men who want to present it to Emperor Alexander. Morris’ powerful reminder to respect the wild is brought to life by Fisher’s gorgeous artwork, which makes the beauty of the natural world leap off the page. Simply stunning."

"A beautifully produced, illustrated short story, with space given to the words as well as the art... A magical, powerful story that explores our most vital connection with wild nature."

"This is a book to be read and relished slowly.. The shape of the story intersperses gorgeous illustrations with minimal text with two pages of poetic prose. I like this rhythm which I noticed because I read it aloud to my eight-year-old granddaughter and we agreed that it contributes to the restful atmosphere and builds slow suspense. Every illustrated page then allows the artist space for big emotions and natural features... I strongly recommend this outstanding book by Otter Barry."

"This large-format hardback would make the ideal gift book for Christmas or a glittering gem to read to groups of children at the end of a long day at school. Inside the gold foil-adorned cover there’s sumptuous artwork with full-colour double-page spreads. With a lyrical verse story, The Panda’s Child is a joy to read to younger children and one that will inspire children to consider and discuss how people and animals can live together."

"A lost baby is nurtured by a panda; nine years later, the boy saves the panda’s baby in turn, helped by the fierce, indomitable spirit of the forest. This handsome, oversized fable for 5+ readers (and listeners) is full of Fisher’s leafy, lush, involving landscapes, and Morris’s characteristic sense of the vital connection between human and animal worlds."

"This is an astonishingly beautiful collaboration between writer Jackie Morris and illustrator Cathy Fisher. .. Together the words and images depict a vital connection between people and wild nature."

"The Panda's Child is an absolute must read... I feel that to be able to truly appreciate the themes of this story and the beauty of the images, I would want to share this text with Key Stage 2 pupils... This text would also lend itself to discussions about morals and rights and wrongs. This will be a much-loved book for years to come and deserves to win a significant number of awards."

"The Panda’s Child is a simple, evocative, beautiful story that will both enthral and excite the reader as they find themselves drawn into its wonder...

Jackie Morris’ text is big, bold, simple, and yet layered with meaning. It allows Cathy Fisher’s delicate illustrations to tell the story yet gives younger readers some words to follow too, an aid to their understanding of the development of the tale.. Stunning."

"This timeless, myth-like chapter picture-book is one to savour whatever your age.. told in Morris’ characteristic lyrical prose and enhanced by the breathtakingly beautiful illustrations which conjure exotic lands, creatures and peoples. This is a powerful manifesto for the vital importance of our wild creatures and the need for inter species respect and care. Read it in Early Years, give it as a gift, and have it in school libraries for children to pore over. A stunning book."

"Tense lines by Morris (The Lost Spells) have a folktale feel... Focused on Asian-cued human characters, wild mammals, and jungle landscapes, naturalistic watercolor portraits by Fisher (The Pond) often have indistinct borders, like images from dreams. In the final chapter, the story turns again as resourcefulness and quick thinking deliver a rousing finale, with the added allure of alliances between the boy and beings whose lives he touches."

“Author Jackie Morris’ lyrical prose leaves room for breathing and understanding. Illustrator Cathy Fisher’s artwork is gorgeous. Her use of color and space draw you in. And her focus on eyes, in particular, provides extra emotion.”

“It's a beautiful story about our connection to nature and one any animal lover will enjoy.”

I was mesmerized by every part of the book, especially the beautiful green foiling on the bamboo that serves as a frame for our main characters... From the moment I saw the cover of The Panda’s Child I was blown away."

Jackie Morris is a bestselling writer and artist. Her almost uncanny ability to draw and paint living landscapes and wildlife began around the age of six when she watched her father draw a lapwing and wanted to learn the same magic. Born in Birmingham, she grew up in Evesham, but has lived for a long time in Wales, in “a small cottage held together by spiders’ webs”. As a writer and illustrator she has many books to her name; of which The Lost Words, in collaboration with Robert Macfarlane, is the best known. For Otter-Barry Books she has written, among others, the three much-loved Mrs Noah books, The Jackie Morris Book of Classic Nursery Rhymes and Something About a Bear.

Cathy Fisher was born in Australia and grew up in Bath, England. Her art combines a deep connection with the natural world with a tender, insightful rendering of human emotion and behaviour. She has collaborated with Nicola Davies on eight books, including Perfect and The Pond, both longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Cathy has lived and worked in the UK, the Seychelles and Australia, and now lives in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

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