- Published: 2 December 2025
- ISBN: 9780593700334
- Imprint: Putnam
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 224
- RRP: $21.00
Penny Draws a Team Sport
- Published: 2 December 2025
- ISBN: 9780593700334
- Imprint: Putnam
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 224
- RRP: $21.00
Praise for Penny Draws a Best Friend:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Awards Selection
A Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Selection
“Uses humor and relatability to address big topics like mental health and anxiety in an approachable and tween-friendly way . . . Perfect for fans of graphic novels like Smile, Click, and the Dork Diaries series.” —Brightly
“Shepard’s light touch and sketchbook-style b&w doodles make for an engaging read that candidly portrays the effect of destabilizing changes on one child experiencing anxiety.” —Publishers Weekly
“Imbued with humor, colorful characters, and the perilous dilemmas of childhood . . . Shepard carefully and successfully walks a tightrope in her treatment of Penny’s worries by validating her feelings while suggesting that they should not be the only thing that guide her actions and choices. The epistolic format and the quirky, lovable main character will appeal to fans of Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries and Svetlana Chmakova’s Brave.” —The Bureau of the Center for Children's Books
“A bright and emotionally accessible story full of wit and warmth.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Readers will likely relate to [Penny's] concerns . . . This new series comes straight from the heart.” —Booklist
“A great new series to help new middle graders figure out and process their new world.” —Book Riot
Praise for Penny Draws a School Play:
“Readers will feel seen and validated . . . A helpful story about a young anxiety sufferer navigating the unexpected.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Penny Draws a Secret Adventure:
“Humor and genuine positivity along with an honest portrayal of how anxiety can affect young people. . . . A sympathetic and amusing account of a young anxiety sufferer navigating life changes.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Penny Draws a Best Friend:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Awards Selection
A Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Selection
“Uses humor and relatability to address big topics like mental health and anxiety in an approachable and tween-friendly way . . . Perfect for fans of graphic novels like Smile, Click, and the Dork Diaries series.” —Brightly
“Shepard’s light touch and sketchbook-style b&w doodles make for an engaging read that candidly portrays the effect of destabilizing changes on one child experiencing anxiety.” —Publishers Weekly
“Imbued with humor, colorful characters, and the perilous dilemmas of childhood . . . Shepard carefully and successfully walks a tightrope in her treatment of Penny’s worries by validating her feelings while suggesting that they should not be the only thing that guide her actions and choices. The epistolic format and the quirky, lovable main character will appeal to fans of Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries and Svetlana Chmakova’s Brave.” —The Bureau of the Center for Children's Books
“A bright and emotionally accessible story full of wit and warmth.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Readers will likely relate to [Penny's] concerns . . . This new series comes straight from the heart.” —Booklist
“A great new series to help new middle graders figure out and process their new world.” —Book Riot
Praise for Penny Draws a School Play:
“Readers will feel seen and validated . . . A helpful story about a young anxiety sufferer navigating the unexpected.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Penny Draws a Secret Adventure:
“Humor and genuine positivity along with an honest portrayal of how anxiety can affect young people. . . . A sympathetic and amusing account of a young anxiety sufferer navigating life changes.” —Kirkus Reviews