The Bears and the Magic Masks

Gr 3 Up–Another stunner of First Nation folklore from Dandurand. Captivating imagery contributes to the weaving of a tale explaining the relationship between the Kwantlen people and the bears. As a gesture of gratitude for saving his life, a carver creates gifts of magical animal masks to leave for the bears. In a surprising twist, the bears learn that when they wear the masks, they become that animal. The bears have the chance to experience life as an eagle, a raven, a coyote, a wolf, and a Sasquatch. They get to fly, howl, dance, and even surprise the carver. Readers will be enchanted by the bold colors, geometric designs, and fanciful creatures. The familiar fairy tale cadence will provide structure to the bears’ experiences and the carver’s surprise. And the bears offer a delightful prank to keep readers on their toes. Adults may be just as curious as children to go searching through the forest for the glow of the masks in the moonlight. Any unit or lesson on Indigenous folklore will be enhanced by including this work. This book is also perfect for lessons for younger students on story structure, sequencing, or retelling.