Bringing Back the Giant Panda

The topics are very similar between the books in the series although the titles vary somewhat. The first section presents basic facts about the species followed by the risks to both the species and the environment. Then there are sections about plans and actions for the recovery of both the animals and the habitat. This is followed by a look at the future and at related species especially those in other areas of the world. Finally, there are pages on what you can do to aid in the endeavor to save animal.

As with other nonfiction works, there are lists of books and online materials for leaning more, a glossary of terms used throughout the book and an index. The suggested books include both similar works aimed at young children and weightier works of one hundred pages or more. The websites are the same; some have activities and summaries while others are conservation sites for adults or are university sites with information about the species. These references are a good combination of materials to meet the needs of any reader and works to extend their knowledge and take them into more detailed expertise. Further resources are available online for both students and teachers (although some of these are not ready yet) using the books in this series.

Bringing Back the Giant Panda deals with a species that almost represents conservation efforts around the world. These animals are attractive and appealing, and enormous energy, time and resources have been expended to bring giant pandas back from the brink of extinction. In addition, the Giant Panda is a good species for this series as habitat is the major issue for this animal’s survival and that fact provides the opportunity to cover this aspect in much more detail. As with all the books in the series, the photographs are wide-ranging and an important and helpful aspect of the overall effect. There is a strong impression here of how important the Giant Panda is, for itself, for the Chinese and for the world.

Each of these books and the animals chosen is appealing in its own way. If there is one constant, it is that the animals are all large – giant pandas and alligators, huge whales and grizzly bears, large wolves and whooping cranes as tall as people. This approach seems planned to attract young people and also seems a successful strategy, a good way to attract readers of many ages. There are several areas where the focus is on American species and habitats, and it would have been nice if there were more Canadian and worldwide content.

The content of the “Animals Back From the Brink” series contains exactly the kind of approach we want children to embrace as they grow into their future roles in society. Even though the books will fit perfectly into school curricula, they are also simply good read-for-fun books. At least one would be a great addition to a personal library, and all would fit comfortably into a school library.