Sewickley's Penguin Bookshop to host local author Jessica Whipple

When do we know it’s “enough”?

That was a question posed by Jessica Whipple.

“With young children, you read a lot of picture books,” said Whipple, a Quaker Valley High School graduate. “As a parent, you try and teach moderation and contentment. I thought, ‘what if there was a universal way to make that conversation kid friendly?’”

She found a way: Whipple wrote a book called, appropriately, “Enough Is…”

It’s 32 pages and releases on April 18. The message is that somewhere between a little and a lot, there is “enough.” It might be hard to spot, but it’s always there, Whipple said.

Courtesy of Nick Gould

Author Jessica Whipple is a Quaker Valley High School graduate who lives in Lancaster.

The book is illustrated by Nicole Wong and published by Tilbury House. Whipple, who now lives in Lancaster, will be at the Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley from noon to 2 p.m. on April 22 to read the book, sign copies preordered from the bookstore’s website and do a question and answer session. There will be limited copies available that day for purchase.

“Enough is…” will also be available anywhere books are sold.

Mary Ferris, manager at Penguin Bookshop, said hosting local authors is important to the Sewickley community and one of many facets of the bookstore.

“The Sewickley community has always supported us,” Ferris said. “They are a community of readers. We knew in order to get a children’s author in our door and have customers come in we needed to schedule a time when children are available. After school, they have a lot of events. Our best bet was choosing a Saturday afternoon when there are also other things going on in Sewickley.”

Hi! For new followers: I have 2 #Picturebooks coming out this year, details in my profile.

ENOUGH IS...
⭐️Signed copies: https://t.co/jkiw0kVp8Y
????Goodreads: https://t.co/Ag46uxvrh2

I THINK I THINK A LOT
⭐️Signed copies: https://t.co/aONLev1H3Q

Also, #poetry via my website! pic.twitter.com/P82SSDqil6

— Jessica Whipple (@Jessicawhippl17) March 9, 2023

Whipple will also do a presentation for second and third-graders at Osborne Elementary while she is in town.

“I love Sewickley,” Whipple said. “I remember going to the Sewickley and Ambridge libraries as a kid.”

She passed a passion for reading to her two children.

“My children also love the library,” she said. “One day we were there, and we had a copy of the book, and a friend’s son asked me if I wrote the book. I was so humbled to talk to him about the book.”

In the book, there are children wearing trendy bear-themed apparel. The protagonist explores the idea of “enough” while learning to find fulfillment with a bear sweater purchased from a thrift store rather than a fancy clothes shop.

Sometimes, enough means that we can share lunch with someone in need, give someone else a turn, or give someone money — that is a strong message, Ferris said.

“When you find enough, it’s easy to share,” said Whipple.

The idea for the book came when Whipple’s children were 3 years old and an infant. From idea to writing to publishing it took more than five years, Whipple said.

“’Wanting’ can be uncomfortable,” she said. “And because of this, having ‘enough,’ when what you want is ‘more,” may be uncomfortable. But my hope is that this book will help kids to see that’s okay, and see the good that can come from it.”

"I Think I Think a Lot" is a book written by Jessica Whipple

She plans to release a second book on Aug. 29 called ”I Think I Think a Lot,” illustrated by Josée Bisaillon and inspired by her experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

“’I Think I Think a Lot’ can be a starting point for discussions about overthinking or obsessive thought and about the many ways individuals see and experience the world,” Whipple said.