Mei Mei Would Totally Turn Into a Giant Panda Over These 10 Must-Have 'Turning Red' Toys and Merch on ShopDisney

According to my experts, the undisputed favorite toy in the Disney Turning Red collection is the red panda plush, which is available in two different sizes—18 inches and 9.5 inches—both very fluffy and huggable. They also gave high marks to the panda Mei plush pillow, which is similar to Meilin’s pillow in the movie. And since they both collect Disney pins for the lanyards they wear during park visits, they included the limited edition Turning Red cast pin on their list of must-haves.

My personal pick is the book Like Mother, Like Daughter, a shorter version of Meilin’s story told in a fun and easy-to-follow format with beautiful illustrations that match the movie quality. During my days as a pre-K Spanish teacher, I always found that kids connect more readily to stories they’re familiar with. Then, once you have their attention, it’s easier to get your message across, which is especially important given the themes featured in the movie.

Turning Red is Meilin’s coming-of-age story, but the relationship with her mom and the process of finding her own voice are also important components. Like Mother, Like Daughter puts that same story down on paper, creating the perfect opportunity for parents everywhere to read together and open the door to important conversations about growing up and communication in the family.