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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.
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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.
Pari the Panda Learns About Patience: Patience Is a Fruit of the Spirit
Pari the Panda Learns about Patience, by J.M. Ashmore, follows a young panda who rushes from one thing to the next, first swimming too soon after breakfast, then wandering into a trap because she can’t resist the bamboo leaves inside. After a frightening escape, Pari finds a safer part of the forest and begins to understand what patience really means: not just waiting, but slowing down long enough to make wiser choices. The story gently ties that lesson to the Fruit of the Spirit, giving children a concrete way to think about patience through Pari’s mistakes, fear, relief, and growth.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t treat patience like a tidy little rule children should memorize. Pari learns it the hard way, through discomfort and danger, and that makes the message feel more alive. As a parent, I found that useful. Children know what it feels like to want something right now, whether it’s a snack, an adventure, or a shiny mystery across the lake. Pari’s impulsiveness feels recognizable without making her seem “bad,” and I liked that the story gives her room to reflect. The writing is simple and direct, with a clear sense of cause and consequence. I also liked the added questions at the end, because they turn the story into a real conversation about safety, self-control, and learning from a scary moment.
The artwork is bright, soft, and inviting, with lush bamboo forests, stirring scenes, and an expressive little panda whose eyes carry a lot of the emotional weight. There’s a sweetness to the illustrations that balances the more intense parts of the plot, especially the trapping scene. The story takes a surprisingly dramatic turn. That tension gives the book more substance than a simple moral tale. The faith element is present and clear, particularly with the Galatians verse near the end, but the central idea also works on a practical level: pause, think, ask for help, and don’t let curiosity outrun wisdom.
I found Pari the Panda Learns About Patience to be a heartfelt picture book with a sincere moral center and a memorable little heroine. It’s best suited for young children, Sunday school settings, or parents looking for a story that opens up gentle conversations about patience, safety, and making thoughtful choices. I’d recommend it for young children who like animal stories with a little adventure, especially when read with an adult who can talk through Pari’s fear, her decisions, and the relief of finding a safer place to belong.
Pages: 33 | ASIN : B0FTRWHJ5F
