Whoa Panda!

C.S. Jennings is the illustrator of over two-dozen books for kids, including the TLA Bluebonnet Award nominee, From an Idea to Disney, and the graphic novel series, Pet Shop Racers. Born in Texas, he lives in Austin where he bikes and hikes, exploring the wonders of the hill country.

“Using minimal text and peppy colored pencil and digital art set against colorful, uncluttered backgrounds, Jennings offers an amusing and creative take on bodily autonomy. . . . Compared with similar titles where the protagonist figures everything out by book’s end, this one takes a refreshingly realistic approach. A child-friendly guide to respecting personal space.” —Kirkus Reviews“When readers first meet round, squat Little Panda, the character all but rushes the book’s fourth wall, getting ‘way too close.’ . . . The narrator’s gentle attempts to curb ‘Whoa Panda!’ moments by setting boundaries at first overwhelm the excitable protagonist. Yet with encouragement and praise, Panda seems to grasp that a smile serves as a mighty fine icebreaker, and that ‘Friends will let you know it’s okay to be touched.’ Through Panda’s highly relatable missteps, this reassuring book offers validation while demonstrating that friendship isn’t about perfection—sometimes it’s just about asking whether someone might prefer a hug or a high five.” —Publishers Weekly“Balances an appreciation for Panda’s intentions with gentle reminders that help this extrovert recognize and respect such boundaries as personal space. Even when Panda makes a mistake and feels ashamed, the narrator includes encouragement to try again. . . . Language that is clear and instructive for children who are learning about setting personal boundaries and for the adults in their lives who are helping them learn this important skill. The illustrations . . . parallel the lightness in the narrator’s tone, which creates a safe and inviting space to learn with sweet Panda. The thoughtful tone and illustrations will easily engage readers on how to set and respect personal boundaries through a kind and playful protagonist. A book that children will clamor for, this is ideal for etiquette shelves, SEL collections, or any lesson to help teach burgeoning social skills.” —School Library Journal