Giant: A Panda of the Enchanted Forest (Happy Fox Books) An Educational Fairy Tale in a Children's Picture Book that Teaches Respect for Animals & Provides a Way for Kids to Get in Touch with Nature

by Xuan Loc Xuan

This engaging children's picture book tells the wonderful story of Giant, a panda bear. This is the story of Giant, a panda bear who has lost contact with his family. Giant is lounging in the majestic Sichuan forest, chewing on his bamboo shoots. Suddenly, a forest fire starts because people from the city are clear-burning the forest for development! Giant seeks help and tries to extinguish the fire, but everything seems lost. It will only be by the heroic sacrifices of Giant and his friends—including a wise bamboo tree and the nearby villagers—that the forest and its inhabitants are saved. Featuring charming illustrations from talented Vietnamese artist Xuan Loc Xuan, A Panda of the Enchanted Forest is an invitation for kids to get in touch with nature and respect unfamiliar animals and trees at risk of extinction. The giant panda is one of the species classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The continuous uprise of development among panda natural habitats creates jeopardizing conditions for this beautiful black and white creature. Teaching children about this issue, in a gentle yet impactful way, is a small step toward a better future for the giant panda. A Panda of the Enchanted Forest addresses the issue of deforestation and its impact on animals through a touching and uplifting bedtime story for young kids.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Picture Books

38 pages, Hardcover

Published August 13, 2018

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giant: A Panda of the Enchanted Forest



You lovelies know me and know that I love picture books. I've probably read more picture books as a 20 year old than as a 2 year old



Actual conversation between the personification of NetGalley and me

NetGalley: Hey look Jen, here's a cute picture book about pandas.

Me: I'm in.

NetGalley: Cool. Let us know what you think.

Me: Sure. Oh God, where are all these tears coming from. Were picture books always this good or was there a sudden trend in the industry? I was probably just a stupid child


Our tale starts after Giant Panda has had a lot of Bamboo to eat. And then our friend takes a lovely nap. It starts the way any information-providing picture book would.





But this story becomes transcendent when we find out Giant talks shares his hopes and dreams with a tree.



Giant naps yet again, and thinks of his mother and twin brother. He dreams of the days he could roam the forest without worry. He reminisces on so many good things that have past.





Panda wakes up, only to realise that Big Trunk - the tree who knows of all his hopes and dreams, is on fire. The people from the city want to burn the forest to the ground for more space.



Panda tries his best to help Big Trunk, and many things - both hopeful and saddening, occur. Go read the book. I won't spoil it for you here, but Panda and Big Trunk are beautifully portrayed characters who never give up.



The art is beautiful - the colour is so carefully chosen and so calming, until the fires come along and it becomes much more vibrant and emotional. The distress and emotion that Giant Panda displays are so disheartening and his emotions come to life through the art.



Recommended for: Parents who want to raise their own awareness as well as their child's, and also have to deal with baby tears for hours because this is some sad stuff right here.



Conclusion

This book puts you in the day of a life of a Panda who is losing its home. So many animals lose their home each day, and this is such an important book. We always focus on whether a race is near extinction and jump to action - we help the animals in captivity, but what about those who die in the wild where they belong? This picture book has a happy ending, but the pictures out there - the things happening, there are too many pandas without happy endings.



I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this modern day children's story, Giant is a young panda alone in the woods except for the tall bamboo that surrounds him. A large trunk of bamboo awakens Giant one day to alert him of a forest fire threatening their forest. With suggestions from Big Trunk, Giant attempts to put out the fire but it rages on. Eventually Giant claws holes into Big Trunk to create a loud whistle that signals the village to come and fight the fire. Thanks to Big Trunk's quick thinking and Giant's actions, the forest is saved and there is a sweet surprise ending to the story too!
Children will love the illustrations and young readers will not only be entertained by the story but also educated about the giant panda, a species classified as vulnerable to the risk of extinction due to habitat destruction, widespread bamboo harvesting, and tourist related industries.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! Just the image of Giant the Panda living in an Enchanted Forest is thrilling. Sweet sweet illustrations and Giant’s poignant tale of being separated from his brother after their mother’s death also tug at the heart strings. And the mysterious way in which the bamboo trees save Giant and the Forest add to this utterly compelling story for children and adults. 5/5

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

#GiantThePandaHappyFoxBooks #NetGalley

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a Panda living alone in an enchanted forest. It has a talking tree and a village nearby. The Panda, named Giant is happy with his life. When the people start a fire to burn down the forest for more farmland, Giant and the tree work together to save the forest. This is a great story line to this point. It teaches about animal endangerment and how it happens. Pandas are a very endangered species so this is a timely story. It is surprising how much children love pandas and most of them have probably never seen one. Then, out of the blue, Giant meets his twin brother Bino, who had set out to find him when their mother died. the story just ends abruptly at that point. My grandson thought it was nice that he wouldn't be alone anymore, so maybe children will not find this as much of an issue as I did. The illustrations are stylized and my grandchildren seemed to like them. Of course, my granddaughter kept calling Giant, Dave after the blue panda in one of her favourite cartoons. A nice story for young children. The publisher, Happy Fox Books, provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, opinions and ideas are my own.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

First let me thank Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. What a sweet panda book. I really loved both the story line and the illustrations. Who doesn't love a cuddly panda? This short story follows a panda named Giant who lives in the forest. He likes spending time alone and talking to his favorite tree. I won't go into more as to not spoil it and I highly recommend it for all ages especially ones who love pandas like me.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5/5. A bit too long for the targeted public. I also find the illustrations to simple and not attractive enough. The story is alright with a typical narrative development. A bit to typical overall, average, nothing to make it stand out of the mass.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

My entire family loved this book. Who doesn't love Panda's? This is a must read for you and your children! Stunning!

