Garden of the Spirit Bear: Life in the Great Northern Rainforest (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12)
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'sA 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, MankatoCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.