Mrs. Harkness and the Panda

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda
by Alicia Potter
illustrated by Melissa Sweet

In 1934 very few had ever seen,  or even knew of, the panda.   Few had dared to travel to the bamboo forests of China to see the mysterious animal, but Ruth Harkness knew her husband was one who would be able to make the journey.  Although she wanted to go with him to China to find a panda, at the time very few felt women should be explorers.    Waiting at home while her husband journeyed through China, she received the heartbreaking news that her husband had died in China before completing his quest.   Despite the doubts of many, Mrs. Harkness decided to travel to China and brave the bamboo forests so that she could complete her husband's quest to find a panda.

This is a well-written story about the history of the panda and how the first panda was brought back to the United States.   While sharing this story with students, be sure to include the author's note at the end, which explains how, in the 1930s, the views of animal conservation were very different than they are now.   The author also explains that, although what Mrs. Harkness did nearly eighty years ago would likely not be done today, her actions helped bring world-wide attention to the panda.