Cleo the Careful Cardinal: Maple Shade Stories #8

By Brian W. Penschow AIA

Can being careful be... too much? A heartwarming, color-splashed journey through creativity, mindfulness, and the beauty of letting go.

Cleo is a cardinal who double-checks every twig and triple-checks every tune. While his friends dash, dance, and dazzle their way through Maple Shade Woods, Cleo prefers order and calm. He's not just cautious-he's careful. So careful, in fact, that even joy sometimes feels like a buzzing backpack of bees.

But when a sudden rainstorm clears and a radiant rainbow stretches across the sky, Cleo's world is thrown into a burst of unexpected color. Paints fly. Brushes flutter. Chaos-and possibility-swirl in the air. His friends leap into action, turning the moment into celebration. Can Cleo quiet the buzzing, breathe through the mess, and find his own rhythm within the storm of spontaneity?

Cleo the Careful Cardinal is a beautifully illustrated, poetically written story that invites readers of all ages to explore:

The value-and limits-of caution

The joy of artistic freedom and expression

Emotional regulation and grounding techniques

The power of community support

And the quiet magic of noticing what's beautiful, even when it's messy

With lyrical text and lush visuals, author-illustrator Brian W. Penschow, AIA delivers a deeply resonant picture book that speaks to thoughtful children, creative spirits, and anyone who's ever needed a moment to pause and just breathe.

Perfect for:

Mindful storytimes at home or school

Gift-giving for anxious or perfectionist kids

Early SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) and art classroom libraries

Families navigating transitions or big feelings

✨ For everyone who pauses to notice the colors between heartbeats.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FNLHFC3T
• ISBN13: 9798299453409
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 34 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 8.5"