Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)

Book Description

"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addie he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration. With graceful art and simple stories that are filled with love and enlightenment, Jon Muth -- and Stillwater the bear -- present three ancient Zen tales that are sure to strike a chord in everyone they touch.

Customer Reviews:

Great for philosophy enthusiasts of any age (and anyone who likes big pandas).......2007-09-22

Zen Shorts is a picture book written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. But it's also a short story collection. And it's also a philosophy book. And it has a giant panda. Oh, and it is a Caldecott Honor book too.

The story starts when siblings Addy, Michael, and Karl meet Stillwater, a large Panda who wanders into their backyard to retrieve his umbrella. I love the opening scenes of the story. Karl, the youngest sibling, is looking out a window and telling Michael he sees a huge bear. Eventually all of the kids go out and say hello to Stillwater. Addy introduces Karl, who is "shy around bears he doesn't know." I find that phrase so enchanting. This kind of charm continues throughout the book.

The next day Addy meets Stillwater for tea. Then Michael and Stillwater hang out. Then Karl goes swimming with Stillwater.

Each outing is accompanied by an appropriate short story. The first is about a man (panda) who gives a gift to a robber. Another is about a man who knows that luck is a many-faceted thing. The final story is about a monk carrying an unnecessary burden. I'll never explain the stories as well as Muth tells them, so you should just read the book.

The illustrations of Stillwater and the children are beautifully rendered watercolors. The coloring is subtle with quite intricate line work for the drawings. The stories between the "real" story are printed on pastel backgrounds and illustrated with silhouettes so that they have a clearly different look from the rest of the book.

When you're finished you should also check out the afterward which explains the underlying philosophy for each story. (Muth has a lot of Buddhist/Taoist influences.)

This is a great book to read with older children because even if they don't get the philosophy, the stories are approachable and they'll get something from it. (Even youngsters will enjoy the pictures.) It's a great introduction to philosophy, a fact that becomes clear after reading the afterward, for "students" of any age. Muth does an admirable job creating a picture book that children and grownups can enjoy together.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!.......2007-09-19

this book has it all, great watercolor paintings (i am a classically trained artist so this is important to me), great story, and meaningfull messages. i read this to my two year old daughter who is a book fanatic and can sit quietly for more than an hour and listen to long stories. for those of you with very small kids who may just be begging to read longer stories hear is some advice 1.don't give up if your child does not sit through the whole book the first time you read it small children, like my daughter, like farmiliar things and sometimes it just takes a few passes for them to reconize and chose a certain story, 2.don't chose to read a book when your child is bubbling over with energy, and 3.with longer stories it can also help to use a lot of inflection and tone to create intrest before your little one starts turning the page. this book is moderate in wording, not super long but not as simple as short verses or ryming stories. this book has a certain eligance to it that reflectes its message. it is just beautiful.

Gentle way to raise issues w/ kids.......2007-09-18

I like to treat my kids with respect and gentleness. Books that help me are a treasure. Jon Muth is a regular source of those kinds of books. Zen Shorts is not overdone or watered down. It is simple and beautiful and useful. It makes great literature more accessible to young folks. It helps parents and kids trying to live a more mindful or aware life.

A review by a five year old.......2007-09-15

My son Tyler says:

"This book is really great. From this book I learned about friendship and kindness, even though I'm already a kind boy. And I learned that good luck and bad luck are all mixed up. Please buy this book for your child. Bye."

Beutiful Zen Moments.......2007-09-13

Finally a children's book that not only entertains but also make the child (at least my son) raise questions and discuss. I picked up the book on a wimp from the return cart in the bookstore and I have enjoyed reading it with my son ever since. We are waiting anxiously for the next Zen book from Jon Muth.

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Average customer rating:

Exciting new spin on Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Sorta Weird
There is hope!
Everyone should have this book
I should like this one, but...

