Our Three Bears

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

North America is home to three types of bears—the black bear, grizzly bear, and polar bear. The black bear is nocturnal, and in the colder climates, they hibernate in winter. A mother may give birth to as many as four cubs. The black bear is a good climber and can run at a top speed of 30 miles per hour so you cannot outrun this bear. As with the other sections of the book, there is a fact box titled "The Bear Facts." This particular bear is widespread, and estimates place about 800,000 in North America. The next section presents the awesome grizzly bear, which is the most powerful and dangerous of all the bears. It is even a threat to black bears and smaller grizzlies. Some of these animals may weigh up to 1,700 pounds and stand up to a height of ten feet. A mother grizzly teaches her cubs to swim and catch fish. The "Bear Facts" inset relates that, during hibernation, these bears do not eat, drink, urinate, and so forth, and their body temperatures and heartbeats slow down. Grizzlies are sleepy bears and may spend 10 years of their lives sleeping (they often live thirty years). Polar bears live in the Arctic, and their favorite food is seal. Only the female hibernates, and that is when she gives birth to one or two cubs. Like other bears, the mother spends time raising her cubs. These bears are as comfortable in the water as they are on ice. The "Bear Facts" box describes the polar bear's fur, which is transparent, and it is the reflection of light that makes it appear white. The photographs of these bears in their various habitats are excellent, and some pages may have one large picture, several smaller ones, or even a picture that covers two thirds of a spread. The text isinformative and easy for younger children to read. The author ends with a personal note about his experience watching bears, information to help readers observe bears, and a plea to take actions so that we do not destroy the habitats of these magnificent creatures. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5

North America's bears-black, grizzly, and polar-are introduced in this attractive presentation made compelling by Mangelsen's full-color photographic delights. Bear mothers and babies are featured throughout, with a mother with two cubs decorating the endpapers, verso, and title page. Starting with the black bear and moving from close-ups to action shots, the creatures are shown eating, sleeping, sitting, standing, climbing, running, and swimming. Hirschi reveals the differences in each bear's hibernation patterns, habitats, diets, size, and population estimates. These short paragraphs are chock-full of information. Beginning researchers as well as young wildlife enthusiasts will find Our Three Bears well suited to their interests.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

Kirkus Reviews

Hirschi's latest wildlife title examines the habitats, life-cycle and threats to the three bears that populate the United States: black bears, grizzlies and polar bears. The smallest, most abundant and widespread of the three is the black bear. Poor eyesight is more than made up for by an excellent sense of smell, which also may lead the bears into contact with humans and their garbage. Mostly a solitary animal, grizzlies can stand as tall as ten feet and are the most powerful predator in their territory. Grizzly territory is fast shrinking due to human expansion. The polar bears may be the farthest from human centers of population, but may be the most threatened by humans as a result of the greenhouse effect. A final note encourages bear-conservation efforts. Mangelson's amazing photographs combine both wide-angle and close-up views of the bears in their natural habitats, and the scrapbook-like format allows one of the larger photos to be the background to several smaller, framed photos. This has a sure place in educational settings. (index) (Nonfiction. 7-12)