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Summary
Summary
Two nations and a mother panda work together to nurture a "precious treasure" in the remarkable true story of a celebrity panda cub and his life at the Smithsonian National Zoo--and beyond.
In August 2015, zookeepers at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, were thrilled to spot a tiny shadow on an ultrasound. For a species as rare as the giant panda, every new cub is cause for celebration. Zoo staff monitored mother Mei Xiang, and within days a newborn appeared, weighing in at just one third of a pound. While Mei Xiang cradled her vulnerable infant, zookeepers monitored the pair day and night through cameras in the panda den, and some two million viewers logged on to the zoo website. First Ladies Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan hosted a ceremony to announce the cub's name: Bei Bei, meaning "precious treasure" in Mandarin Chinese. An instant celebrity, the cub captured hearts all over the world. But pandas in zoos are considered emissaries from the People's Republic of China, the only country where they live in the wild. Four years after his birth in America, Bei Bei would embark on an important new mission.
Graphically arresting, packed with stunning full-color photographs, and vetted by the Smithsonian National Zoo, Bei Bei Goes Home paints a vivid picture of global conservation efforts--and international collaboration--in the guise of an ever-popular and beloved black-and-white ambassador.
Author Notes
Cheryl Bardoe is the author of several acclaimed books for young readers, including China : A History ; Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain ; and Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. She lives in Connecticut.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--4--In August 2015, the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, celebrated the arrival of a baby giant panda named Bei Bei. Through decades of research and a collaboration with panda experts in China, American zoologists had the knowledge necessary to ensure that Bei Bei survived and thrived. Bei Bei quickly became a celebrity around the world, and his success story accomplished another step in the ongoing process of preserving the beloved species. Complex sentences make up the paragraphs describing Bei Bei's behaviors and history, informing children of the many considerations involved in protecting pandas worldwide. Full-color photographs appear alongside the text, drawing in readers with their vivid and striking visuals. Even before children are able to absorb the entirety of the text, the images will grab their attention and inspire them to learn more. Panda facts appear throughout and use Bei Bei's story as a springboard to educate about pandas in general. Though there is no glossary or index, readers will nonetheless learn about the giant panda through the story of Bei Bei and his appeal to people around the globe. VERDICT An informative and eye-catching book that is well suited to confident elementary school-age readers with an interest in pandas.--Mary Lanni, Douglas County Lib., CO
Kirkus Review
In the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., a panda cub grows up. Bardoe documents the early life of Bei Bei, one of the National Zoo's most recent panda cubs, from a tiny ultrasound shadow in his mother's womb to a bamboo grove in a Conservation and Research Center in Sichuan, China. Liberally illustrated with Smithsonian Institution images, this photobiography takes a close-up, intimate look at a panda in captivity. Like pandas in zoos all over the world, those born in Washington are officially Chinese; at the age of 4, they return to China to be part of an effort to promote panda recovery in the wild there. In the meantime, these charismatic animals draw flocks of visitors, in person and online. Bardoe's thoughtfully crafted presentation chronicles important events in Bei Bei's first four years with a headline and one to two paragraphs of text alongside a column of panda facts. Opposite each page of text is a page of photos (or, sometimes, a single, full-bleed image) with informative captions. The straightforward text is sprinkled with images as well. The pictures and information are well chosen for child appeal. The result is a title that will probably have considerable charm even to nonreaders. Final pages discuss pandas in the wild, their attraction for humans, and ways readers can help. Definitely deserves a spot, even on a well-stocked panda shelf. (Nonfiction. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In 2015, at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, twin cubs were born to Mei Xiang, a giant panda. Though one cub did not survive, the other grew and thrived. His name is Bei Bei, meaning "precious treasure" in Mandarin Chinese. The first half of this fully illustrated book follows the cub through his first year, having health checks with the zoo staff, learning to climb trees, beginning to eat bamboo, and curiously watching visitors. The book's second half shows him separated from his mother and living independently at the zoo after 18 months and, as a 4-year-old, moving to China. While the use of many clear color photos is an asset in introducing Bei Bei and his surroundings to viewers, the light, bamboo-patterned overlay on some shots is distracting. The text, captions, and sidebars carry basic information and fun facts about giant pandas, including a discussion of China's successful, worldwide panda breeding and reintroduction program and an explanation of what makes pandas look so endearing. An appealing introduction to the giant panda.