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin Jr.
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805017585

Amazon.com

Fans of Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? will be delighted to see another title in this lilting call and response series. Much like their earlier picture books, Panda Bear features a string of fine feathered (and furry and scaly) friends watching over each other. In this book, however, all the animals are endangered, from a swinging spider monkey to a strutting macaroni penguin (kids will get a kick out of that name!) to a splashing sea lion. Carle's trademark tissue paper collages will be as familiar--and welcome--as the text ("Whooping Crane, Whooping Crane, what do you see?" "I see a black panther strolling by me."); young readers will quickly get the hang of the rhythm and join right in. The book concludes on a hopeful note, with a dreaming child seeing the ten f! eatured animals "all wild and free--/ that's what I see!" Martin includes a note on endangered species that may spark concern and interest in older readers--our hope for these disappearing creatures. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Thirty-five years after their first groundbreaking collaboration, the creators of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? reunite to address the important topic of animal conservation. A Bald Eagle soars, a Spider Monkey swings, a Macaroni Penguin struts, and a Red Wolf sneaks through Bill Martin Jr's rhythmic text and Eric Carle's vibrant images, and all are watched over by our best hope for the future-a dreaming child.

Customer Reviews:

Exciting new spin on Brown Bear, Brown Bear.......2007-10-03

This book follows the same pattern as the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? but with an exciting new spin -- exotic, endangered animals. It also has a delightful surprise ending that makes it perfect for a bedtime story.

-Sherry North, author, Because You Are My Baby

Sorta Weird.......2007-09-11

My 2-year old twins like this book because they like to see the animals, but I think they'd get more out of it if more mainstream animals were used. I think they're a little thrown by animals like "macaroni penguin" - sounds like food to them. The dreaming child part is weird looking too.

I think it's great to use endangered animals, although my kids aren't exactly as concerned about animal endangerment as I am. It's not a bad book or anything, but honestly, if I had read it in a bookstore, I wouldn't have bought it.

There is hope!.......2007-08-19

My son loves Eric Carle books, and this is our most recent addition to his collection. I just caught on to the fact that all of the animals are endangered, but I think it's so cool that one of them isn't anymore! The bald eagle was recently taken off the endangered species list. I think that gives us (and especially kids) hope that more of those animals can come off that list, and maybe even in their lifetime.

Everyone should have this book.......2007-06-16

In a world of highways, malls, highrises, greed and land excavation, it's good to find a book that dares to dream of thick forests, lush jungles and untouched oceans where wonderful creatures can thrive. This is my favorite of all the "bear" books. It's statement is strong and I can't wait until my 16 month old daughter can recognize it.

I should like this one, but..........2007-03-07

I oughta like it, I want to like it, but it just left me flat. More to the point, it left my kids flat. The two stars I gave this were for the illustrations -- they are really cool, as you'd expect with Eric Carle. Normally, you can't go wrong with Bill Martin, but I guess everybody has their bad days. The language doesn't flow as well as the other bear books, and that makes it a little awkward for reading aloud. We have Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, and both are big favorites with the under-3 set around our house. Panda Bear just doesn't make the grade.

The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal

Average customer rating:

Good background on an endangered species
What a story -- and every word true!
A surprising adventure
------Amazing adventure story------
THE LADY AND THE PANDA

The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal
Vicki Croke
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375759700
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Book Description

Here is the astonishing true story of Ruth Harkness, the Manhattan bohemian socialite who, against all but impossible odds, trekked to Tibet in 1936 to capture the most mysterious animal of the day: a bear that had for countless centuries lived in secret in the labyrinth of lonely cold mountains. In The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke gives us the remarkable account of Ruth Harkness and her extraordinary journey, and restores Harkness to her rightful place along with Sacajawea, Nellie Bly, and Amelia Earhart as one of the great woman adventurers of all time.

Ruth was the toast of 1930s New York, a dress designer newly married to a wealthy adventurer, Bill Harkness. Just weeks after their wedding, however, Bill decamped for China in hopes of becoming the first Westerner to capture a giant panda–an expedition on which many had embarked and failed miserably. Bill was also to fail in his quest, dying horribly alone in China and leaving his widow heartbroken and adrift. And so Ruth made the fateful decision to adopt her husband’s dream as her own and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.

It was not easy. Indeed, everything was against Ruth Harkness. In decadent Shanghai, the exclusive fraternity of white male explorers patronized her, scorned her, and joked about her softness, her lack of experience and money. But Ruth ignored them, organizing, outfitting, and leading a bare-bones campaign into the majestic but treacherous hinterlands where China borders Tibet. As her partner she chose Quentin Young, a twenty-two-year-old Chinese explorer as unconventional as she was, who would join her in a romance as torrid as it was taboo.

