Sandra Markle and the Lerner Publishing Group did an amazing job putting this book together! Readers not only learn about the plight of the Gobi bear, they learn about the efforts to save this species, and how these efforts will help other endangered species on the Gobi desert. We're given a history of conservation efforts in the region, as well as stumbling blocks that have come up and how they're being dealt with, discussion of how climate change is effecting the region, the role science is playing in the efforts, descriptions of the bears' habitat and way of life, and the current threat to the fragile stability of the tiny population of Gobi bears that remain- the so-called "ninja miners," illegal miners who sneak into the protected lands to mine gold. There is so much here to inspire young readers to pursue careers in natural science and conservation, as well as environmental and earth sciences. It's inspiring to see the combined efforts of the Mongolian government, international researchers, farmers, and citizens all working together to try to save the Gobi bear, and disheartening to see greed rear its ugly head to undermine those efforts.
The text is written well, entertaining while being informative, and paced nicely. The photographs and maps throughout the book add much to the experience, and the author's note, timeline, glossary, and suggested resources are a welcome addition. Definitely recommended.

#TheGreatBearRescue #NetGalley

The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle is the latest in a series of books about threatened and endangered animals. It is currently scheduled for release on September 1 2020. This book offers readers a fascinating look at Gobi bears—the rarest bears on the planet. These adorable animals face threats ranging from illegal gold miners to climate change. Find out more about these bears, which are considered a national treasure in Mongolia, and learn what scientists are doing to help this critically endangered species.

The Great Bear Rescue takes a look at the critically endangered Gobi Bear. Part of what makes them so special is what has made them so endangered. These bears have evolved to survive in a very specialized habitat- the Gobi desert in Mongolia. Since this is a desert, and they have to compete with other animals for food and water even under the best conditions, the added challenges of climate change and those seeking gold have caused their numbers serious harm. I was very interested to learn about the traits these brown bears share with grizzlies, and how they are very different. As usual, Markle does a good job of making the information accessible and interesting. The included images are very much a part of the narrative, and ad a great deal of visual interest. She also ties in the challenges faced by Polar Bears and includes a timeline and valuable backmatter for those interested in further research or checking out some of her source material.

Rescuing the Endangered Gobi Bear

Did you know that there is a type of bear that lives solely in the desert? The Gobi Bear does in the Gobi Desert of southern Mongolia and northern China. It is a harsh climate where they live, and the desert has gotten even less rainfall in recent years because of climate change. This book is jam packed full of information about the Gobi Bear. I especially liked the page that compares Gobi Bears to grizzlies (which are native to my neck of the woods), to which they are related. The book is full of photographs of the bears and shares a lot of information about the species, their habitat, and current rescue efforts. They are critically endangered, unfortunately. Those leading rescue efforts set up food stations for the bears so they can just walk up and get access to food. This book is probably the best suited or for middle graders who have an interest in endangered species (or like animals or bears).

Sandra Markle's books are always excellent, and The Great Bear Rescue does not disappoint. Markle is a wonderful photographer and an excellent writer. Her books are very appealing to the children she writes for and her tone encourages them to think and learn. An additional bonus is that her tone is not at all condescending, and her content is not "dumbed down" for her audience, so that adults who pick up these nonfiction picture books can also enjoy reading them and find much to learn. Thank you very much for an advance copy in exchange for review.

This terrific new book from Sandra Markle is about the Gobi Bears and how Mongolia is stepping up efforts with scientists to maintain the bear population. It describes how the citizens advocated for the bears and how scientists are gathering data and using the data to help stabilize the population. Super interesting.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait…there are bears in the Gobi desert? Apparently, there are! I had no idea – there are plenty of middle grade readers out there who probably also have no idea. So if you’ve got a middle grade level reader interested in science and the process behind studying rare animals, then this book will be a good choice for them. Also, if you just think bears are cool and had no idea they lived in the Gobi desert of all places, then you’ll enjoy this book.

I’d never heard of Gobi bears before, so this turned out to be an educational reading experience for both me and my children.

Gobi bears are not only rare, but they’re endangered. Living in a desert habitat makes it a challenge to find the food and water that they need to thrive. It’s no surprise that, like many other species, they’re threatened by humans as well. In this book, the author discusses what’s being done by the Gobi Bear Project researchers and others to help save these beautiful Gobi bears.

We loved reading about these special bears. Had I not found this book, I wonder if we would’ve ever discovered their existence. The book is thorough, covering everything from diet, habitat, features, and dangers, to conservation efforts and their future. The work and effort that has been done to save these bears by scientists, researchers, volunteers, and the government, is remarkable. This is an excellent example to share with kids, which highlights the power we possess to save our wonderful world of animals that we’re so fortunate to have.

The photography is stunning, the book is organized perfectly, and it’s easy for children to understand. This is such an important book! I’ll be recommending it to our local libraries and can’t wait to purchase a copy for our home library. I highly recommend it for all ages.

5*****