Penny Lu Porcupine

by Katie Gilstrap, Maribel Lechuga (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Kimberly Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book about believing in yourself and facing your fears.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute story about bravery and facing your fears. I enjoyed learning more about porcupines, too.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny Lu the porcupine, nearsighted like all of her kind and rather anxious to boot, is keenly conscious of potential predators—especially the BEAR!—as she forages for food in this sweet rhyming picture book from author Katie Gilstrap and illustrator Maribel Lechuga. Each time she imagines she has encountered this fearsome foe she raises her quills to make herself larger, and sings out a brave and defiant song. But when she does finally encounter a bear, after a few false alarms, she is so terrified that she doesn't know what to do, until instinct kicks in...

Published last year (2024), Penny Lu Porcupine is the second picture book I have read from Gilstrap, following upon her Finnegan Fox (also from last year), and the first from Lechuga. Much like the book about Finnegan, it pairs a bouncy, rhythmic text with expressive, cute-as-a-button illustrations. Also like that other book, it offers a gentle, non-judgmental take on childhood fears, inspired—according to author notes in both books—by Gilstrap's own youthful diagnosis of panic disorder and OCD. Recommended to young children who experience anxiety, as well as to anyone who just wants to read a fun story about a porcupine.

[Robin Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the beautiful illustrations on the luxurious glossy paper that felt great to touch.

I didn't know that porcupines are near sighted- like myself!

The story is from the point of view of "Penny Lu" porcupine as she walks around grazing and experiences her surroundings. As she sees large things in the distance, she doesn't see well enough to know if it's a threat or not until she gets really close.

When feeling threatened or fear, the porcupine raises her pointy quills up in the air.
She encounters things like rocks and big tree stumps and finally encounters a bear which she smells his wet fur and sees him moving. Apparently, porcupines can have anxiety? Or maybe performance anxiety. She bravely overcomes her fear and raises her quills high up which scares the bear away.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ( I really liked it)

This is an interesting book because it's a fiction story but also teaches nonfiction facts about porcupines like what they eat, how well they see, and how they scare away predators. Penny Lu has several false alarms that she chuckles about and she freezes up at first when an actual predator comes by. In the author's note, Gilstrap takes about panic attacks and confidence. So while not my favorite book, I can definitely appreciate it!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rhyming present tense book, so a double whammy for me. Penny Lu is a porcupine who must avoid predators like the bear. Some funny jokes were attempted since porcupines are nearsighted. The illustrations were very good, but the porcupine going up to predators and shouting at them didn't resonate with me.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my heart! The sweet little porcupine with bad eyesight seems to be no match for the cougars, coyotes, and a bear, but (spoiler alert) she survives, but NOT because of her quills. She saved herself by being brave. The illustrations are beautiful and full of emotion. Love this one!

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fiction book which could serve as educational for little ones about porcupines. Like other porcupines, Penny Lu has poor eyesight, and when she sees something scary, she raises her quills. Some things are imagined danger, but some are real.

Told in rhyme.

[Diana]

stellar picture book about porcupines and being afraid/brave

[Joshua Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storytime read! This was a solid picture book! Not only did it have nice illustrations but it told a fun and important story about anxiety and believing in yourself

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny Lu Porcupine can't see well, and she knows that using her quills will keep her safe from danger.

Very cute book about being brave.

[bernice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penny girl you gave me such bad anxiety! You gotta watch out- you are worried about rocks when there's a wild cat right behind you...

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be adorable for any storytime!

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

art 10/10!! Such a cute story, I’d love to see more of Penny

[Sabrina Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 2025-2026 K-2 Sunshine State Book. I really liked the rhyming and repetition of this book. It makes the book fun to read out loud, and I think my kindergartners would like it.

[Calisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute message about courage!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! Sunshine state 2025-26