In 2008, an earthquake in northern China destroyed the Wolong Panda Reserve. Inspired by this devastating, real-life event, this picture book tells the story of a mother panda and her cub that are shaken from the trees in a nature reserve when an earthquake hits. Frightened but unharmed, the animals flee across a paved road and into a neighboring forest, "farther and farther away from their home." After surviving on roots and stream water, mother and child are rescued by wildlife workers, who sedate the pair with darts that deliver "medicine to put both giant pandas to sleep" and return them to their protected home at the reserve. The human figures in the softly textured pastel illustrations have a somewhat stilted quality, but children will easily connect with the animals' fear and relief, conveyed in their expressive faces. Concluding spreads offer curriculum links with facts and activities focused on both giant pandas and earthquakes. Pair this with Sandra Markle's Finding Home (2008) for another conservation story about how humans can help animals displaced by natural disaster.

PreS-Gr 2 This suspenseful, fictionalized picture book is based on a 2008 earthquake in Northern China. When the wall of a nature reserve enclosure tumbles during a quake, a frightened giant panda and her cub, Tengfei, run away. Liling seeks safety, and the two spend the night in a shallow cave. The next day mother and cub explore their surroundings, searching for a way home. The pandas are suddenly shot with medicated darts, and humans return the pair to the reserve. Perry quickly draws readers into this well-told story. It is an interesting and rare look at how animals are affected by natural disasters. Detwiler's painterly spreads, rich in deep greens and browns, show a lifelike Liling and Tengfei. Like a panda's fur, two colors, white and black, are used for the type. A "Creative Minds" section supplements the tale with material on earthquakes, the Richter scale, and pandas. Perry's story can stand alone without the extras, but teachers needing lesson-plan material will find the back matter helpful. For a look at a panda cub's first year of life, pair this book with Caroline Arnold's A Panda's World (Picture Window, 2006). A worthy, informative picture book. Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH