THE BAMBOO BEARS: THE LIFE AND TROUBLED TIMES OF THE GIANT PANDA Clive Roots. Winnipeg, MB: Hyperion Press, 1989. 112pp., paper, $23.95. ISBN 0-920534-61-9. CIP. Subject Heading: Giant panda. Grades 7 and up / Ages 12 and up Reviewed by Hugh A. Cook. Volume 17 Number 5 1989 September Clive Roots is the director of the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. His experience in handling a large variety of endangered species and his apparent sensitivity to the problems of the giant panda make him eminently qualified to write this book. Although considerable time, money, and effort have been expended to learn about this mammal, it would take a great deal more space to state what we don't know than what we do know about the panda. Its dense bamboo habitat and its solitary life-style contribute to much speculation, folklore and guessing, but not too many actual facts. Bamboo, the panda's only choice of food, in the wild, dies off about every thirty-five years but we don't know why nor can we predict when it is going to happen. Why does the panda ignore other, richer protein food nearby in favour of nutritionally poor bamboo? Again, we don't know. China and the many world wildlife organizations have not been able to agree upon a satisfactory study program regarding the panda. It is hoped that some agreement will be reached before the endangered giant panda becomes extinct. These and many more issues are those raised by Clive Roots. It is a very worthwhile book for a library to have on the plight of the panda today. Its large size (8 3/8" x 11") and laminated cover, its fifty colour photographs and six figures, and its table of contents and index make it a very useful resource. Hugh A. Cook, Maple, ON.