Love, Panda

Written by Elaine Su

Illustrated by Charlene Chua

Orchard Books (An imprint of Scholastic)

978-1-5461-7958-0

32 pp.

Ages 4–8

July 2026 

 

Who wouldn't love to cuddle a super-squishy stuffie of a panda? Apparently Baby Lou does, but Panda, who has always been Benny's, is having none of it.

 

After Panda gets left in the baby's room, Baby Lou is smitten. But Panda, distressed by the unfamiliar, from diapers aplenty and the baby sucking on its ear, begins a letter campaign to get his original boy, Benny, to retrieve him. 

Illustration by Charlene Chua from Love, Panda, written by Elaine Su

In letter after letter, delivered by Dump Truck, Panda describes what he has had to endure—the elephant mobile, a lift-the-flap book, annoying parents who are thrilled with the baby's simplest efforts—and begs Benny to come and get him. But, with each new letter, Panda begins to appreciate Baby Lou and even recognize things familiar to his time with Benny. By learning Baby Lou's routines and finding the familiar, Panda finds it's not so bad after all.

Illustration by Charlene Chua from Love, Panda, written by Elaine Su

Elaine Su's bio speaks of her own favourite stuffie which has since been passed down to her own children. There's always one toy, especially a stuffed one, that is fondly remembered as bringing comfort. (Mine was a pink and green stuffed snake named Horace.) But, what happens when a child outgrows it, and another child covets it? In Love, Panda, the stuffie has something to say about that. Without realizing it, Panda's perspective changes. He learns to recognize that different isn't bad and that perseverance can help one transition from the scary and unknown to something unexpected good.

Illustration by Charlene Chua from Love, Panda, written by Elaine Su

Without Charlene Chua's digital art, Panda would never be so adorable and heartwarming. She gives him the textures and expressions of the sweetest of stuffies. His shape and cushiony appearance will remind young readers of Squishmallows toys, but his facial expressions, from his eyes and brows to his mouth, give us the full range of feelings. He's distressed, he's surprised, he's resigned, and he's joyous.

 

I know Panda is a stuffie and his dilemma—being unceremoniously adopted by a new child—will not be a familiar one to most children, but Love, Panda is a lesson in persevering through that which might seem unimaginably challenging. Perhaps, for children, it will attending a new school, accepting a new baby, or welcoming a new teacher when one goes on maternity. For children, different can be overwhelming. But with time and with the clarity that can come with getting thoughts down on paper, they can triumph. Panda did, and he's not even mobile.

Hotel Fantastic

Written and illustrated by Thomas Gibault

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-992-1

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

October 2018

Hotel Fantastic is truly exotic, in its clientele and its amenities. Reception is handled by a three-eyed amorphous blue creature, the bellhop is an octopus and there are underwater rooms for mermaids, rooms for robots to recharge, and sky rooms for those who fly.  Though there are occasional Wanted Posters for the Soror-horribilis with its giant claws, razor-sharp teeth and ugly dress, everyone seems to be enjoying the shopping at the gift shop, the eclectic cuisine of Raymundo and Georgio in the restaurant and the convenience of the gym and swimming pool. But wait! There's more. There's the valet parking, the ballroom and the infirmary for injuries and upgrades. But, will security be able to handle Soror-horribilis when she attacks?

From Hotel Fantastic by Thomas Gibault

Hotel Fantastic is built on and in the imagination of a young boy who (spoiler alert!) has created a new world with his own toys in the dollhouse of his sister. She is the Soror-horribilis depicted in the flyers posted throughout his imagined hotel. She may attack at any moment (but only at the end of the book with "I told you a million times not to put YOUR toys in MY dollhouse") but he revels in the incredible originality of his Hotel Fantastic, creating wonder with his imagination.

From Hotel Fantastic by Thomas Gibault

Montrealer Thomas Gibault's story, in words and artwork, brings the incredible to Hotel Fantastic. It's bigger than the dollhouse it actually encompasses. It's bold and colourful and as creative as the boy's imaginative play. Visit anytime with whomever you chose and indulge in any or all of its luxuries for a stay of fancy. Hotel Fantastic is sure to become a go-to destination for readers and dreamers of all ages, if you can get past Soror-horribilis.