Fraser Bear - by Maggie de Vries (Paperback)

About the Book

One day a little girl accompanies her conservationist father as he tags a big black hibernating bear. Nestled beside her are two tiny cubs, a male and a female. The child names them Fraser and Samantha. She will remember them always, and one day will see Fraser again.
"Fraser Bear" follows the first two years in a black bear cub's life in the Pacific Northwest--from his first tentative steps outside his mother's den to the day when, alone now, he must find his own den for the winter's sleep. In between, his life is filled with play, learning, adventure, and the endless quest for food. Most important, he tries to learn the skill of salmon catching from his mother.
Eventually Fraser must leave the protection of his mother and sister and journey on by himself. This exciting story is illuminated by beautiful illustrations of Fraser and his adventures, uniting the cycles of bear and fish, whose lives are so importantly intertwined. A map of the area, glossary, and further information about bears and salmon complete this delightful nature story for young readers.

Book Synopsis

One day a little girl accompanies her conservationist father as he tags a big black hibernating bear. Nestled beside her are two tiny cubs, a male and a female. The child names them Fraser and Samantha. She will remember them always, and one day will see Fraser again.

Fraser Bear follows the first two years in a black bear cub's life in the Pacific Northwest--from his first tentative steps outside his mother's den to the day when, alone now, he must find his own den for the winter's sleep. In between, his life is filled with play, learning, adventure, and the endless quest for food. Most important, he tries to learn the skill of salmon catching from his mother.

Eventually Fraser must leave the protection of his mother and sister and journey on by himself. This exciting story is illuminated by beautiful illustrations of Fraser and his adventures, uniting the cycles of bear and fish, whose lives are so importantly intertwined. A map of the area, glossary, and further information about bears and salmon complete this delightful nature story for young readers.

About the Author

Maggie de Vries a writer, teacher, and editor, is the award-winning author of several children's books, including How Sleep Found Tabitha, Chance and the Butterfly, and Tale of a Great White Fish, a Silver Birch Honour Book and winner of the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize and the SPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award. Her adult nonfiction title Missing Sarah was shortlisted for a Governor General's Award and won the first annual George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in B.C. Literature for 2004. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Renné Benoit is an award-winning artist who has illustrated many books for children, including Lily and the Paper Man, which was nominated for the Blue Spruce Award and the Shining Willow Award and won gold as ForeWord magazine's Book of the Year. She lives in southern Ontario.