Stillwater and Koo Save the World

In this first of a planned four-book series, Zen panda Stillwater and nephew Koo spend a day together, working in small steps to “save the world” after Koo awakens with a zeal to do “something important! Fix all the things that are wrong.” Following breakfast, Stillwater suggests that Koo start by tidying, and the two feed and brush the cat, clear the leaves outside, and feed the pond fish. (“I wonder, do fish swim knowing how very big the vast ocean is?” Koo asks. “That’s a wonderful question,” Stillwater responds.) They next bake and deliver a cake to welcome new neighbors (a human family portrayed with brown skin), take a moment to sit with big feelings, then stop a truck so that a duck family can cross the road safely. Watercolors by Muth (Zen Shorts) provide an intriguing, intimate-feeling peek into the pandas’ household goings-on, while abundant white space and a generous trim size contribute to an atmosphere of tranquility. The two pandas do more than love each other throughout this deliberate read; they show respect for each other, their surroundings, and all living beings, in an effort “to take care of the world and each other.” Ages 4–8. (Feb.)