Traveling across some of the toughest terrain in the world–nearly impenetrable bamboo forests, slick and perilous mountain slopes, and boulder-strewn passages–the team raced against a traitorous rival, and was constantly threatened by hordes of bandits and hostile natives. The voyage took months to complete and cost Ruth everything she had. But when, almost miraculously, she returned from her journey with a baby panda named Su Lin in her arms, the story became an international sensation and made the front pages of newspapers around the world. No animal in history had gotten such attention. And Ruth Harkness became a hero.

Drawing extensively on American and Chinese sources, including diaries, scores of interviews, and previously unseen intimate letters from Ruth Harkness, Vicki Constantine Croke has fashioned a captivating and richly textured narrative about a woman ahead of her time. Part Myrna Loy, part Jane Goodall, by turns wisecracking and poetic, practical and spiritual, Ruth Harkness is a trailblazing figure. And her story makes for an unforgettable, deeply moving adventure.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Good background on an endangered species.......2007-08-01

A lot of good research on pandas, wealthy adventurers of 1930s and NY's Cafe Society. It was a good story, although it was hard to identify with the spoiled Lady. She loved China, but only as seen from the backs of the coolies carrying her. It has a lot of good information and is a worthwhile read. The Lady's life goes downhill rapidly after the experience with the pandas.

What a story -- and every word true!.......2007-05-28

I bought this book as a gift for my mother. She loved it, and gave it back to me to read. I let it lie for a couple of months, then picked it up one day and started reading -- and, to my surprise, could hardly put it down! What Ruth Harkness accomplished was amazing, given her background and the difficult times (1930s). I learned a lot about China of the times and did not realize the extent of its war with Japan in those years. With that backdrop, it was nothing short of a miracle that Harkness was able to bring even one panda from China to the U.S., much less two. The hardships she endured along the way made me truly wonder why she put up with them when she could have had a much "cushier" life staying home in New York City. The author has woven a truly fascinating tale -- all the more amazing that it all really happened. I believe anyone would find this a great read.

A surprising adventure .......2007-04-14

Ruth Harkness became famous in 1936 for undertaking an exploration into the Chinese wilderness and bringing back the first live Panda. Her story is amazing if only for the fact that she was a woman with no skills and no experience in the outdoors never mind that she did it in a country where the terrain, culture, language and politics were completely foreign to her. Luckily she had some great supporters but she also made some bold choices and took a lot of risk to accomplish her goal.
The author does a fine job of bringing into focus the people and politics of the time along with insight into China, Pandas, zoos and natural history museums. I will not think of any of them the same way again.
If you tend to think that non-fiction is dry and boring this book may change your mind. A very good read. The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal

------Amazing adventure story------.......2006-08-12

Although, a little slow to start, this book took off and became a fascinating read. It's the true story of Ruth Harkness, a sophisticated New York dress designer. Ruth's husband, Bill was from a wealthy family which enabled him to live the life of an adventurer. His desire was to bring a giant panda back from China. He ventured out early in their marriage and headed for China. Unfortunately, Bill became ill on his trip and died in China. This story is how Ruth adopted Bill's dream and had her own expeditions to China in search of the illusive panda.

When Ruth took on her on first adventure, she initially received very little support from the big game hunters of that time period. Many of those men had been friends of her husband, but it was unheard of for a woman to make such a difficult journey. Of course, Ruth persevered and came back with a Su Lin, a baby panda. Ruth Harness was a smart and fascinating woman! The love and care that she gave Su Lin is what kept the panda alive.

The search for the pandas was in many ways horrible because they were difficult to locate and capture. It wasn`t uncommon for a hunter to just shoot one and bring back it's hide for a natural history museum. The habits and life of the panda were unknown and many of those beautiful animals died shortly after they were captured. This was due to the fact that the conditions with which they were kept and the food they were given to eat wasn't acceptable to their bodies. Also, the competition to bring a panda out of China was so great, that many of the "so-called" experts were just hunters who wanted fame and fortune and had no concern at all for the wildlife that they sought. Unfortunately, many pandas died in their cages before ever leaving China.

Besides the basic story, the author gives us some history of China, its people and terrain. On many levels, this is an unforgettable story.

THE LADY AND THE PANDA.......2006-03-09

Knowing the author (Vickie Croke) made this all the more special for me. The book is easy to read, her research is thorough, and the true life drama is made so REAL. It is hard to put it down and get back to work!

Panda Cam: A Nation Watches Tai Shan the Panda Cub Grow

Average customer rating:

An amazing photo book
Great photos
Panda Cam: A Nation Watches Tai Shan the Panda Cub Grow
superb!

