• PARENT REVIEW
• EDUCATOR REVIEW

Wolong Nature Reserve in China, giant pandas are raised and studied by researchers who are helping to ensure the survival of these endangered creatures. Mother pandas often have twins but can only care for one cub at a time, so the workers at the panda nursery care for the twin and swap cubs so both get mom time. Full-page clear color photos (the one of the baby sitting in a green plastic box atop a scale is just precious) of the pandas feeding, playing together, climbing on wooden play equipment, and romping in the snow are nothing short of entrancing.

THEMES: ANIMALS. BEARS.

What's more adorable than a baby panda? How about 16 of them, resting on two big white towels? The cute factor of this nonfiction color photo essay is off the charts. At the Wolong Nature Reserve in China, giant pandas are raised and studied by researchers who are helping to ensure the survival of these endangered creatures. Mother pandas often have twins but can only care for one cub at a time, so the workers at the panda nursery care for the twin and swap cubs so both get mom time. Full-page clear color photos (the one of the baby sitting in a green plastic box atop a scale is just precious) of the pandas feeding, playing together, climbing on wooden play equipment, and romping in the snow are nothing short of entrancing.

A final page of giant panda facts will be appreciated by listeners. Sure, you can read this when talking about bears, endangered animals, or China, but you can also share it as a welcome-back-to-school book when talking about the upcoming year and the activities your preschool or kindergarten kids will be doing in their classrooms. For slightly older children, pair it with Jon J Muth's Zen Shorts to provide the factual side of a giant panda's life versus a talking panda that tells stories. Sandra Markle's How Many Baby Pandas? is another handsome photo essay about the pandas at the Wolong Nature Reserve.

THEMES: ANIMALS. BEARS.