Pip and the Bamboo Path

PreS-Gr 2–A bittersweet story about a young red panda and his mother who are displaced from their home and forced to seek shelter elsewhere. In a time when environmental destruction and urbanization are very common, this story reminds readers of the impact humans have on wildlife. The story begins in the bamboo forests of the Himalayas. Young Pip has his home torn apart by machines and he and his mother leave their once flourishing forest. On their tiring journey, they meet a bird who tells a tale of a great bamboo path that will lead them to safety. Through unknown wilderness and overcrowded cities the pair seeks safe haven on the other side of the mountains. While this story has an uplifting ending it does not attempt to answer to the complicated topic it addresses. The large images dominate the page and use a pencil crayon element to blend color and provide dimension. The beautifully drawn pictures are detailed and eye-catching, using dark and light hues to set the tone and convey the emotions of the characters. When the two pandas are lost, the pages are dark and gray, but when they are happy and safe the colors are bright. The brief text is always secondary to the images, allowing them to lead the story.