By Brenda Z. Guiberson, Henry Holt, $16.99, 40 pages
Brenda Z. Guiberson’s Moon Bearis a story of the rarely encountered Asiatic black bear. Readers get to follow one illusive bear from the time it wakes up from a long winter’s hibernation through rediscovering all the sensory experiences through the four seasons.
Guiberson’s question and answer style give children the opportunity to explore their imaginations and come up with an answer after the question is posed. In addition, it educates readers on the tree-dwelling bear.
Two-time Caldecott Honor recipient, Ed Young, uses a combination of drawings, photographs and torn paper to bring the story alive with mesmerizing illustrations in a collage format.
It is evident in the writing that Guiberson has a passion for the Moon Bear. That evidence is further solidified on the final two pages where readers have the pleasure of viewing six photographs of Moon Bears relaxing and playing at the Animals Asia Moon Bear Rescue Center in China. Guiberson offers readers the chance to learn more and contribute to the Moon Bear rescue through a website.
Overall, this is recommended reading for elementary aged children, and could be used in class as a springboard to research animals.
Reviewed by Linda Welz