Seasons of the Bear: A Yosemite Story

K-Gr 3—It is winter in Yosemite Park, and deep within a cave, two newborn black bear cubs yowl and begin to grow. Readers watch as the mother bear nurses the cubs until the scent of spring's new growth introduces them to a new delicacy: soft, nutritious grasses emerging from under the snow. As the season changes from spring to summer, the cubs learn to explore, romp, and search for tasty treats like grubs. They also encounter the perils of automobiles, rushing rivers, and adult male bears. As summer leans into fall, a wildfire threatens Yosemite's wildlife, but the mother leads her cubs out of danger. The story comes full circle as the bears bulk up for winter; they are shown searching for acorns and heading back to the den as snow falls to the ground. Lyrically told with numerous sensory details, this tale about a year in the life of a bear and her cubs is presented in large, realistically depicted illustrations opposite each page of text. An author's note provides additional information and, most important, the warning never to give human food to bears. This book would serve as a good mentor text for teachers who want to demonstrate the possibilities of narrative or creative nonfiction.