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The Fruit of The Spirit
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
to do everything.
One morning when Pari decides to swim right after breakfast and suffers
from a stomach cramp, she decides to lie down to rest on a grassy bank.
But little does she know that her simple choice has just led her into a scary
situation. Pari the Panda is about to learn a hard lesson about the importance
of patience in keeping herself safe.
In this cautionary story for children, a panda bear learns the hard way that
being patient in life will help her avoid potential dangers.
Prickles the Porcupine Learns about Peace
This sweet little children’s book follows Prickles, a grumpy porcupine who just wants some quiet time to nap in his cozy forest den. But his peace is wrecked by Patty, a cheerful puppy who loves to dig and happens to be doing it way too close to Prickles’ home. As the story unfolds, Prickles tries all the wrong things—puffing up his quills, hiding, and even yelling—to make the noise stop. But it isn’t until Patty suggests they talk and work together that Prickles learns a better way: finding a peaceful solution that makes both of them happy.
We’ve all had those moments where we feel irritated or overwhelmed and just want some quiet. The way Prickles reacts—first with frustration, then anger—is pretty true to life, especially for little ones still learning how to manage emotions. I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from showing how his actions didn’t help, and how things only got better when he chose to be kind and helpful. That’s a strong message, simply told, and it landed with warmth.
The writing is straightforward, with lots of repetition, especially of the “whish-swish” sounds—that adds a fun rhythm kids will enjoy. There’s a gentleness to the storytelling that kept me engaged, and the lesson about peace doesn’t come across as preachy. I loved how Patty responded to Prickles’ anger with calm curiosity. That turn from conflict to teamwork was touching. And the way it all wrapped up with Patty happily digging far away and Prickles finally catching some Z’s made me smile.
Prickles the Porcupine Learns about Peace is a feel-good story for kids learning about emotions and how to handle them. It’s especially great for bedtime or quiet reading moments when you want to sneak in a lesson without making it obvious. I’d recommend it for ages 3–7, or for any family working on patience, problem-solving, and being a little more like Patty.
Pages: 37 | ASIN : B0CD1MN33S
