Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin Jr.
Illustrator: Eric Carle

Henry Holt and Company / Macmillan Young Listeners
July 19, 2011/ ISBN 978-1427212542
Picture Book with CD / Unabridged, Book & CD set edition
Amazon

Reviewed by Jan Fields

Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle bring their delightful teamwork to endangered species -- this time with the added bonus of Gwyneth Paltrow's soothing read. The text itself introduces a parade of endangered animals soaring, charging, swinging, and swimming their way through the story. Although the simple story is certainly familiar since this is Martin's third trip through the animal kingdom, the fact that the creatures in the story are all endangered and might someday truly be difficult to "see" in the wild, adds a nice poignancy for the adult reader. The addition of the CD brings the power of music to the story as we hear the sneaky padding tune that signifies the red wolf or the delicate flight of the whooping crane or the lyrical swim of the sea turtle. I especially liked the end where each of the animals is revisited in a list and as Ms. Paltrow says each name, we hear a signature change in the music to signify each of the animals. It really added depth to the simple text and beautiful collage art. And as a special treat, you can hear the same story read in Spanish by Adriana Sananes (this time without the musical background.)