Panda Cam: A Nation Watches Tai Shan the Panda Cub Grow
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ)
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743299884

Book Description

What's black and white and cute all over? Tai Shan, the panda cub born at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, whose first months of life have attracted millions of rapt visitors to the Zoo website's panda cam!

Panda Cam tracks the increasingly ridiculous cuteness of Tai Shan, the National Zoo's baby panda, over his first seven months as shown through the Zoo website's "panda cam" -- a camera continually trained on the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat to capture his every move. With an introduction by Susan Lumpkin, director of communications of Friends of the National Zoo, providing an overview of Tai Shan's life so far, these adorable color photos with corresponding captions feature Tai Shan's cutest moments -- snuggling with his mom, taking his first steps, lounging in his beloved tub, munching on bamboo, climbing trees, and frolicking in the snow.

Given the media frenzy that has surrounded every move of the cub's young life, Panda Cam is sure to cause panda-monium among the millions of fans of this panda cub superstar.

Customer Reviews:

An amazing photo book.......2007-01-10

If you are looking for cute pictures of Tain Shan's first months, here you find them. Simply the cutest pictures ever!

Great photos.......2006-08-21

This book is a good collection of photos of the first year of the new panda cub at the Washington Zoo. It is especially useful for those interested in pandas who have not seen them and want to get a sense of the behaviors and expressions of a young panda cub.

Panda Cam: A Nation Watches Tai Shan the Panda Cub Grow.......2006-08-14

This is a wonderful book for those people to get to see the first seven months of Tai Shan's life as it was actually recorded on the National Zoo Panda Cam. Tai Shan, whose name means "peaceful mountain" in Chinese is a must see attraction for people when they come to Washington

superb!.......2006-07-06

This is definitely the book for those of us who spent the last year staring at "0026 HOLD" on our screens and watching Tai Shan and Mei Xiang but I am sure adults and children who like pandas will also love it. Like many people, I spent several hours every day watching Panda Cam from the first weeks when Mei Xiang cradled Tai Shan 24/7, to his early morning forays in Exhibit 3 last fall, to his adventures in the great outdoors and the surprise discovery that panda cubs routinely climb trees and nap in them for hours at a time.

One of my favorite Panda Cam moments came late one night in mid-January when Tai Shan slipped headfirst between his mother and one of the walls of the dry pond in Exhibit 2 and then couldn't get back up -- all you saw were his little back feet and legs waving in the air. After a few minutes of this Mei Xiang obligingly moved over so he could free himself.

Back to the book: the photographs are wonderful and there are many here that have never appeared at the website (nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/). The book is arranged with a photograph on the left accompanied by, in most cases, sections of diary entries from the past year. I really enjoyed reading these again but I do wish they had included a date with each entry so you have an idea of how old Tai Shan is in each picture. I also liked that they included information on the web campaign to name the baby bear "Butterstick" and to promote "Stickmas" to celebrate his birthday every year but I was disappointed they didn't attribute this to Wonkette where it originated. And I wished they had included a picture of Tai Shan just after he was born, back when he was still in his "Butterstick" phase.

One really cool thing about the book is that there is a small photograph of Tai Shan on the bottom corner of each right-hand page so you can use it as a "flipbook" -- if you hold the book so that you flip very fast through the pages back to front, you will see a little animated Tai Shan doing somersaults!

PS: Mei Xiang and Tai Shan are on the cover of the July 2006 "National Geographic" which features an article about them and the pandas at the Wolong Nature Reserve's Giant Panda Research Center in Chengdu China. (rissa@panix.com)

Average customer rating:

awsome book
Excellent Panda Resource Book
Status of Wildlife Conservation fieldwork in China
The Ideal Panda Book for Library or Coffee Table

Smithsonian Book of Giant Pandas
Susan Lumpkin , and John Seidensticker
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institution Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1588340384

Book Description

The recent arrival of the two giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang at the Smithsonian's National Zoo has created an enormous outpouring of public support for the conservation of this endangered species. The first step in attempting to ensure a future for giant pandas is understanding both their history and their current relationship with people. Susan Lumpkin and John Seidensticker present a beautifully photographed, resonant natural history, sharing their personal experiences of working with giant pandas in the United States and China.

Customer Reviews:

awsome book.......2007-01-05

If you love Pandas , this is the book to get. It is very detailed and well worth you time. You won't regret it!

