The Great Grizzlies Go Home

by Judy Hilgemann, Judy Hilgemann (Illustrator)

Overview

Two curious young grizzly bears go on A very long swim, far from their usual home in the Great Bear Rainforest. They crunch tart red cranberries in the bog then dig for crabs on the beach. They wander through backyards and feast on plums. Then they sniff something even more delicious—mmm, barbecued salmon. But a village full of people is no place for grizzly bears, no matter how sweet the plums or how tasty that salmon smells. Time for a helicopter ride home!

The Great Grizzlies Go Home tells the story of the bears’ adventurous journey, ending in their safe relocation back to the mainland. Featuring detailed watercolour paintings, engaging text and a concluding section with bear safety tips, the book will capture the imagination of readers young and old.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781550179071
Publisher:	Harbour Publishing Company, Limited
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Judy Hilgemann has been creating art since childhood. She has illustrated many books, including B is for Basketball, Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii, The True Story of Sheba & Rex and Children of the Sea. She is a member of the Island Illustrators Society and Federation of Canadian Artists. She lives in Queen Charlotte on Haida Gwaii, BC.

Judy Hilgemann has been creating art since childhood. She has illustrated many books, including B is for Basketball, Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii, The True Story of Sheba & Rex and Children of the Sea. She is a member of the Island Illustrators Society and Federation of Canadian Artists. She lives in Queen Charlotte on Haida Gwaii, BC.

Editorial Reviews

"Based on a real event, this simple story calls attention to the increased presence of bears in urban settings....Luminous, realistic, colorful illustrations capture the splendor of coastal British Columbia, adding geographic, cultural, and naturalistic context as well as revealing the grizzlies as calm, curious, hungry visitors simply enjoying their holiday away from home. Great bear encounter." —Kirkus Reviews

“Judy Hilgemann has illustrated a beautiful story that tells of the challenges grizzly bears and our communities face as we learn to coexist and be more respectful of the natural world.” —Michael J. Audain, Grizzly Bear Foundation

"Featuring detailed watercolor paintings, engaging text and a concluding section with bear safety tips, this is a highly recommended addition to the family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library wildlife picture book collections; will capture the imagination of readers ages 3-5."
&mdashMidwest Book Review

“With heartwarming illustrations alongside a grizzly-bear-sized adventure, The Great Grizzlies Go Home is a true story of two sibling bears that went on a roller coaster of an island-hopping journey through the Great Bear Rainforest.” —Ian McAllister, Pacific Wild

“What an important story! In a time when bears are compelled to come closer to towns, the role of conservation officers and the important jobs they do need to be told. With lovely art and chock full of wonderful facts, this tale teaches and entertains!” —Robert Budd

From the Publisher

What an important story! In a time when bears are compelled to come closer to towns, the role of conservation officers and the important jobs they do need to be told. With lovely art and chock full of wonderful facts, this tale teaches and entertains!”

Robert Budd

Judy Hilgemann has illustrated a beautiful story that tells of the challenges grizzly bears and our communities face as we learn to coexist and be more respectful of the natural world.”

Michael J. Audain

With heartwarming illustrations alongside a grizzly-bear-sized adventure, The Great Grizzlies Go Home is a true story of two sibling bears that went on a roller coaster of an island-hopping journey through the Great Bear Rainforest.”

Ian McAllister

2020-07-14
When two grizzly bears surface on Cormorant Island off the coast of British Columbia, their unexpected presence triggers local excitement.

One September day, after a long trek from the Great Bear Rainforest on the mainland, two grizzlies arrive in the quiet coastal town of Alert Bay, snack on wild cranberries and grasses, and watch the sunset. The next day, they explore the town, walking the streets, nibbling gardens, and digging shore crabs. When they start ambling through backyards and climbing trees to eat plums, the bears really attract attention since no one has ever seen a grizzly on the island before. Eventually, conservation officers lure the bears into containers with plum and salmon treats. After they are tranquilized and moved to the airport, the bears are hoisted by helicopter in a large net and flown safely back to their forest home on the mainland, to everyone’s relief. Based on a real event, this simple story calls attention to the increased presence of bears in urban settings; inclusion of useful facts on grizzlies, bear encounters, and safety tips for avoiding bears when hiking and camping spurs reader awareness. Luminous, realistic, colorful illustrations capture the splendor of coastal British Columbia, adding geographic, cultural, and naturalistic context as well as revealing the grizzlies as calm, curious, hungry visitors simply enjoying their holiday away from home.

Great bear encounter. (map, additional facts, safety tips) (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews