The Panda Cub Swap- Beth Bacon
It takes a lot of work to bring a panda cub into the world. They are born with delicate pink skin, they’re unable to see, unable to walk—and even unable to go to the bathroom without help! It’s so much work that panda mamas can only take care of one cub at a time. So when Zoo Atlanta’s beloved giant panda, Lun Lun, surprised everyone by having twins, the zoo staff had to pitch in. They made a plan to share parenting duties with Lun Lun. Every few hours the zoo staff swapped the cubs between Lun Lun and their workroom to make sure the cubs got equal time with mom. It was hard work, and Lun Lun didn’t even know she had twins! The cubs ate and slept, opened their eyes, and grew beautiful black and white coats. Fans watching around the world submitted name ideas for the cubs. Everyone cheered as the cubs took their first steps. As the cubs grew larger and more independent, excitement grew about their upcoming reunion. Would Lun Lun accept them when she finally met them both? Luckily for Lun Lun, motherhood came naturally.
My review: Who doesn't love pandas? They are the universal ambassadors of everything cute. Pandas are also of the most endangered species on the planet due to the destruction of their habitat. The conservation efforts have been constant, costly, and time consuming, but they are working. This book presents just that, the conservation efforts of Zoo Atlanta and their exceptional results. Lun Lun the panda surprised the staff when she gave birth to twins. The beautiful watercolor illustrations created by Anne Belov are a testament to the hard work that went into making sure both of them thrive and get accepted by their mother. There's no better way to help a child understand the importance of wildlife conservation than to allow them to see for themselves what goes into it and the rewards it offers. Highly recommended to parents, guardians, libraries, and bookstores.
Publisher: Histria Kids (September 6, 2022)
Language: English
Hardcover: 48 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1592111640
Reading age: 5 - 7 years
Digital review copy provided by Independent Publishers Group @ Edelweiss+