“… an amusing and creative take on bodily autonomy.”
– Kirkus Reviews
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This picture book is inspired in part by my sister’s 65-pound pup, Maddie, who thought she was a lap dog. (But, “WHOA BOXER!” would have been a confusing title. LOL)
This tale is crafted to bolster personal boundary and body-autonomy concepts through laughter and smiles.
FROM THE JACKET: “PANDA can’t help but get excited when he sees someone. So excited, he just might stick his cold, wet nose right in their face! Luckily, Panda is a good learner and has a friend to help him figure out how close is too close, all without dampening his enthusiasm. Way to go, Panda!”
WHOA PANDA!
Nancy Paulsen Books
August 2025
Picture Book
3-7 years; Grade level: preschool-2
32 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593324781
ISBN-13 : 978-0593324783
English
PRAISE
“Using minimal text and peppy colored pencil and digital art set against colorful, uncluttered backgrounds, Jennings offers an amusing and creative take on bodily autonomy. . . . Compared with similar titles where the protagonist figures everything out by book’s end, this one takes a refreshingly realistic approach. A child-friendly guide to respecting personal space.” —Kirkus Reviews
“When readers first meet round, squat Little Panda, the character all but rushes the book’s fourth wall, getting ‘way too close.’ . . . The narrator’s gentle attempts to curb ‘Whoa Panda!’ moments by setting boundaries at first overwhelm the excitable protagonist. Yet with encouragement and praise, Panda seems to grasp that a smile serves as a mighty fine icebreaker, and that ‘Friends will let you know it’s okay to be touched.’ Through Panda’s highly relatable missteps, this reassuring book offers validation while demonstrating that friendship isn’t about perfection—sometimes it’s just about asking whether someone might prefer a hug or a high five.” —Publishers Weekly
“Balances an appreciation for Panda’s intentions with gentle reminders that help this extrovert recognize and respect such boundaries as personal space. Even when Panda makes a mistake and feels ashamed, the narrator includes encouragement to try again. . . . Language that is clear and instructive for children who are learning about setting personal boundaries and for the adults in their lives who are helping them learn this important skill. The illustrations . . . parallel the lightness in the narrator’s tone, which creates a safe and inviting space to learn with sweet Panda. The thoughtful tone and illustrations will easily engage readers on how to set and respect personal boundaries through a kind and playful protagonist. A book that children will clamor for, this is ideal for etiquette shelves, SEL collections, or any lesson to help teach burgeoning social skills.” —School Library Journal
