Mama Grizzly Bear
Margot Finke, Author
Gloria Gaulke Swan, Illustrator
Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc., October 2012
Suitable for: Ages 6-12 yrs.
Themes: Grizzly Bears, Conservation,Nature, Threats, Protection
Opening/Synopsis: “The great grizzly mama is awesome and wild/She’ll tear you to bits if you threaten her child/With her shaggy coat flying, she hunts down a meal/Her sharp teeth and claws make it look like a steal.” Follow Mama Grizzly bear through the year as she hunts for food, prepares for winter hibernation and gives birth to her cubs. By spring the cubs are ready to play and explore their new world. But, Mama will spend the spring and summer teaching them lessons in survival, foraging for food and fishing.
Why I like this book: Margot Finke is known for her beautiful rhyming picture books. She has written a charming and informative book for children about Grizzly bears. It is a great classroom book to teach children about the North American Grizzly bears. Finke’s goal is to inspire a new generation of children to feel compassion towards animals that are threatened or endangered. She hopes that some day they will want to take an active role in protecting them from their fiercest enemy — man — who cuts down their habitat. The illustrations by the late GLoria Gaulke Swan, are rich and warm in color, and the detail is inviting.
Resources: Margot Finke has created a fun section For Cool Kids at the end of the book where children can find resources on conservation for Grizzly Bears, free Grizzly Screensavers, and Grizzly Bear eCards. The last page of the book is a Word Puzzle. She also has a fun place on her website called Wild US Critters, where children can learn about grizzlies and other US animals.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
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