Review: Eat Up, Bear! by Terry Pierce

Two weeks ago, we had more cold temperatures and snow than this area has seen in a very long time. Yesterday, I was out in the garden  getting it ready for the first seeds by the end of this week. Talk about a switch-over quick! At this rate, we'll be planning a camping trip and ready to hit the hiking trails in another few days....because Spring has decided to roll in, and it's coming fast. 

Today's book is perfect for those camping friends! And it addresses bears along the way. 

 

EAT UP, BEAR!

by Terry Pierce

Illustrated by Nadja Sarell

Yosemite Conservancy

Board Book

ages 2 to 4

A board book for the littlest campers about those curious, hungry bears.
Black bears just want to eat! Juicy berries, crunchy nuts, tender grubs, and sticky honey--that's good bear food. But if park visitors don't watch out, their food will be bear food, too! Bouncy rhyming text and vibrant pictures share how families can do their part to keep bears safe and thriving. 

BOOK DEPOSITORY   /    BOOK SHOP   /    GOODREADS   /    B&N  

 BOOK   BLINK

                               * rotates around camping

                               * demonstrates food handling in bear areas

                               * lovely illustrations

                               * teaches about bears

MY TIDBITS

Bears get hungry, and people do, too. But bears have their food, and people have theirs. The trick lies in how people keep their food safe from the bears, and what foods bears eat because nature holds enough for them.

Sturdy enough for small hands and for taking along on a camping adventure, this board book packs bright illustrations and tons of cute bears. It follows families as they spend time on a camping trip...and of course, they're depicted as having fun. But these families are storing away food, and this book shows the various and correct ways to do it. While the families do this on one side of each 2-page spread, the bears are on the other. They munch away on various bounties, which nature provides, demonstrating which foods bears eat and exactly how that looks like in nature.

The message in this one follows two paths. Firstly, it heightens young listeners awareness of the various possible food storage containers, which parks set out just for the purpose of keeping bears away from human food. This also, automatically, reminds readers that found shouldn't be left out and needs to be watched. On the other hand, this book follows bears and teaches what they eat in nature. It's never really pointed out directly...as in exactly mentioned what they eat. Instead, the illustrations take over that part. 

The text stays age appropriate and keeps to a maximum of two lines on each page. The page with the bears always holds the same phrases, giving a repetitive reminder to listeners. This also allows listeners to join in and repeat the phrases themselves along with the parent/guardian/caretaker. It's a subtle way to bring awareness and remind listeners of the joy of camping.

But mostly, these bears are sweet and show the bears in nature. That alone already makes this a winner in my book (no pun intended.)

This book supports the Yosemite Conservancy and helps fund the important work in Yosemite to repair trails, restore habitat, protect wildlife, and much more.

https://yosemite.org/