by Joanne Ryder
photos by Dr. Katherine Feng
Ages 4 and up, 32 pages
HarperCollins, 2009
It’s panda-monium when sixteen tiny baby pandas are born at almost the same time! Giant Panda mothers usually give birth to one cub, but when they have twins, they need help from humans to keep both cubs alive. In the panda nursery at the Wolong Nature Reserve in China, twins take turns. While one is breastfed by mom, the other twin is bottle-fed by a human. Easy-to-read text explains these sixteen cubs are lucky. They’re growing up in a protected setting and are cared for by their own mothers and skilled workers. As the cubs grow older, they learn how to climb, play, snooze, and socialize much like human babies. Crisp, full-color close-ups depict the irresistible “cuteness” of the cubby bears as they tussle in snow, romp with friends and interact with caregivers. Ryder explains that some pandas will stay in the reserve to raise their own families. Some will return to the bamboo forest to roam wild and free. Readers will learn that this threatened species now has a better chance for survival, thanks to Wolong’s dedicated staff. The final page offers readers a brief “Fast Facts about Giant Pandas” list. To listen to the author and photograph describe their connection to this special “panda-garten” troupe, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocZlchvJl64.
Book provided by the Orland Park Public Library. –Review by Heidi Bee Roemer
Joanne Ryder has always loved pandas, starting with the very first small panda toy she owned as a child. The fascination with the rare creatures has continued throughout her career as a writer. She is the award-winning author of dozens of picture books which focus on animals and their habitats. Her books encourage readers to imagine themselves as the animals through poetry, fantasy and science. Joanne lives in California with her husband, Laurence Yep, who is also an author. –Interview by Laura Crawford
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by The Children's War blog.
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