Quick Booktalk
This informational picture book covers the gestation, birth, and life of Bei Bei the panda, who began life at the National Zoo in 2015 and four years later moved to his permanent home in China.
About the Illustrations
This book is filled with wonderful photographs of Bei Bei from every phase of his life. Also included are images of people visiting Bei Bei at the zoo and Bei Bei's first birthday cake.
Story Time Possibilities
This book is too long to read aloud in a typical story time, but it could certainly be read aloud to an elementary school audience over a couple of sessions. My oldest daughter watched the panda cam with me when Bei Bei was a baby, so she loves the fact that we now have his whole story. My second daughter, who was born around the same time as Bei Bei is also getting a kick out of it. They are probably more motivated to listen to this book than a kid who doesn't have a personal connection to the panda.
Readers Advisory
This book does a nice job of introducing facts about Bei Bei as well as general facts about pandas and endangered species. For families who visited Bei Bei when he was here, this will be a wonderful walk down memory lane. For kids who have an affinity for pandas, this is also the perfect book, as there is a picture of Bei Bei on nearly every page and lots of details about his life.
Disclosure
I received a physical copy of Bei Bei Goes Home from Smithsonian Kids/Candlewick Entertainment in exchange for an honest review.