Penny Lu Porcupine

Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Look inside
Hardcover
$18.99 US
On sale May 07, 2024 | 32 Pages | 9780593326275

See Additional Formats
A cautious porcupine summons the courage to stand up to threats both real and imagined, reassuring readers that they, too, can face their fears.

Like all porcupines, Penny Lu is nearsighted. So while her incredible sense of smell leads her to all sorts of yummy food, predators can be hard to spot. Thankfully, she has another feature that’s quite amazing—her pointy quills! Even when she’s scared, they make her look powerful. But sometimes Penny Lu doesn’t feel powerful. And she wonders what she’d do if she came face-to-face with the predator she fears the most—THE BEAR! With its rollicking, rhyming text and adorable art, Penny Lu Porcupine will charm readers and reassure them that they too can face their fears.
Katie Gilstrap (KatieGilstrap.com), author of Spacemanatee! and the forthcoming Finnegan Fox, is a wildlife advocate and former veterinary technician from south-central Kansas. Diagnosed with panic disorder and OCD at an early age, Katie strives to celebrate neurodiversity in children’s literature by writing kid-friendly books that inspire confidence, courage, and self-acceptance.

Maribel Lechuga (MaribelLechuga.com) is a freelance illustrator from Madrid, Spain. Her previous picture books include Ten Beautiful Things (by Molly Beth Griffin), What’s in Your Pocket? (by Heather L. Montgomery), and Seaside Stroll (by Charles Trevino). She loves nature, animal watching, hiking, and a good conversation.

About

A cautious porcupine summons the courage to stand up to threats both real and imagined, reassuring readers that they, too, can face their fears.

Like all porcupines, Penny Lu is nearsighted. So while her incredible sense of smell leads her to all sorts of yummy food, predators can be hard to spot. Thankfully, she has another feature that’s quite amazing—her pointy quills! Even when she’s scared, they make her look powerful. But sometimes Penny Lu doesn’t feel powerful. And she wonders what she’d do if she came face-to-face with the predator she fears the most—THE BEAR! With its rollicking, rhyming text and adorable art, Penny Lu Porcupine will charm readers and reassure them that they too can face their fears.

Author

Katie Gilstrap (KatieGilstrap.com), author of Spacemanatee! and the forthcoming Finnegan Fox, is a wildlife advocate and former veterinary technician from south-central Kansas. Diagnosed with panic disorder and OCD at an early age, Katie strives to celebrate neurodiversity in children’s literature by writing kid-friendly books that inspire confidence, courage, and self-acceptance.

Maribel Lechuga (MaribelLechuga.com) is a freelance illustrator from Madrid, Spain. Her previous picture books include Ten Beautiful Things (by Molly Beth Griffin), What’s in Your Pocket? (by Heather L. Montgomery), and Seaside Stroll (by Charles Trevino). She loves nature, animal watching, hiking, and a good conversation.

Three Penguin Random House Authors Win Pulitzer Prizes

On Monday, May 5, three Penguin Random House authors were honored with a Pulitzer Prize. Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are the most prestigious awards in American letters. To date, PRH has 143 Pulitzer Prize winners, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Josh Steinbeck, Ron Chernow, Anne Applebaum, Colson Whitehead, and many more. Take a look at our 2025 Pulitzer Prize

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

Read more