Joanne Ryder is the award-winning author of numerous children's books about the natural world, including Little Panda: The World Welcomes Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo. Some of her other books include Bears Out There, Chipmunk Song, The Snail's Spell, and White Bear, Ice Bear. Before becoming a full-time writer, Joanne worked as a children's book editor in New York City. She lives in California. The World-Famous San Diego Zoo is recognized as one of the world's premier animal parks and has more than four thousand rare and endangered birds, mammals, and reptiles, situated in one hundred acres of award-winning tropical gardens. This famous destination attracts more than three million visitors a year. You can learn more about the zoo and polar bears at www.SanDiegoZoo.org.