[R.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about Giant the Panda! I'm glad his forest was saved! :) The illustrations were very good - young readers would enjoy them!

*I received a copy of this book from its publisher on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

[Myndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giant is a panda who wandered until he found a new forest to call home. Though it was a strange new place, and he missed his family, Giant grew to love the forest and befriended a great bamboo. One day, people who wanted to build homes where the forest was, lit the forest on fire in an effort to burn it down. Giant and his bamboo friend worked together to get help and saved the forest from burning. While washing away the soot from his fur, Giant came across his twin brother, whom he had missed dearly, and they started a new life in the forest together.

Right off the bat, stellar illustrations. The artwork in this children’s book is gorgeous, which is always a tremendous plus in my book. As far as the story itself, the intent was good, but the execution left me wanting. The writing style was stilted, the segues weren’t fluid, and the reconnection with his brother should have been fleshed out a little more or left out entirely.

The illustrations alone are worth a recommendation, even if the story falls short.

Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not only a lovely panda story - who doesn't love pandas - but it also rises awareness about the environment, by turning the furry character into a modern time environmental hero. Although the story is a bit too long, it has great illustrations that can keep the reader entertained and eventually used as a way to keep a little active kid focused. The general message may also be a bit too much for small kids, but the story is told in a way that makes them aware of the issues part of the sympathy for the brave panda. It is a great read, recommended for schools and first-time readers too.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Net Galley for the digital download of this book. Who doesn’t love a story about a love able panda? That’s right no one! Anyway, this story is about an adorable panda named Giant. He spends his days relaxing in the forest talking to his favorite tree. There is a fire in the forest and he has to figure out how to let the villagers know. The ending was a little confusing for me but other than that it was such a cute book with some beautiful illustrations. I would recommend this book!

[Paul Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A giant panda sits in a tree, trying to stop eating and start sleeping, while other animals take in the scene. He only talks to the tree, though he’s surprised when it talks back. When an emergency strikes the forest, the two have to team up to save the day.
Pretty simple story, so it should appeal to the smaller kids, as long as they don’t get frightened. I didn’t find it particularly interesting, but then I’m not the demographic this book is going for.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the bright illustrations in this book. Your little will fall in love with this panda. Note there are some sad parts. So if you have a sensitive little, you may want to preview it first.

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

coming soon...

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story about a panda who is trying to save his home in the jungle. It gives kids interesting facts about pandas and how they live. The illustrations are adorable and help to tell the story.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little story explaining the importance of looking after nature with a nice little twist at the end. Really nice illustrations too.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Poongothai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. It is about the Panda living in an enchanted forest and how they save it from the forest fire.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

[Karen Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giant is a beautifully written book with gorgeous illustrations. It is not only a lovely story about a very brave panda bear on the surface, but also a story of the environment and how we can help preserve important species. The illustrations are bold and would keep any youngster interested, looking at all the details about them. These are paired with rich text geared to increase vocabulary. This would keep the child with the wiggles focused. The environmental message may also be a bit too advanced for preschool students, but the message of taking care of precious animals is there for all to take. It is a great book, recommended for classroom libraries, preschoolers, and first-time readers as well.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the fact that the author put in that the panda was a 'vulnerable'. species.

This book was quite long for a children's book. But I loved the illustrations. I was a bit shocked when not every page had text but it was also a nice change. I think it might be the way this was formatted. Usually it's two pages side by side but this one was only one page.

This was a really good story and I loved how Giant's best friend was a tree! So cute!

[Elizabeth Hubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of twin Great Pandas who are separated after their mom dies. I expected this book to be about conservation, saving the Pandas. etc. That message didn't come through to me. It was a nice story, but I don't feel like I understand the message of the story, so certainly my children wouldn't. Honestly, maybe there isn't a message, maybe it's just a story and that's okay. It's a nice story.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute book about a panda named Giant. While he is reflecting on his life, he realizes the forest he is in is on fire and that the village nearby is in danger if he cannot warn them. Giant seeks to find a way to save the forest and the village and eventually finds an inventive solution.

The graphics were nice and the story was cute. My kids enjoyed it and really loved the panda bears in the story! It was a nice read that I am sure they will want me to read to them again!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of separated panda siblings, followed two bears as they battled different challenges alone in the big forest. Cute story and great way to introduce the idea of vulnerable species.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is beautiful, but the story not so much. It's a sad story. A giant panda lives in the bamboo forest. But a fire is set to the forest to make room for more housing. But the panda doesn't want to lose his home, so with the help of the big tree and the villages, the fire will be put out. Then panda meets back up with his missing brother. This part is not only incomplete, it pops in from nowhere.

[Paula Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for children. Love that it revolves around a giant panda and brings awareness to this amazing anaimal that has been endangered as well as the danger of forest fires to them. Wonderful storyline.