Book Review of Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas
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The Children’s Book Review
Written by Nicole Oke
Illustrated by Richard Hoit
Ages 4-10 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Oke Publications | ISBN-13: 979-8-9870396-3-2
What to Expect: Emotions, coping, friendship, pride, performance
Emotions can often feel overwhelming to young children, but recognizing and understanding them is a crucial part of growing up. In this simple, instructive picture book, the emotions become characters, helping readers get to know them alongside the heroine Izzy.
It’s the day of the talent show, and Izzy is feeling very excited. But when she peeks through the stage curtains and sees just how many people are in the crowd, another emotion joins her excitement – fear! Quickly, Izzy calls on Penny Panda to help her understand how she can feel two emotions at once and why. Penny explains that her emotions are like ninjas—they’re there to protect, guide, and help her be the best she can be. With Penny’s help, Izzy understands that her emotions may be sneaky, but she’s the boss, and if she gets to know them, she can benefit from their guidance without letting them take control. Soon, Izzy is ready to dance with her emotion ninjas on her side!
Colorful, imaginative illustrations give the emotion ninjas unique colors and accessories, as well as friendly expressions, helping them seem more relatable to young readers. Izzy’s questions and her happy ending are sure to feel familiar and reassuring, providing a comforting anchor for young readers as they navigate their own emotional journeys. The simple, dialogue-based text is easy to follow and perfect for reading aloud and shared reading.
Penny Panda is a sweet, straightforward story designed to teach young readers about emotional intelligence. Its engaging narrative and relatable characters make it a powerful tool for caregivers and educators, providing a structured and effective way to introduce and discuss complex emotional concepts with young children.
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About the Author
Nicole Oke is an award-winning children’s book author, mother, and member of the wildland firefighting community. She is based in Boise, Idaho, where she works at the National Interagency Fire Center and spends her spare time as a Girl Scout leader, helping to build tomorrow’s leaders.
Nicole is a champion of social-emotional intelligence. As the parent of two girls with big emotions, she understands the importance of teaching children the skills they need to identify, process, and regulate emotions.
Her debut bestselling book, Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility, was the first in a series of books that provide children and parents with the tools to talk about emotions and emotional skills that will last them a lifetime!
For more information, visit https://nicoleokeauthor.com.
About the Illustrator
Based in New Zealand, Richard Hoit has been illustrating children’s books for over twenty years now. Studying art and art history, he has had a passion for drawing and painting all his life.
Over the years he has worked on a wide range of projects from illustration work to posters, blankets and cookie tins. However his career has gone from strength to strength working fulltime on children’s books, magazines, educational publishing and picture books.
Today he continues to illustrate children’s books with different publishers around the globe and has his work published worldwide.
From whimsical to moody and humorous, he can confidently interpret scripts and make them come alive.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas. Learn more about getting a book review …
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