Izzy jumped and ran to the Christmas tree in excitement because of the gifts from Santa. She couldn’t wait to see what new toys she got on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, Izzy saw a stuffed animal waiting for her and was disappointed. Her parents introduced the bear as Penny Panda, with whom Izzy could share emotions she didn’t understand. Izzy still didn’t know what to do with the stuffed bear. But it got worse. Her little sister, Maddie, received more gifts, which made Izzy feel bad. Izzy had no one else to speak to, so she went into her room and engaged with Penny Panda. She hoped for a silent listener, but something magical happened, and it changed her life forever. Follow Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility by Nicole Oke for the entire story. A penny for your thoughts, anyone? Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility by Nicole Oke is a sweet and educative story with teachable moments. The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. I loved the picture, and the representations inside the storybook were superb. The play of colors warmed my heart. So kudos to illustrator Richard Hoit for a great job. I also loved the story because it contained wisdom nuggets that help children and adults navigate life. The author showed it is okay to feel bad. However, never bottle up your feelings because this could breed resentment, hate, and jealousy, like in this book. We must also exhaust all parameters before we judge a situation because we might be wrong. Thank you for this wisdom-filled storybook, Nicole.

Jennifer Ibiam

Readers' Favorites Review

Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility, written by Nicole Oke and illustrated by Richard Hoit, is a children's picture book that revolves around a little girl who struggles with a big emotion on Christmas morning. The book begins with an introduction to Izzy and her family, which include her father, mother, and baby sister, Maddie. After opening all her Christmas presents, Izzy is disappointed with the primary gift she received from her parents, a stuffed panda, and also with her perception of present inequity as she detects that Maddie's number of gifts exceeds hers. Back in her bedroom, her stuffed panda named Penny comes to life and tries to work through why Maddie might have more presents in the hope that talking through it might lessen Izzy's anxiety over the situation. Hoit's illustrations breathe life and color into the setting of Izzy, Penny, and their home with a gorgeous, vibrant palette and artwork that elevates the book exponentially. Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility aims to address the internal turmoil younger children feel when questions arise as a result of believing something isn't fair. In Nicole Oke's tale, Izzy questions whether or not her parents love Maddie more which, of course, is not true. Her feelings are validated and the panda she did not really like or want turns out to be good for the situation she finds herself in. As a parent with a child that struggles with general anxiety, I am always keen on books that represent a validation of emotion and alternative ways to reduce it. While I might have chosen different questions that address the actual core of the emotion as opposed to it manifesting itself in the context of presents and correlating objects with love, I can see the value in the overall story. The true star of this book is the illustrations by Richard Hoit who displays an exceptional talent for artwork that both engages readers and keeps them interested in the overall story where the density of text might otherwise lead to fatigue. His skill had my daughter's fingers lingering on the pages, which is a genuine indicator of success in a children's picture book.

Jamie Michele

Readers' Favorite Review

This is a lovely story about a little girl called Izzy, who wakes up on Christmas morning and thinks her baby sister has more presents that she has. Of course, she thinks her parents love her sister more. Izzy's present from Santa is a stuffed panda who speaks. The stuffed panda called Penny Panda helps Izzy to process her feelings and emotions in a very sensible way. I love the idea of the possibilities game. Illustrations are beautiful. Will recommend.

Julie S.

Verified Purchase

The charming illustrations of this book immediately caught my eyes! After reading it, I really appreciated the valuable message it conveys to children too! It helps children understand how to express their feelings when they need to. Izzy's story and the gift of Penny Panda describe this concept in an imaginative, fun way. I'm sure kids will enjoy reading this book! 5 stars!

Reading for Fun

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My husband and I just met the author and purchased her book yesterday. The topic of fairness and how children experience perceived injustice is something I imagine we’ve all had to work through with our children - even our adult children. This message is one that everyone can relate to and allow it to inform our emotional responses to injustices, because we’ve all had similar experiences. Thinking about other possibilities is a great tool to help us navigate life, which often is not fair. Congrats on creating an inspiring message in a charming story with colorful, memorable characters!

Leslie H.

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