Pandas' Earthquake Escape

Pandas' Earthquake Escape is a fictional story based on a real-life event. In real life, XiXi, a giant panda did escape from the destroyed Wolong Panda Reserve when the 7.9 earthquake rocked Northern China on May 12, 2008. Author Phyllis Perry uses the adventures of a mother panda, LiLing, and her one-year old cub, Tengfei, to teach children about earthquakes, animal survival, and to reinforce a mother’s instinct to protect her child. After the quake, mother and cub run from the wreckage. Confused and afraid, they get lost! How will they survive outside their reserve? Will they find food? Will they find shelter? And will they safely endure the earthquake after-shocks? The For Creative Minds education section includes: Endangered Giant Pandas, Life Cycle Sequencing Activity, Giant Panda Fun Facts, Shake, Rattle & Roll—Earthquakes, The Richter Scale and Magnitude Ranges, and Where in the World? Earthquake Chart & Map. Additional free teaching activities and interactive quizzes are available at the Sylvan Dell Publishing website.

Phyllis J. Perry is the author of more than 70 books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for children and adults. Phyllis worked with the Boulder, Colorado, Valley Schools as a teacher, principal, curriculum specialist, and director of talented and gifted education before taking early retirement to write full time. She is active in a number of writing-related organizations. She is a member of the Colorado Authors' League and of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She participates in the Colorado Council of the International Reading Association and lives in Boulder with her husband, David. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Susan Detwiler is the illustrator of several books for children including The First Teddy Bear and The Wonderful Bicycle Parade. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Her illustrations have appeared in the children’s magazines, Highlights For Children and Ladybug. Susan’s artwork has also been used for puzzles, games, and more than one hundred greeting cards. Susan lives in Maryland and received her education at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.