Panda Kindergarten: A True Story with Photographs About Baby Pandas Learning Wild Skills at China's Wolong Preserve for Kids

by Joanne Ryder, Katherine Feng (Photographer)

Follow a day in the life of the panda cubs at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve, the largest research facility for giant pandas in China. Cubs are raised together in a protected setting—dubbed panda kindergarten—where they grow strong and learn skills that will help prepare them to be released into the wild when they are older. With spare text by veteran nonfiction writer Joanne Ryder and irresistible full-color photographs by Katherine Feng, whose work has appeared in National Geographic , Panda Kindergarten will delight young readers as they learn more about these amazing creatures. Supports the Common Core State Standards

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2009

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

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple text follows a panda cub from birth through kindergarten. A nice introduction to how animals grow and develop just like children do. Simply adorable photos make this a five star book for me!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what you would call a photograph of sixteen giant panda cubs, all lined up in a row, but I would call it an overabundance of cute. An overdose of cute, even. Opening Joanne Ryder's Panda Kindergarten - a wonderful new picture-book devoted to the young pandas of China's Woolong Nature Preserve - and encountering such an image, I knew objectivity would be impossible. Subsequent pages confirmed it...

If you're looking for a good introduction to the giant panda - something that explores such things as life cycle, habitat, and diet - then this is not the book for you. If however, you're looking for some of the most adorable photographs of giant panda cubs ever taken - photographs in which baby pandas cuddle in their mothers' arms, young pandas cavort in the snow, or hang upside-down from their wooden jungle-gym - then look no further! Ryder's text is minimal, but that's OK. You'll want to spend all your time looking at the pictures. I know I did...

[Celia Buell (semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In terms of science standards relating to biology and the needs of various animals, I think Panda Kindergarten is also a strong book because it helps students to build background knowledge make connections right from the title. What do students (at any elementary level K-5) know about kindergarten, something most of them have personal experience with? What kinds of things do we learn in kindergarten? How might that be similar or different to what a panda would learn in kindergarten? (Yes, my student's first response was "learn to read... but pandas don't read..."). This connection is something readers can follow throughout the book, and it helps students to work with questions as well as connections. I actually had my student keep a running record of questions while we were reading, and one of the ones she asked was, "who teaches them?" I thought that was a good way of understanding the connection between kindergarten and panda kindergarten.

As for the photography, I really like the selection. It really does take me there, and I appreciate how the pictures do show the growth, however small, of the pandas from page to page.

Read my full review on my Goodreads account for children's books.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sucker was ADORABLE. :) Yay for a cute and easy nonfiction book!

[Elaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun nonfiction book about pandas, my favorite animal!

[Celia Buell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used Panda Kindergarten as my third and final book in my exploration of animal friendships and animal needs with my student this summer. This one was a lot of fun, and I liked the way it depicted the life of the pandas from birth to going to the "kindergarten" group. It is also a good one for getting students to react, as there is some information that is provided that gets students to both feel for animals and think about solutions.

Pandas often have twins, but a mother can only care for one cub at a time.

This my student reacted to this ("aww, that's so sad") but was prompted to think about what, based on the title, we might learn to help this. In this way, Panda Kindergarten can be a good book for kids to learn to use both context and clues from the title to predict how things happen.

In terms of science standards relating to biology and the needs of various animals, I think Panda Kindergarten is also a strong book because it helps students to build background knowledge make connections right from the title. What do students (at any elementary level K-5) know about kindergarten, something most of them have personal experience with? What kinds of things do we learn in kindergarten? How might that be similar or different to what a panda would learn in kindergarten? (Yes, my student's first response was "learn to read... but pandas don't read..."). This connection is something readers can follow throughout the book, and it helps students to work with questions as well as connections. I actually had my student keep a running record of questions while we were reading, and one of the ones she asked was, "who teaches them?" I thought that was a good way of understanding the connection between kindergarten and panda kindergarten.

As for the photography, I really like the selection. It really does take me there, and I appreciate how the pictures do show the growth, however small, of the pandas from page to page.

I imagine the HarperCollins branch that published this has a selection of animal books that follow the exact same format as Panda Kindergarten. I noticed after reading Tiger Pups that the format of the text and pictures was basically the same, and I imagine there has to be others out there. I'd guess this can get boring for students who notice, but it can also be good for making text-to-media connections and learning about formats in nonfiction, and can be useful for struggling readers to compare and locate what they can learn from certain grade-level appropriate nonfiction.