Excellent Panda Resource Book.......2005-10-22

What I really liked about this book is how it's completely accessible for all ages. It's not dumbed down for younger readers, yet it doesn't pander to more mature readers, either. It presents facts, figures and other related information in such a way that anybody could learn from this read.

This book is also one heck of a coffee table book, the perfect gift for anyone you might know who loves panda bears. The photographs are breath-taking, showcasing this beautiful creature in its natural habitat as well as in zoos. There are also some telling photos of pandas in their youngest form. All exquisite and mind-blowing in their individual beauty.

Status of Wildlife Conservation fieldwork in China.......2003-03-09

A beautiful cocktail table book full of beautiful photos of China and Pandas. The book's strengths lies in its accurate portrayal of giant panda conservation work in China, i.e. "muddy boots" conservationist work. The book surprisingly covers very little about the giant panda research at zoos and focuses mainly on conservation field work in China. The book also goes at length to describe the giant pandas genetic classification (genus) with respect to carnivora ( especially wrt raccoons and bears , see page 33-54 ). Most notable about the book is its assertion that there were originally two types of giant panda (a) tropical/warm climate giant panda ( Ailuropoda microta , extinct smaller version of the giant panda whose fossilized remains were found in caves at Lang Trang, Vietnam - see pages 51-54 ) and (b) a mountain/cold climate giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca, the modern giant panda ). The authors describes the giant panda as an ecological umbrella which is shared by people, other animals, and fauna. (p.93--153). While extensively referenced and researched, the book is not footnoted and lacks the rigorous presentation of data and analysis to be defined as a scientific work. Micheal Kiefer, Chris Catton and Schaller have provided better historical outline man's interaction with the giant pandas. The freshest part of this book is the coverage on the introduction of environmentally-sustainable/friendly human economies like the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR, see p. 153) and the conservation effort in China to gain the local support in China to protect wildlife and the environment.

The Ideal Panda Book for Library or Coffee Table.......2002-09-04

Finally, an up-to-date, photo-studded book on giant pandas by experts who know the subject inside and out. There's plenty of media attention on this unique endangered species but this book gives background, context, and depth lacking in most magazine and newspaper articles. If you want to settle in and take an armchair trip into the world of the elusive giant panda, get this book.

Three Pandas Planting (Aladdin Picture Books)

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Three Pandas Planting (Aladdin Picture Books)

Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689833032

Endangered Pandas (Earth's Endangered Animals)

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Endangered Pandas (Earth's Endangered Animals)
John Crossingham , and Bobbie Kalman
Manufacturer: Crabtree Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Endangered Elephants (Earth's Endangered Animals)

ASIN: 0778719049

The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors (First Time Books(R))

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Mixed Feelings About This Book
Thoughtful, Easy to Understand Introduction to Prejudice

The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors (First Time Books(R))
Stan Berenstain , and Jan Berenstain
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679864350
Release Date: 1994-09-13

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A new family moves in across the street from the Berenstain Bears. It's the Panda Bears, and Papa Bear is a little bent out of shape because they're...different. But nothing stops Brother and Sister from making friends with the new cubs. When the adults follow suit, they all learn a valuable lesson in acceptance and the dangers of bigotry.

Customer Reviews:

Mixed Feelings About This Book.......2007-07-12

This particular Berenstain Bear book tackles the subject of new neighbors and interacting with others who are "different" from you.

A family who lives near the Bears have moved away to the city and the house is for sale. Who will move in? What will they be like?

Well, it turns out that a group of Pandas have moved in. Papa asks grumpily "What do you suppose they're doing here?" Mama Bear folds her arms and replies matter-of-factly "...I suppose they're doing the same thing we are--living here."

Papa keeps making petty objections and he admits that he's grumpy because they're "different". In fact, he misinterprets a row of bamboo they're planting as a "spite fence". Papa Bear explains that "spite fences" are fences "bad neighbors put up just for spite. They do it just to be mean and keep decent folks from seeing what they're up to."

This irks me because guess what we just bought this weekend? A FENCE. Do you know why? Because OUR new neighbors had a family gathering during the 4th of July and while we're in our back yard, we witnessed them hit their children while the grandfather threatens them with the belt--all the while using the "F" word like there's no tomorrow and screaming at one another. So unfortunately, we can't do anything about the actions of these scum bags...but we CAN put up a fence to at least block our view of their animalistic behavior and dumpy backyard (that used to be lovely, but is now trashed as they use it for storing crap!).

