"Mrs. Harkness and the Panda" by Melissa Sweet tells the inspiring true story of Ruth Harkness, an adventurous American socialite who defied societal expectations in the 1930s. After her husband passes away, she embarks on an expedition to China to find a giant panda, a rare and endangered creature. With determination and courage, Ruth navigates the challenges of a male-dominated world of exploration and embarks on a journey that takes her through the mountains and into the heart of the wild. Along the way, she forges a deep bond with the panda she eventually brings back to the U.S., transforming the way people perceive this magnificent species. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book is aimed at children at US kindergarten-3rd grade.

This book has been graded for interest at 5-8 years.

There are 40 pages in this book. This book was published in 2012 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers .

Alicia Potter is the author of two picture books: Fritz Danced the Fandango, illustrated by Ethan Long (Scholastic) and the forthcoming Mrs. Harkness and the Panda, illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Melissa Sweet (Knopf). She is a children's book reviewer for FamilyFun and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Alicia Potter lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, Birgitta Sif lived in and around Scandanavia and America while growing up. She completed her BFA from Cornell University and worked as a graphic designer in New York before enrolling on Anglia Ruskin's Illustration MA course in Cambridge. Her debut picture book, Oliver, won the Icelandic Dimmalimm Prize, was endorsed by Amnesty and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Birgitta lives with her family in Sweden. Find her online at www. birgittasif. com and on twitter as @birgittasif. Melissa Sweet has illustrated many books for children, including Charlotte in Giverny . She lives in Rockport, Maine.