Nourishing the inner child with storytelling
The world is multi-faceted and interconnected.
paññā panya can help children learn about the world through:
1. Story telling
The “Let’s Make A Cake!” (LMAC) picture book helps children 6-9 years old learn about:
- Exploring and discovering
- Sharing, friendship, and helping each other
- Finding what works and what does not
- Celebrating and taking breaks
The book features a vole who wants to eat something else besides vegetables. Can he find it? Join the vole and his many animal and human friends on this journey.
2. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Workshop
Bring science, chemistry, and observations to life with an interactive workshop filled with movement and group performing and coordination. This engaging workshop makes the science of baking come to life in fun ways for elementary school aged children.
3. Lessons plans for SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
paññā panya offers 2 lesson plans for 3rd and 4th graders for:
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
What people are saying about “Let’s Make A Cake!” picture book
“What an absolutely lovely read! Nancy’s ease in storytelling and Xin’s touching illustrations make for a colorful and warm walk through life’s little lessons. A wonderful story to read aloud with your children — gentle guidance on mindfulness, self-care, asking for help, and pride in our personal accomplishments. My 8 year old son and I have enjoyed the book several times and continue to find new quotes and illustrations that capture our attention.
Review from an 8 year old boy: “I had to Google what a vole was! I like how the animals bake together. I like how they are friends. I like how they eat together. Oh! And a dinosaur!””
– Chad E.
“I really love the message in this book. The story has a nice flow where the little vole is curious, explores and learns about friendship and about himself which I believe is great for children. Love the way how the little vole is persistent and finally finds what he was looking for. It also sends a message that all of us have everything we need within ourselves, about asking questions, doing things on our own. “You are the Cake” recipe is the icing on top of the cake. The illustrations are beautiful and compliments the story. A must have in every child’s library.”
– Saru N.
“Let’s Make a Cake is a twee picturebook about a diverse cast of animal & human characters exploring teamwork, friendship, and mindfulness in the process of making a cake. The color palette of the illustrations are soft and pleasing, and the line work is finely done! The story itself brings a novelty to mindfulness in children’s literature by tying it directly to the sensory experience of the act of baking. The book is a bit text heavy, making it an appropriate read-a-loud to school aged children k-2nd grade. All in all, I believe this would be a sweet addition to a children’s library.”
– Kate E.
“I gladly give Let’s Make a Cake 5 stars! It has wonderful important lessons for young ones in the mist of an entertaining story with great illustrations. One of the important lessons was Vole was really interested in learning about what was important to him and did not stop until he found it. He started with the qualities of what he would like to experience and then found a way to make it happen with the help of his friends! He also learned when he got stuck, he could sit quietly by the river to get unstuck! Most importantly he learns he had everything inside himself to make his life more Wonderful! I highly recommend this book for both children and adults.”
– Kathy D., Family Solutions Consulting
“I had my grandson, 10 years old, read the book. The first question was what is a vole? We looked it up and he later said he really liked this as the main character. He thought the illustrations were especially good, he enjoyed the story and thought that younger children would enjoy it as well. He was very keen on the activity pages that came with the books. Later in the day, he glanced at the book sitting on the table, and added that it made him want to ask his Mother to make a cake with him.”
– Pam G.
“The book’s cover, with a mouse climbing a ladder to decorate a cake, caught my eye. Opening the book, I discovered that the mouse was actually a vole and the cake a destination.
On the surface, Let’s Make A Cake, chronicles the vole’s journey through the wonderful world of desserts and all their ingredients. In the end, the role, with the help of a wonderful little girl, discovers their own personal “ingredients” that are necessary to complete any personal quest; curiosity, courage, community, persistence, and most important of all, the joy that accompanies discovery.
The illustrations are amazing, the writing inspiring. I look forward to Ms. Li’s next book.”
– Fran S.
We nourish the inner child with storytelling that bridges into STEM and SEL.
Follow paññā panya!
