Nonfiction Picture Book Cybils Winner!

We have a winner for the nonfiction picture book Cybils award! I was on the committe for nonfiction picture books and we all  agreed that Mrs. Harkness and the Panda was our favorite. Take a look at the book and the other winners here. I loved this book and think you will, too.

Nonfiction Picture Books

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda By Alicia Potter, illustrated by Melissa Sweet Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers Nominated by: Cathy Potter

Who could forget the endearing face of a panda bear like the one on the cover of Mrs. Harkness and the Panda? It is more difficult to remember, however, who brought the first panda  bear to America. In 1934, when the story starts, only a few people even  knew pandas existed. Mrs. Harkness, a young New York dress designer,  seemed to be the least-likely person to go to far-off China to look for  one. Yet when her husband dies during an attempt to find a panda, off  she goes on the adventure of a lifetime to fulfill his quest.

Reading this book is an adventure of its own. It delves into China with rich  colors, using actual Chinese writing on the paper in the background of  the illustrations, photographs of Chinese coins, and even including some well-placed Chinese words. Each page and each reading reveals new  discoveries.

The story of a young woman heading off into the unknown is one of bravery  and perseverance that is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers. Mrs. Harkness would be perfect to introduce a geography or history lesson about China.  Although it is a biography, this book is also likely to stimulate  conversations about animal conservation, particularly discussions about  endangered animals and how our views of how to care for rare animals  have changed. It is truly a memorable and inspiring book.

See a complete review at Wrapped in Foil.