Gibbons has introduced readers to dozens of subjects, from apples to wolves, in her straightforward books. Here she turns her attention to the rare giant panda of China. Fascinating panda facts abound: Pandas have pink skin under their white fur and black skin under their black fur. The average panda consumes 27 pounds (12 kg) of bamboo a day! A mother panda weighs 900 times more than her tiny baby when it is born, yet somehow manages not to squish it. As ever, Gibbons encourages early readers by sticking to the facts and keeping her sentence structure simple. Stylized, instructive watercolor paintings convey a genuine affection for this appealing animal. A map of China showing the diminishing panda population is included, as are more tantalizing panda facts at the close of the book. A useful addition to any endangered species collection. Karin Snelson Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved