Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader


In Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader, Oliver hopes he can learn to be a good friend by observing how guinea pig friends Mac and Cheese interact. Snuggling might be OK for guinea pigs, but Oliver’s classmates don’t like him getting in their personal space bubbles. Will Oliver ever stop being a personal space invader? You can order your copy here!


Mac and Cheese is illustrated by the amazing Heather Bell. Look at these character sketches Heather created!





Reviews and Endorsements

“At a time when parents and teachers struggle to teach kids about how close is too close—what is appropriate personal space—here comes Mac and Cheese to gently show the way. Jolene Gutiérrez’s text and Heather Bell’s illustrations provide a light-hearted story that demonstrates how kids live, think, and act.”
—Avi, winner of the Newbery Medal and author of over 75 books


“Adorably illustrated and gently written, Mac and Cheese is a delight.”
—Elana K. Arnold, award-winning author of A Boy Called Bat and What Riley Wore


“Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader is a cute and fun book helping to explain the character’s struggle with understanding human proxemics. Not able to naturally interpret the non-verbal cues of his classmates, his caring teacher and his love for the class animals help him logically understand this slice of human social processing.”
—Craig A. Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div., author of Wired and Connected: Brain-Based Solutions To Ensure Your Child’s Social and Emotional Success.

Get your copy here:


Here's a song that Annie Lynn and I created to go along with this book:  

Watch the book trailer:
My photo
Jolene Gutiérrez
Jolene Gutiérrez grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado, surrounded by animals, plants, and history. Now, she lives with her family and a variety of animals near Denver, where she is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will help others learn and grow in compassion. Her books have been printed in nine countries and eight languages and include the recipient of five starred reviews, Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (co-authored with Minoru Tonai); Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota); winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region, The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian); and Too Much! An Overwhelming Day. Jolene is represented by agent Kaitlyn Sanchez. Find her online at www.jolenegutierrez.com or on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads @writerjolene.

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