The Salmon Bears

Gr 5—8—Read's conversational text and McAllister's excellent photos provide a perfect framework for this evocative look at the big bears of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, and an intriguing investigation of its ecological pattern of dependency. The authors present a round of seasons from one winter to the next, touching upon such topics as the effects of fish farms on wild salmon populations, what happens during a salmon run, and what the future may hold for the fish, the bears, and the Great Bear Rainforest itself. Extensive bear data on size, diet, range, habitat, and family life (sows and cubs) is sure to please most researchers. Sections on "Spirit Bears" (a genetically different group of "white" black bears), and the descriptions of the complex web of life created by an old, established specialized habitat round out the presentation. Information boxes consist of one question and an answer ("Is the Spirit Bear related to the polar bear?). Superbly readable, informative, and attractive, this book provides a clear picture of a pristine environment and its major inhabitants, both of which are under pressure from human encroachment.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY