Local Author Creates Books That Spark Conversation
The Center Grove author of the Danda the Panda series is at it again with two new releases.
“Danda the Panda: Unexpected Friends” by Terri Roberts-Leonard brings new characters and a new topic for families to talk about.
“I worked with my kindergartner, Jordan,” she says. “She created a giraffe named Jordy and a mouse named Mason. This book is about Jordy and Danda helping Mason Mouse understand that it’s okay to be friends with others that aren’t like you.”
The children’s author has a passion for educating and sharing information regarding family experiences.
Roberts-Leonard is mother to three adopted children and says that while most understand the concept of adoption, many believe the children come home and everyone lives happily ever after. More often than not, the dynamic is much more complex, and those complex issues can be applied to every family.
For example, in “Danda the Panda: Unexpected Friends,” there’s a reoccurring llama character that bothers Mason about being friends with the elephant.
“Mason stands up to him but it didn’t really change the mean character,” Roberts-Leonard says. “Many children’s books end with everything being perfect in the end. In this book, we learn that sometimes you stand up for yourself and the other person (or llama) may not care. You have to stand up for yourself anyway.”
Shifting away from the Danda the Panda series, Roberts-Leonard has also worked with her 10-year-old son, Justin, on a recently released book, “That’s My Thing,” looking at the skills and abilities from person to person.
The illustrations are based on her three children, and the plot is based on a true story.
“Justin was frustrated with basketball last year,” she says. “He didn’t do as well as he wanted, and we learned that sometimes you play something just because it’s fun. We learned that we don’t have to be good at everything. He’s good at soccer and good at school and that’s okay.”
Roberts-Leonard enjoys taking discussions and subjects that she sees her family going through and turning them into an educational but fun book for other families. She regularly attends vendor fairs and reads her books to grade school children.
She also enjoys creating a legacy for her own family.
“I want this to be our family thing, no pun intended,” she says. “I’m big on education and I think writing sparks creativity. It uses different parts of their brains We’re starting from scratch and learning character development and illustration, and I think doing academic things outside of school can be fun and creative.”
It’s a message she wants all families to hear.
“You can do this too,” she says. “I have an 11-year-old working on a book aimed at tweens that will be published in 2026, but the greatest thing about children’s books is that they serve as a catalyst for conversation. If you have a hard time discussing a particular subject, find a book about it. Sometimes it’s easier to talk about tough things through the character’s experiences.”
Follow Roberts-Leonard on Instagram @lovemakesafamilystories and on Facebook @dandathepanda.
The family also has TikTok, YouTube and a family blog that shares information about the books but also deals with day-to-day topics under the J-Crew Squad.
The three books in the Danda the Panda series and “That’s My Thing” are currently available on Amazon.