And Papa Bear's assertions are never challenged in the book (although they DO find out that the bamboo "fence" wasn't a fence at all...but plantings because bamboo is their favorite food). This is teaching kids that if people put up fences, THEY'RE the bad neighbors--and are not only mean, but are ALSO hiding some kind of sordid behavior from "decent" neighbors.

So while it's great that this book explores prejudice and how assumptions about people can be far different from reality, I don't like the fact that Papa Bear acts like a bigot--castigating those who build fences as "bad neighbors".

Thoughtful, Easy to Understand Introduction to Prejudice.......2000-12-04

This Berenstain book introduces the issues of bigotry and prejudice very well. Pandas move across the street, and Papa Bear is immediately suspicious and a bit miffed by their arrival. He misunderstands the new bears gestures such as planting bamboo sticks for food, and assumes it is an insulting fence. One really delightful thing about this book is the calm easy accuracy about prejudice. Children will relate to Papa's fears and concerns, but they will also understand how incorrect his feelings are when the children bears befriend each other. It shows how easy it is too make an untrue and unfair assumption about another individual. (Interestingly enough, unlike the Arthur books by Marc Brown, this is one of the very few Berenstain Bear books with different looking animals!) The book really works!

Average customer rating:

Gail Gibbons Does It Again!
Finalist, Animal Behavior Society Children's Book Award 2003

Giant Pandas
Gail Gibbons
Manufacturer: Holiday House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823418286

Book Description

They are indigenous to China and are adored the world over.

Customer Reviews:

Gail Gibbons Does It Again! .......2007-10-11

I learned more about Giant Pandas from this book than I have ever learned before. It is fascinating how the Giant Pandas have evolved and how they live in the bamboo forests of China. Who can resist such beautiful animals? I hope they survive and can be seen 1,000 years from now.

Finalist, Animal Behavior Society Children's Book Award 2003.......2003-10-28

Superb illustrations, attention to detail, and one of the most charismatic and appealing mammals around combine to make Giant Pandas a sure hit, with its fascinating account of the natural history and behavior of the giant panda. Gail Gibbons' beautiful illustrations transport the reader to the rugged mountains of northern China that giant pandas call home. One third grader wrote: "I would read this book over and over and it would NEVER get boring. This book is a wonderful way to learn." The conservation message that is woven throughout the book provides a realistic though hopeful conclusion to a book that will enthrall children and parents.

Dinner at the Panda Palace Book and Tape (Tell Me a Story Book & Cassette)

Average customer rating:

A Long Time Family Favorite
Daddy's Favorite
Barb
Great book! Very entertaining!
a really fun read to enjoy together

Dinner at the Panda Palace Book and Tape (Tell Me a Story Book & Cassette)
Stephanie Calmenson
Manufacturer: HarperFestival
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0694700541

Book Description

Guess who's coming to dinner!

Join one hungry elephant, two carsick lions, three pigs running from a wolf, and dozens of other playful yet famished animals as they swing, bound, and bounce into the Panda Palace for a hearty meal.

Customer Reviews:

A Long Time Family Favorite.......2007-08-02

This is a fun rhyming book. My daughter is 7 now and we still drag it out every so often for a read although we dont' really need to as we all have it memorized! No matter how many times it's been read, we all still enjoy it. I buy it as a gift often.

Daddy's Favorite.......2007-04-02

Our daughter has had this one at the top of her "favorites" list for years and it's Daddy's favorite too! We have read it so many times it is practically falling apart. Get it, you'll love it.

Barb.......2007-03-08

I'm a mom of six and this is one of my children's favorite books. The rhymes are adorable, the pace fast and the pictures cute. This is a fun book and I highly recommend it!

Great book! Very entertaining!.......2006-02-05

The book just arrived on Friday and I have been reading it to my son over and over. In one sitting, he asked me to read it to him over 5 times. Once the story ended, he would say "again mommy". The book has a rhyming counting theme from 1-10 with different animals. The illustrations are fun to look at as well. I didn't know what to expect when i bought the book, but I'm glad I bought it. I bought it because it was about a panda (my son loves pandas)... so, I took a chance at the book. I'm glad I bought it. I highly recommend it!

a really fun read to enjoy together.......2004-03-02

my little one look forward to seeing who arrives next at the Palace Somehow this books seems fresh-and we've read it hundreds of times. i've given it as a gift as well

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