Pandas (Worldlife Library) [Paperback]

Heather Angel (Author)

Book Description

Series: Worldlife Library | Publication Date: July 26, 1998

This top-selling series introduces the wild creatures of the world and examines the natural world. Good general introductions for ages 10+, these volumes contain the knowledge, personal experiences, and research of leading naturalists and scientists, accompanied by stunning photography. Unless otherwise noted (*), all volumes are sturdy paperback.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This beautifully photographed book covers the panda's home and habits, feeding behavior, breeding, and survival in the face of human encroachment and deforestation. The author traveled to remote areas of China to photograph the elusive, endangered giant panda--it took her eight trips to find one. Her photos of both giant and red pandas in the wild are incredible, both fortifying and belying the image most Westerners have of cute, cuddly zoo animals. This is a fascinating introduction to a disappearing species.

From Booklist

An appealing book about an appealing animal, Pandas will serve as a good introduction to one of the world's most endangered and most beloved species. The author, a trained zoologist and professional wildlife photographer, has traveled extensively in China and writes eloquently of the landscape and plants of the mountainous regions that are the giant panda's home. The book is divided into six short chapters, covering such topics as general behavior, feeding habits, and breeding. Although not encyclopedic, the text touches on the highlights of the behavior and ecology of the giant panda, with one short chapter on the red (or lesser) panda. What makes this work attractive is the numerous photographs, most of which show the giant panda in its wooded home, sitting in trees or eating its favorite food, bamboo. The high quality of the photographs and the popularity of the subject recommend this book for all libraries. Nancy Bent --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press (July 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896583643
• ISBN-13: 978-0896583641
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 9.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,335,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Heather Angel is a leading peripatetic wildife photographer who is now concentrating on documenting the wildlife and remote parts of China - with three books on pandas to date icluding the best-selling Panda and the expansive Green China, with Exploring Natural China published in Fall 2010. Other popular wildlife titles include Wild Kew, Puffins, Snow Monkeys and Living Dinosaurs. She also writes practical wildlife photography books - Macro through a Nikon lens. Always an enthusiastic communicator, Heather tutors workshops worldwide and her work has been recognised by many awards in Britain and overseas. She was President of the Royal Photographic Society from 1984-86.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy-to-understand guide to giant pandas, November 20, 2005

By 

Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pandas (Worldlife Library) (Paperback)

This book, with lots of pictures of the cute black-and-white aniaml, makes a great coffee-table book, but it's also packed with easy-to-understand materials, facts, about the giant panda.

The author is a British marine biologist-turned wild life photographer who has traveled to southwest China many times to photograph wildlife, including the giant panda. The photos in the book are from her collection, and most of the pandas featured are young ones who tend to exhibit an insatiable curiosity about the world and about bamboos. In one word, the pandas are just cute.

But this is a not a picturebook. It's a book about pandas, their history, their homes and habitat, and their various behaviors. At the time of publication it had not been decided what family the giant panda actually belonged to -- it was not until 2002 or so that DNA analysis "conclusively" concluded that the panda is actually a bear. Other than this, the book gives accurate facts about aspects of the panda. There is also a short chapter, and a couple pictures, on the red panda, aka the lesser panda.

I recommend the book to anyone interested in facts about pandas because it tells you pretty much everything about these cute creatures as well as presents the materials in an easy-to-understand manner. The author writes clearly, and the pictures of pandas enhance the reading experience.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pandas Forever!, August 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pandas (Worldlife Library) (Paperback)

Being a huge fan of the Panda, I am a very biased reviewer. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book about my favorite animal. The details and histories of the panda were not the best that I have ever read, nor were they the least filled with information.

Therefore, if you enjoy the panda, I would recommend that you add it to your collection of books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent wildlife photography accompanies text on pandas, December 9, 2007

By 

Pandababy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pandas (Worldlife Library) (Paperback)

This slim book of panda facts and photography might as well have been titled: The Secret Life of the Giant Panda. In pictures and text, pandas are revealed as playful, curious, affectionate and solitary creatures in their life in the wilds of China. Heather Angel has done a magnificent job of capturing the elusive panda in her photography that illustrates this book. My favorite picture, on page 51, is that of a young panda cub sliding on its back down an icy slope in utter abandon.

Love baby animals? Love wildlife? Care about these endangered animals? If I could have only one book on pandas (out of the several in my library) this would be the one.