Jasper's Story

February 15, 2013
Rescued and rehabilitated by the Moon Bear Rescue Centre near Chengdu, China, an endangered, abused bear becomes the ambassador for forgiveness and survival in this true story. Chinese moon bears sport a yellow band across their chests reminiscent of the crescent moon. Captured and imprisoned in small cages on bear farms, moon bears are exploited for bear bile, used in Chinese herbal medicines. When a truckload of rescued bears arrives at the Centre, caregivers notice one extremely thin, injured bear that they name Jasper. Following surgery, Jasper wakes up in a spacious cage where he can sit, stand and stretch. For the first time, he has plenty of food and water and is treated kindly. As he recovers, Jasper explores the indoor bear house and outside enclosure, where caregivers teach him to search for food, use his muscles and play. Eventually, Jasper becomes a "strong, robust, and happy bear," able to forgive and trust humans. While focusing on Jasper and his rehabilitated spirit, the text alerts readers to Chinese bear farms and the good work Animals Asia has done to rescue and provide sanctuary for moon bears. With photographic realism, the luminous illustrations enhance this moving saga of Jasper's journey, including amazing close-ups of his expressive face. Heartening peek at moon bear rescue. (author & illustrator notes) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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March 15, 2013
Grades 2-5 Get ready to wipe away a few tears after reading this. Robinson has dedicated her life to rescuing the bears of China that have been abused by those extracting bear bile for use in traditional Asian medicines. Jasper is one of them, a moon bear, held in a tiny cage for 15 years before arriving at Robinson's center in China, called Animals Asia. At first, he is wary, even violent, but as Robinson and her team methodically integrate him into the community, Jasper becomes the poster bear for all that can be accomplished. Eventually, he's an ambassador to newcomer bears, touching and patting them to make them feel more comfortable. The text is a bit overwritten in the beginning, but as the book follows Jasper's progress, it settles down to a moving narrative. The sturdy acrylic illustrations are derived from van Frankenhuyzen's photographs taken at the sanctuary, and their tracking of Jasper's journey to wellness captures both the effort and emotion. A final two-page-spread afterword tells more about Robinson and her work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
This book focuses on one bear, Jasper, that was rescued by Jill Robinson from bear bile farming in China. Detracting from the nonfiction aspect of the book are the sentences sprinkled throughout the text attributing emotions to the moon bear: "He embraced his new life, and he seemed to have forgiven the past." Competent, carefully crafted art illustrates the well-intentioned story.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

April 1, 2013

Gr 1-4-After her first encounter with the horrific practice of bear farming in China, Robinson made it her life's work to rescue and rehabilitate as many of these abused animals as possible. She has also worked to end the cruel practice of bile extraction. Jasper's Story tells of one moon bear and how he came to symbolize the forgiveness and trust that come with love. He had been held in a tiny cage where he could neither sit nor move nor lie down for more than 10 years. At the time of his rescue, he was both physically and emotionally battered, but through the gentle care of Robinson and her helpers, he can play and interact with other bears and humans, and seems to have forgiven the cruelties that were once inflicted upon him. He sets a courageous example for both his bear companions and for his human advocates. And through the work of Robinson, bile farming is a waning practice in Asia. Poetic language and soft-toned realistic watercolor illustrations offer a story of courage and hope. Useful as a read aloud in conjunction with animal welfare and nature studies.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

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