  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 03/01/2018 *Starred Review* In September 2016, giant pandas were downgraded from a threatened species to a vulnerable one. This comeback was due to human intervention: decades of conservation efforts have led to a burgeoning wild panda population. Of course, it was human intervention that led to the decline of their numbers in the first place—poaching, pollution, and human population booms all contributed to shrinking panda numbers. In clear, fact-packed prose, Sibert medalist Thimmesh (Team Moon, 2006) examines the panda reintroduction program that began in China’s Wolong Nature Reserve. After a rocky start, the program settled on its ultimate goal: to prepare panda cubs for eventual release by eliminating human contact (workers dressed up in panda suits so cubs wouldn’t become desensitized to humans) and preparing them for everything they might experience in the wild. Thimmesh folds in facts about the effects pandas have on their ecosystem, other endangered species across the globe, and the trial and error inherent with the scientific method. Frequent detailed pictures of pandas and their caretakers complement the measured text, and extensive back matter—including a subsection on what the average person can do to help conservation efforts—makes this an excellent resource for researchers, STEM-lovers, and aspiring environmentalists. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 Gr 5–7—Many have seen videos of humans in panda suits tending to the needs of smaller, actual pandas, and they may have asked, why are they dressed that way? Thimmesh's new book answers that and more as she delves in the conservation efforts of various groups in China, including the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, also known as Camp Panda. The Sibert Medal—winning author begins with an overview of pandas and explains why they are at risk of becoming extinct. Readers learn that just as humans have played an important role in endangering the species, they're playing a significant role in helping to protect the panda and other animals, too. The costumes, by the way, help to limit a young panda's exposure to humans so that the animal will more easily adapt to the wild and be wary of people, which is key to their survival. The text is well written with age-appropriate vocabulary, though quotes set in italics are a bit jarring. Every spread includes at least one full-color photo, and the eye-catching panda photos are primarily from the conservation groups. The back matter includes a page inviting readers to learn more about and to take part in conservation efforts. VERDICT Animal conservation is always a welcome subject in libraries, and the depth and breadth of this book make it a first purchase.—Marie Drucker, Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, NY - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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