In terms of nonfiction features, Panda Kindergarten and similar books don't really utilize much beyond the text and the images. This can be a good book for generating captions, but it may not be the best text to teach text features. There are a few facts at the end, but no bibliography or further reading, which is disappointing, especially since I remember seeing something where there were two more books in a collection relating to the pandas in the Wolong Nature Preserve where Panda Kindergarten takes place, and now I can't find them.

[Brittany Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helps teachers introduce the fun and interesting similarities between human kindergarten and Panda kindergarten. The cubs are protected, loved, and given great care, just like humans. They also have fun playing on the playground, just like humans.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should win the Nobel Peace Prize.

No, really. Read it.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. much. cuteness.

[Jess Scaduto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction children’s book with real photos of pandas from a panda kindergarten at Wolong Nature Reserve in China. I chose this book, because as a kindergarten teacher, I would read this book to my students where they can easily relate themselves to the panda kindergarteners. I would use it in a reading classroom so that students are able to make comparisons and contrasts of themselves and the pandas. I can also tie science, with the endangered species idea and the book also gives a good global aspect.

[Esmeralda Chaidez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would use this to inform my students about development and animals basic needs. I could randomly place students in groups. I would give them certain animals and have them either place them in a tub of water or sand. This will help them differentiate between what animals use to survive while some are land animals other need water to move around and live.

[Carolyn Jeziorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book to teach narrative nonfiction to third graders. There is a lot of information about young pandas, but honestly it’s the photos that earned the stars. Of course, it helps to have such adorable subjects. The baby pandas are so sweet and cute!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do in Kindergarten that is the same as the panda cubs?
Use for learning about these beautiful animals, tie-in with beginning of the school year; social studies-- learning about Asia.
Photographic illustrations!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great non-fiction read-aloud for kinder and 1st graders. They love it!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! love love love the little pandas. :)

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE to stumble across a non-fiction picture book when I'm at the library. My little one and I adored this ones about pandas.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shares pictures and information about the young pandas who live at the Wolong Nature Reserve in China. My four-year-old loved all the pictures of the panda kindergarteners!

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with large colorful photographs, this book introduces young readers to the world of the panda bear. My granddaughter will be getting her own copy this Christmas.

[Simrit Grewal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kait is ready to move to China tomorrow, basically. It’s a good story, the photography is adorable, and somehow I ended up with one of those giant copies meant for classroom reading.

[Harley Stine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Panda Kindergarten is a story about a group of 16 panda cubs being raised in the Wolong Nature Reserve in China. The book consists of real pictures of the pandas as they grow in the reserve. The pictures captures moments of their daily life. They also include a picture of the mother panda taking care of her babies. The pandas have their own "panda playground" where they go for fresh air. Surprisingly enough, this playground looks exactly like one that little human children would play on.

I learned a lot from pandas from this book. An interesting fact I took away from my reading was that pandas mostly give birth to twins. I also learned that a newborn giant panda is born about the size of a stick of butter and weighs about four ounces. I enjoyed this story because of the real photographs. I fell in love with this group of pandas and would like to know how they are doing now and if they still reside in the reserve. I think a class of young children would love this book as well for the pictures and factual information.

If my class took an interest to pandas after reading this book I would expand on that. As a class we could research different aspects of a panda's life and facts about pandas in general. We could draw pandas, I could bring in bamboo to show my students what they eat, we could find pictures of natural panda habitats and zoo habitats and compare them. After we researched them as a class I would have my students write a short research paper about pandas with the collaborative information.

I recommend this book for children in Kindergarten-3rd grade. I think a 4th grader would enjoy this book but it would be far too remedial for them.

[swalterich · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stunning photography in Panda Kindergarten is almost enough to make up for the disappointing lack of detail in the text. The clear crisp pictures offer an intimate portrait of panda existence, with close-ups that offer a rare glimpse of these beautiful creatures. They are pictured in every aspect of life at the Wolong Nature Preserve, from newborns to several comical shots of the pandas at play. The amazing detail of the photos is unfortunately, left out of the text, and the reader is left at the end of the book with more questions than answers. The book tries to outline the life of the panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve, but in its oversimplification, it leaves out major details such as why the pandas are at the Preserve in the first place. There is no mention at all that pandas are an endangered species. There is also no explanation for why the program is called Panda Kindergarten as it little resembles any kindergarten for children. All the pandas seem to do is play or nap. Facts are not given until the very end of the book under the heading “Fast Facts about Giant Pandas.” A little information about the Wolong Nature Preserve is also presented below the acknowledgment with a web site for more information. It is disappointing that these facts were not included in the story as they are more interesting and informative that what was presented. Panda Kindergarten will make for a simple story time, with the photographs certainly appealing to students, but be prepared with another source for all the unanswered questions that those human kindergartens are sure to have.

