On the slopes of Misty Mountain, a mother panda cuddles her baby. His name is Pi-shu, and when he was born he was no bigger than one of the patches around his mother’s eyes. Pi-shu the little panda loves to explore the slopes of the mountain where he lives with his mother Fei-Fei. One day when Pi-shu ventures farther down the mountainside, he encounters people for the first time. They are clearing more and more trees from the forest. It is no longer safe to stay, so Pi-shu and Fei-Fei set out on an arduous journey across the mountains in search of a new home. John Butler’s compelling words and his exquisite, lifelike paintings help young readers understand the joy and tenderness of giant panda families. A Panda Facts page at the end of the book invites readers to learn more about this endangered species.
John Butler has written more than a dozen books for children, and illustrated over sixty. His books have been published in more than 20 countries. He won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book Award (Gold Book Award) for 'Good Night Little Bunny', (Candlewick), in 2011. He was awarded the Florida Reading Association Children's Book of the Year (silver medal) (2002, 2003), and the Bank Street College of Education New York - Best Children's Books of the Year (2002 and 2004) as well as other awards in the UK where he lives. John has had a lifelong fascination with wildlife and his books all reflect this interest.
He has had a long career in illustration working for a very wide range of clients including Time magazine, Sesame Street and The Sunday Times in London. More of John's work can be seen on www.johnbutlerart.com. and www.littlebluezebra.com
He says, "Children's publishing has been very inspiring for me. It is extremely rewarding to work with so many innovative and creative people who all have the same sole purpose of producing books to please and stimulate children."
