Garden of the Spirit Bear: Life in the Great Northern Rainforest - Hardcover

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0618212590 ISBN 13: 9780618212590

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2004

Synopsis

Far to the north along the Pacific coast of Canada lies an area where abundant rainfall nourishes everything from bright green grasses and colorful wildflowers to ancient, towering cedar, spruce, and sitka trees. This rainforest is the perfect habitat for salmon and a wide variety of birds, insects, and animals, most notably a unique type of black bear called the spirit bear, which is sometimes clothed in creamy white fur and has become legendary among the First Nation people who live in the region.
Noted naturalist Dorothy Hinshaw Patent describes the elusive spirit bear and its home, which is in danger of being destroyed by loggers and settlers as they clear-cut the ancient forests for lumber. Every part of the delicate ecosystem is threatened. But steps are now being taken to set aside a protected spirit bear sanctuary—a living museum where people could come and see the spirit bear’s realm. The beautiful, detailed watercolors by Deborah Milton will transport readers to this magnificent yet vanishing region.

About this title

About the Author:

Dorothy Hinshaw Patent holds a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is the recipient of the Washington Post--Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award for her body of work, which includes more than 130 books for children and young adults on subjects ranging from biodiversity to the spirit bear. She lives with her husband in Missoula, Montana. You can learn more about her on her web site: www.dorothyhinshawpatent.com.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-5–Patent introduces readers to the area of British Columbia's coastal rainforest that is home to Kermode bears (sometimes called spirit bears), a rare type of black bear that is sometimes born with a white coat. The author provides basic information about the structure of old-growth forests and the flora and fauna found in different layers from canopy to forest floor. By concentrating on the bears' interactions with various plants and animals, she helps readers see the interrelationships that form a delicate balance for all of the inhabitants. Also described are threats posed by logging and the attempts of the Valhalla Wilderness Society to establish the Spirit Bear Conservancy. Milton's watercolor illustrations depict vast, unspoiled landscapes and show the animals at home in the forest. Rebecca Johnson's A Walk in the Boreal Forest (Carolrhoda, 2001) offers a general introduction to temperate rainforests. Patent's work highlights the threat to one irreplaceable stretch of wilderness and the creatures that live there.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
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About this edition

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0618212590
• ISBN 13: 9780618212590
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Milton Deborah J.