[Kelli Overcash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Title: Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder

Short Description of Book: The author gives an in depth description of what a young panda goes through from birth into young adulthood at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve in China. While the book is informational in nature, it also offers many of the author’s opinions.

FOCUS: Informational features I would use in a mini lesson
1. Fact and Opinion: Write the definitions of fact and opinion on the board. Have a brief discussion of the definitions and what they mean.
2. Read the story aloud with the students. After each page, have the students discuss which sentences were based in fact and which sentences were opinion.
3. Make a chart on the board with tally marks to show how many were fact and how many were opinion.
4. What did the tally marks show? Was the book primarily an informational piece or an opinion piece?

TEACH: CCS Connection (8)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

[Brittaney Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ryder, J. (2009). Panda Kindergarten. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

"Panda Kindergarten" by Joanne Ryder and photographs by Dr. Katherine Feng, is a children's nonfiction picture book about pandas in the China Conservation Center for the Giant Panda at Wolong Nature Reserve. The photography shows how the pandas go through life in the nature reserve. They are picture in every aspect of life. Well, the pictures are authentic, and wonderful, real information about pandas is not offered in the book. The content isn't really good on facts about Pandas. The book is more of an everyday look at a panda's life. I wish there was more facts about pandas to help the readers know and understand these wild animals. At the end of the book there is a brief half page fact sheet , but not enough for the reader to really gain knowledge about these animals. I would read this to young children, as I think they would look the picture in this book.

[carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended Ages: Pre-K - 1st grade

School is in session! But this is no ordinary kindergarten class. Meet sixteen young giant panda cubs at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve. The cubs are raised together from infancy in a protected setting, where they grow strong. Under the watchful eyes of the scientists and workers, the cubs learn skills that will help prepare them to be released into the wild.

Follow a day in the life of the cubs with Joanne Ryder's spare and simple text and full-color photographs by Dr. Katherine Feng, Wolong's leading photographer.

These special cubs have captured the attention of people around the globe. Thanks to dedicated staff and unique resources at Wolong, this threatened species now has a second chance. Here is the true story of their incredible journey toward hope and survival.

[Jesika La Bryer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction: Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder. Copyright date: 2009. This book was so cute. The setting of this book is at the Wolong Nature Reserve in China. At this reserve pandas are cared fro from a newborn state. Many pandas have twins, however, they are only capable of taking care of one. People at the reserve take care of the other twins. They make sure to switch the twins back and forth so they get love from their mother and the caregivers. this book was very informative with excellent real life pictures. When the pandas get old enough, they attend panda kindergarten where they socialize and play with other pandas. When they are old enough, some pandas are taken into the wild, while others stay behind at the reserve and become parents themselves.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of giant baby pandas in Wolong Nature Preserve.

5 star photos
2 star text

Great photos that everyone will love. Lots of awwwws from the kids. I'm bummed the text isn't better. It's somewhat awkward to read aloud. Somehow in overly simplifying the words, the book became more confusing. II left with more questions than I came in, and not "hey, let's read more" but in a "why didn't it tell me that" kind of way.

There's list of panda facts tossed in the back, but mostly the book seems like a missed opportunity to teach kids about Wolong and giant pandas. That said, I did find it interesting to learn that giant pandas start out life the size of a stick of butter. Who knew?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutest photgraphs I ever saw! Terrific science books for little ones, but older kids will love it because the baby pandas are just precious. It's the story of the Wolong Natyure Reserve in China and how they care for the second twin panda while the mother pandas care for the one twin they can care for at a time. (I never thought about that before!). The picture of the sixteen little tiny pandas lined up together is just the cutest thing ever!!! You will have such an "Awwww!" factor in your room or library when you read this book. It's a wonderful book about working to save endangered species, and it is just darned cute, too!

[Elizabeth Lauver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Panda Kindergarten by Joann Ryder, was a very fun read. I enjoyed all of the real life pictures of the pandas in the book. I also liked her whole idea of going through the life stages of a baby panda. I know that students in my future classroom would love to read and look at the pictures of the pandas themselves. I would love to have this book available to my students for any research project they might find themselves doing because this book would be a great source for a report or even a poster project. Overall I really enjoyed the overall feel of this book and found out some things about pandas that I did not know myself.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The originalty of this book was great. I never thought to compare and contrast a day in a life of a baby panda to a kindergartener. I think students can relate to these little pandas very closly. The book has more photographs than it does illustrations. But with that said the photography is excelent. The subject matter is great for students of kindergarten age and kids in this age group will love the book. I think kids will always love this book not only for the reason that they can relate to these animals but because kids love animals to begin with.