Pari the Panda Learns About Patience follows a young panda whose frightening escape from a trap teaches her some important lessons in patience. Where did the idea for this story come from?

I wanted to write a series of picture books for children based on The Fruit of The Spirit. I also wanted to use different animal characters that children would be interested in learning about. I already had a beta group of children and took suggestions from them as I developed each story in the series.

What drew you to using a panda as the character who learns this lesson?

I also found it fun to use an animal that began with the same letter as the fruit: P for Panda and Patience.

Why do you think patience can be such a difficult lesson for children to learn?

Many people, young and old, find themselves in a bind because of acting on impulse. Waiting for what we desire while trying to remain in good spirits is tough.

What do you hope readers remember most about Pari long after they finish the story? 

I hope readers will contemplate their actions, recognizing the potential for negative repercussions from hasty choices. I also hope that kids will embrace the “safety first” mentality.

Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads