First Opinion: Two Books That Explore and Discover Places and Cultures

These are beautiful books that explore and celebrate different cultural ways that will be foreign to most 21st century readers who are living in a city with an urban lifestyle. Interestingly, they both depict their characters celebrating life and death. Alicia Potter’s title appropriately foreshadows the main character’s scattering of her husband’s ashes, while Nivola’s title suggests the importance of village holiday dress traditions. Both are worthy of purchase for school and home libraries and classroom sharing, because they can encourage shared discussions about different traditions and will encourage their readers to re-read and consider how others celebrate passages in life. Mrs. Harkness and the Panda, written by Alicia Potter and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, successfully explores the historical events leading to the discovery and delivery of the first panda cub to the United States, telling how William Harkness set out on an expedition to find a panda cub and return with it to the USA. Meanwhile, his dutiful wife remained at home in New York where she designed tea gowns, even though she wanted to accompany her husband on the adventure considered too dangerous for women.