Welcome to Forest City
The Little Panda series follows a curious, deeply feeling little panda, as she navigates life’s challenges and the big emotions that come with them. Each story gives children age-appropriate language for their feelings and tools to work through them.
The world of Little Panda
Every story starts with an ordinary day and a feeling that's hard to put into words.
Curious, big-hearted, and a lover of park day and honey buns. Story by story, she’s learning to listen to her feelings, trust her voice, and ask for help when she needs it.
Little Panda’s best friends and partners in park day, soccer, and everything in between. They remind her that she’s never alone, even when she’s sure she is.
Warm hugs, all-knowing looks, and a reminder that grown-ups have big feelings too.
The books
Book one
It's Friday morning, and Little Panda can't wait to spend the weekend playing with her friends. She waves excitedly when she sees them at school, but when they walk away without waving back, her heart sinks.
Little Panda spends the weekend trying to shove those feelings deep down. But the more she ignores them, the bigger they seem to grow. Not even Mama's famous honey buns are enough to fix it. As she battles her sticky thoughts, Little Panda discovers the power of feeling her emotions, and learns that the bravest thing she can do is share how she really feels.
Also available at Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores
Hardcover 978-1-77944-560-5 · Paperback 978-1-77944-559-9 · eBook 978-1-77944-558-2
Miriam Laundry Publishing, 2025
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Why these stories matter
“A few days after reading Sticky Thoughts with my daughter, she came home from school and was playing quietly. Suddenly she goes: ‘Mom… I think I'm having sticky thoughts.’ She then opened up about a girl who was bullying her at school.”
Parent of an early reader, age 5
Reader reviews
★★★★★
“Oh how this story touched my heart! … I love how Panda's parents make her feel like she is not alone with her sticky thoughts. The ending is perfect and gives closure to all the sticky business! Amanda includes question & discussion ideas as well. I cannot wait to read this lovely story to my pre-k kids!”
Jacob · Verified Amazon review
★★★★★
“The concept of ‘sticky thoughts’ is explained in a way that feels accessible, reassuring, and never overwhelming. … It opens the door for children to talk about their feelings and for adults to listen and engage in a supportive way.”
Linda Murphy · Verified Amazon review
★★★★★
“Very engaging story about a Little Panda with some big worries that every child, and even adults, can relate to. Excellent read for bedtime or in classroom setting as it opens important conversations. Beautifully written with gorgeous illustrations.”
Glenn · Verified Amazon review
For parents & teachers
Try these questions after reading. There are no wrong answers.
Free download
Little Panda, Digger, and Foxie are playing soccer. Print the page and colour them in. It works well at home, in the classroom, or after story time.
PDF · Prints on letter or A4 paper, landscape
Media
Adventures in the Heart of Children’s Book Authors Podcast
About
Author
Amanda is a Canadian children's book author who believes the best stories are the ones we tell from the heart. Inspired by her own journey, she writes books that help young readers understand and navigate challenges and big emotions. Her goal is to make emotional literacy more accessible, joyful, and comforting for young children, and to spark meaningful conversations within families. She's happiest with her loved ones, or with her dog, somewhere in the mountains of Vancouver.
Why I wrote it
“I grew up feeling everything intensely, but like many kids of my generation, I didn’t have language for my emotions or tools to navigate them. As I reconnected with my creativity, the part of me that sang, danced, wrote stories and imagined entire worlds as a child, I felt so much compassion for younger me. I kept wishing she’d had tools to understand her big feelings earlier… and eventually that wish turned into this series.”
Illustrator
Amy grew up in Plymouth, England, and studied fine arts at university. She decided a career as an award-winning fine artist was way too serious, so she became an illustrator instead.