Written and Illustrated by: Bob Barner
Recommended for: Children Ages 4-8
Themes: Non-Fiction, Science
Summary:
A wonderful and informative book about bears from around the world. Gives children some insight into the lives of bear cubs, their relationship with their mothers, and what it is that they eat. This books gives information to children about: Polar Bears, Sun Bears, Giant Pandas, Spectacled Bears, Black Bears, Moon Bears, Sloth Bears, and Grizzly Bears.
Children will love the wonderful illustrations and learning that young bear cubs come in many different types and they do some of the same things that young children do. They also enjoy the map located a the back of this text that shows them where each type of bear lives within the world.
Suggestions for the Classroom:
This text could be used in several different ways within the classroom: to aid in teaching students about mammals; to teach children more about bears; to show children that there are several different species of bears; as a pre-cursor to a zoo trip; and as a non-fiction pair to fictional text such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and The Bear Snores On.
*Pre-Reading Activities: Discuss with students that there are many different types of bears. Show them pictures of some different types of popular types of bears and see if they are able to identify the names of each (Polar Bear, Brown Bear, Black Bear, etc.). Begin filling in a KWL chart with the students about bears. Ask them to tell you diffent things that they know about Bears, write this under the K section of the chart. Then ask them to come about with a couple of questions about Bears that they may have (select only a few, 3-4, as I am sure that many questions will come up), record these under the W section of the chart.
*During Reading: Ask the students to tell you some of the different foods that the bears eat during the book? (honey, bamboo, fish, seals, etc.) Do they all have the same diet? (no) What are some of the activities that the bears completed in the book? (climbing, sleeping, cuddling), etc.)
*Post-Reading Activities: Show the students the map at the end of the book and discuss with them that each bear is located in different regions around the world. Give them pictures of Polar Bears, Black Bears and Grizzly Bears and a Map of North America to color. After the students finish coloring the pictures, model for them how to paste them onto their map to show where you can find each type located in North America (leave your map displayed for the children to refernce to). Give them time to paste their bears on their map, just as you had done.
About the Author/Illustrator:
Bob Barner is the author and illustrator of many children's non-fiction books, including: Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!; Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere!; Stars! Stars! Stars!; Dinosaur Bones and Bug Safari. He has enjoyed drawing since the age of three and throughout his life he has written and illustrated over 25 children's books. He graduated from The Columbus College of Art and Design and has held jobs as a comic-strip Illustrator, and has worked as an art director in advertising agencies and in art studios. He now enjoys visiting schools and sharing his experiences and books with young children. He maintains his own website where visitors can learn more about him, complete jigsaw puzzles, view student work samples, and where teachers and administrators can contact him to speak at their schools.
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