Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When a panda family arrives on the shores of Bearland, the inhabitants are friendly but a little nonplussed. The pandas look so different: they're black, white, and roly-poly, while everyone is Bearland is tall, lean, and monochromatic. "Mr. and Mrs. Loo felt so fortunate to be able to come and make a new home in Bearland," writes Rim (the Birdie series). And indeed, Bearland's inhabitants-portrayed as tidy, self-possessed, doll-like figures with an affinity for baseball caps and bandanas-seem like living proof that the good life is available to all. But the Loos' son, Chee-Kee, is acutely aware of how his family stands out: they eat different foods, he doesn't know what a skateboard is, and even his kite looks different. Rim, who based this fable on her parents' experience immigrating to the U.S. from South Korea, makes Chee-Kee's isolation touching and profound-so much so that her happy ending feels rushed and pat. But the book offers children a way to participate in ongoing public conversations about immigration and about what genuine inclusion asks of everyone involved. Ages 4-8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Inspired by her family's journey from Korea, Rim addresses the challenge of moving to a new community. Traveling by boat across the vast ocean from the Island of Coney, a panda named Chee-Kee Loo and his family come to live in Bearland. Watercolor and collage are used to depict the sometimes daunting process of adjusting to a new land with new rules. Thought bubbles reveal that the residents of Bearland have lots of questions. But what they actually say is, "Hello! It's nice to meet you, Loo family." Some plot choices are surprising. Why does Chee-Kee need to help the other bears in order to fit in? Why does he get a ball out of a tree that both bears and pandas could climb? And why does he use bamboo (panda food) to create a pole vault? These questions could be used as a teaching moment. Welcoming new members into the community or the classroom is complicated. What could the bears have done differently? How do we deal with assumptions and questions about newcomers? Be sure to read the backstory provided by the author for a discussion of the topic. VERDICT This is a simple, gentle selection that works as a good conversation starter to nurture empathy and encourage inclusion and a sense of community. Pair it with an interactive exercise to illustrate the important issues introduced.-Eva Thaler-Sroussi, Glencoe Public Library, IL © Copyright 2017. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Like many immigrants, Chee-Kee Loo the panda feels out of place when he first moves to Bearland with his family. Drawing from her parents' own experiences moving from South Korea to the United States, Rim recounts an abridged version of the often told immigration story. Even though the bears in Bearland are welcoming and friendly, little Chee-Kee can't "help noticing that he was just sodifferent" and feels he "won't ever fit in." In this new place, bears use forks, but Chee-Kee uses chopsticks or eats with his hands; sunglasses are the norm, but he wears a conical sun hat; kites are diamond-shaped, but his is rectangular. Mr. and Mrs. Loo, on the other hand, make the best of the situation. When a little bear cub tells them, "You look funny!" Mrs. Loo replies, "Oh, thank you. You look funny too! How lovely." One day, Chee-Kee is sitting in his favorite tree when some local bears get themselves into a fix. Chee-Kee springs into action. He realizes that because he's different, he's able to save the day. Channeling Japanese sumi-e ink painting and Chinese brush painting in combination with other mixed media, Rim reproduces the energetic, quirky style of her Birdie books. She creates a whimsical world where bears in every shape, color, and size live happily together. A cute take on the immigrant experience that will appeal to young readers who themselves feel different. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
