Should I use a pen name?

I recently published a children's book through a traditional publisher. I published it under my own name as it was a 'social issues' book and I needed to establish my platform by making public my degree and professional background.

I am now considering self-publishing a comic pet memoir. Because the tone, language and target audience of this book are so different from the one I've already published, I'm wondering if it's wise to publish under a pen name? If readers of the children's book look for more of my books and find this one, I'm concerned some people might think it's 'unprofessional'.

I wouldn't even think twice about using a pen name except that followers of my pet blog/videos already know me by name, so it could cause confusion if I use a nom de plume.

Any advice?

TIA

Thank you for your reply, Siri. Upon reflection, I think you're probably right. There may be some people who are put off by the transparency between personal and professional, but it's not like I'm writing anything salacious in my memoir. There's no sex, no drug addiction...just comical anecdotes about raising a big puppy as a single woman in New York City. So...I think it's probably *me* who needs to come to grips with putting myself out there (as a person rather than a professional). Other people will probably be fine with it