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A Panda Grows Up
Follows the activities and adventures of a panda from before his birth until five years of age when he looks for a mate.
- GenresAnimals
Paperback
First published February 10, 1993
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April 17, 2026
The illustrations are a highlight—another bear story where the texture and softness really stand out, especially for a book from the ’90s. Visually, it has a lot of charm.
The book was clearly written to introduce kids to natural science, focusing on the growth of a panda and weaving in factual information along the way. While that intention is great, the storytelling itself felt just okay. I found myself thinking there are stronger stories—like Verdi by Janell Cannon and her other animal-centered books.
It did spark some interesting thoughts beyond the story itself—like how few pandas actually live in the wild (roughly around 1,800 based on past estimates) and how closely they’re managed by China through long-term conservation and loan programs with zoos around the world—an interesting kind of “monopoly” on one very specific animal.
The book was clearly written to introduce kids to natural science, focusing on the growth of a panda and weaving in factual information along the way. While that intention is great, the storytelling itself felt just okay. I found myself thinking there are stronger stories—like Verdi by Janell Cannon and her other animal-centered books.
It did spark some interesting thoughts beyond the story itself—like how few pandas actually live in the wild (roughly around 1,800 based on past estimates) and how closely they’re managed by China through long-term conservation and loan programs with zoos around the world—an interesting kind of “monopoly” on one very specific animal.
Displaying 1 of 1 review