Review by Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. Like Ryder's Little Panda (2004), this photo-essay introduces children to an engaging, true story from the San Diego Zoo (often cumbersomely referred to here as the World-Famous San Diego Zoo ). The stars are rescued polar bear twins Tatqiq and Kalluk, who progress through the photo-rich pages from needy, quarantined cubs to fully acclimated adults with mastery over their outdoor habitat. The images, all provided by the zoo and most sharply focused and close-up, will elicit coos from readers as they see the cubs taking their first tentative dip in an indoor pool, or emerging brown as grizzlies from a roll in the dirt. However, fact-hoarding youngsters may feel disappointed by a text that favors impressionistic responses to the photos (Moving outside, white bears look up, gazing at the sky--so big, so blue ) and confines more straightforward information to passages printed in tiny, italicized type. This can't replace more thorough nonfiction explorations of these popular beasts, but the immediate view of a poignant zoo drama offers rewarding browsing for animal enthusiasts. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2006 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Orphaned polar bears are the darlings of this engaging book that chronicles their growth and development at the San Diego Zoo. Only three months old when they first arrived there, Kalluk and Tatqiq are shown adjusting to their new home in large, full-color photographs. Playful and inquisitive, they explore the new exhibit by sniffing and investigating. Kalluk, the braver of the two, is quick to act, while his sister thinks before responding. As in Little Panda (S & S, 2001), Ryder provides two lines of text-one for very young children that consists of short exclamatory sentences in large type, and the second for older readers interested in scientific and developmental information, and set in a smaller, italicized font. Valuable for both curriculum support and recreational reading, this book will win the hearts of many children.-Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Sublimely photogenic polar bear twins are the subject of this picture book. Orphaned at three months, the twins needed human intervention to survive. Simple text describes the cubs' rescue, care, and experiences at the zoo, and plentiful photos amply illustrate the bears' appeal for zoo visitors and readers alike. Further information is provided in smaller text on each page. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ryder supplies two sets of captions in different point sizes--one for younger, the other for more able readers--to a gallery of big, color photos featuring two adorably fuzzy, alert-looking polar bear cubs in this engaging follow up to Little Panda: The World Welcomes Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo (2001). Orphaned at just three months old, the bears (later named Kalluk and Tatqiq) explore the indoor pen where they're cared for until old enough to be introduced in stages to their outdoor habitat. As they grow up in the photos, Ryder describes their behavior, intelligence, distinct personalities and comfortable relationship with each other and with zoo-goers. Perfect fare for young fans after Miela Ford's Bear Play (1995). (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
