Little Panda: The World Welcomes Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo

by Joanne Ryder, World-Famous San Diego Zoo Staff (Photographer)

Meet Hua Mei
With fewer than one thousand giant pandas left in the world, the birth of Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo in 1999 was a cause for celebration. Little Panda chronicles the adorable panda's first year, as she grows from a four-ounce newborn to a curious, playful cub.
Award-winning writer Joanne Ryder's appealing, simple yet scientifically accurate text and irresistible, exclusive photographs from the World-Famous San Diego Zoo combine to make Little Panda a treasure for animal lovers of all ages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Picture Books, Childrens, Science

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Joanna Ryder is an award-winning author whose books offer a unique blend of poetry and science. Her innovative Just for a Day series invites children into the world of wild animals, ranging from a sea otter to Tyrannosaurus rex. Ms. Ryder says, "Children know that my books often ask them to imagine being a different creature. So they always ask me which animal I would choose to be. I'd be a flying one, I tell them. Or if I could, I'd wish for wings. And I've discovered children would love wings, too. But which ones to choose? I wrote Rainbow Wings to help us decide." Ms. Ryder lives in Pacific Grove, California.

-taken from www.balkinbuddies.com

Reviews

[Laura Masciantonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it because pandas are cute and you learn from it its awsome! Its like so cute

[Rommel Sison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maddy:🐼🐼🐼🐼🐼🐼🐼🐼🐼🐼

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

BookTree
S&E enjoyed this true story about pandas more than I thought that they would.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book on the birth and early upbringing of the first giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo was interesting, but more skewed to the audience that thinks of pandas and infant animals as cute. The text was nice and the reading was simple, but nothing was particularly intriguing about the story. I don't have objections to the story, but I didn't find it all that enthralling either.

[Sheniqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the real photographs used to illustrate this book! Children of all ages would love to flip through this book and look at the pictures. This book shows how pandas are cared for in the zoo, particularly the little panda Hua Mei. This book can be used to discuss different habitats and the animal's dependence on their habitat for third graders.

[Callie Risse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an informative book about the birth and life of a baby panda at the San Diego Zoo. Simple sentences make facts about pandas easy for children to comprehend, and there are several pictures on each page.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoos are fascinating. And, as panda books go, one that focuses on the zoo aspect makes a nice change.

[Stephanie Deter]

This book teaches the life cycle of a panda.

[Angela Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about a panda named Hua Mei, the first giant panda ever to survive in captivity. She is located at the San Diego zoo.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually went to the San Diego Zoo when this cute little panda made it's debut, so I enjoyed this book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about The panda Su Lin, written on two levels. The basic story of Su Lin's birth and first year, with a secondary story captioned under the photos.