Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas is a delightful, energetic journey into the world of feelings, perfect for young readers navigating their emotional landscapes. Nicole Oke’s charming story follows Izzy as she prepares for a talent show, with the adorable and wise Penny Panda guiding her through the whirlwind of emotions she experiences. The friendship between Izzy and Penny Panda highlights how Penny supports Izzy, showing the power of having a good friend to rely on for help with life’s most challenging times. What makes this book unique is the concept of the “Emotion Ninjas,” each representing a different emotion, such as excitement, fear, or joy. This gives children a fun, tangible way to understand and embrace their feelings.
Nicole Oke teaches that emotions don’t have to be overwhelming and that children can control their feelings. This is a powerful and empowering takeaway. The illustrations by Richard Hoit are bright and colorful, adding personality to each little ninja and Penny Panda. Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas is both educational and entertaining, making it an excellent read for children learning to navigate their emotions, and adults will appreciate the gentle, reassuring way Oke handles complex feelings. The story is heartwarming and fun while teaching valuable lessons such as self-acceptance and emotional balance. It’s perfect for bedtime reading or when a child feels stressed, fearful, or overly emotional. This book should be in every preschool and early elementary classroom as it’s an excellent “tool” for those moments when emotions run high.
Carol Thompson
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
Children are often highly sensitive to their feelings but can find it difficult to understand them. Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility is a charming children's picture book by Nicole Oke that aims to help kids to better acclimate to their emotions. Containing some brilliant illustrations by Richard Hoit, the book follows Izzy, a little girl who receives a teddy bear named Penny Panda for Christmas. Suddenly, Izzy gets an unfamiliar feeling all over her body when she sees her little sister Maddie receiving more gifts than her. Izzy wonders if her parents love her sister more than her, and she pours her heart out in front of Penny. To her surprise, Penny responds to her with some valuable advice and plays the Possibility Game to allay Izzy's fears.
Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility is a picture book kids will find a joy to read. Author Nicole Oke finds an ingenious way to help children be in tune with their feelings and emotions through this delightful tale of a young girl and her teddy bear. Richard Hoit's illustrations add color to the pages, making the characters more vibrant and the story immersive. Izzy is a sweet and adorable child you can't help but love, and her interactions with her teddy bear are as entertaining as they are illuminating. This is a short and concise book, and the length ensures that children's attention will not waver. I very much enjoyed it, and recommend it to kids and parents alike.
Pikasho Deka
Readers Favorite Review
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
In Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas by Nicole Oke, a talent show is ready to begin. Izzy is so excited! She will be dancing. She peeks at the crowd and suddenly realizes she is nervous too. Izzy is confused about how she can be feeling both excitement and nervousness. She quickly seeks out her stuffed panda Penny. Penny has Izzy observe her fellow performers, who she discovers are also looking nervous. Then Penny explains that, like ninjas, emotions can be sneaky. Sometimes, you feel multiple emotions at the same time, and sometimes, what you think is one emotion can be hiding another one. Will Izzy be able to control her feelings so she can dance in the show?
Emotional regulation is a necessary skill for kids (and adults) to master. Nicole Oke has used a familiar scenario, performing in front of an audience, to introduce her emotion ninjas. The emotion ninjas are illustrated perfectly by Richard Hoit. Each of them is a different color and embodies their emotion. For example, the nervous ninja has a shield to protect Izzy from what might go wrong. Kids will be able to identify their emotions and why they appear at certain times. The message is clear that emotions aren't good or bad, and we are in control of them, not the other way around. Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas is an outstanding introduction to emotional awareness that will empower kids to control their emotions. I highly recommend this book for preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
Kristine Zimmerman
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
Nicole Oke's Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas follows Izzy, a little girl ready to compete in a large talent contest. Although she is delighted to participate, she becomes nervous when she learns about the large crowd that awaits her. How could she have so many different feelings at the same time? With her amazing buddy Penny Panda by her side, she finds her friends are feeling the same way she is. From that point on, Izzy will discover the various emotion ninjas that exist within her. Beginning with the lively Excitement Ninja and progressing to the protective Nervous Ninja, this little girl will learn to manage her emotions rather than allow them to dominate her. With the help of this endearing picture book, let's learn the significance of each emotion!
In an enjoyable and laid-back manner, Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas guides young readers on a quest to discover their individual feelings. I was amazed at how well Nicole Oke was able to convey such a difficult subject to kids. Since emotions are commonly seen as "good" or "bad," which frequently results in improper management of the "bad" ones, the significance of books like this one is invaluable. To grow up properly, one must embrace all feelings, and this book explains each emotion's function as well as a child's role in managing them. The vivid pictures by Richard Hoit contribute to the enjoyment of reading. Any parent wanting to teach their child the power of emotions should grab this book.
Laura Imaz
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
