An-Animal-a-Month: Bears
Do your students and children know?
some species of bears don’t hibernate
a polar bear’s fur is actually clear, not white
six of the eight species of bears are threatened with extinction
Learn all about bears in these newer outstanding nonfiction and informational fiction titles
Click on the book covers to find more information about each title.
What will it take to save pandas from going extinct? Middle graders will not only learn all about panda bears and the threats they face, but also about the myriad efforts to save them. Efforts include habitat preservation and restoration, green corridors, prevention of poaching, and an evolving captive breeding and reintroduction program. Readers will witness conservation experts developing and improving the reintroduction program, learning from their mistakes. This book is full of real-world problem solving and hope for the future. Large captivating photos with informative captions, interesting sidebars, and back matter on becoming involved in saving pandas make this an outstanding read. It is a Sibert Medalist book from 2018. Ages 10-12.
Kind of nonfiction: Part narrative, part traditional, with a hint of active nonfiction on page 56. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
Ties to Next Generation Science Standards:
3-5-ETS1-2 (Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.) This title provides examples of multiple solutions to the problem of dwindling panda populations. The pros and challenges of each solution are described in detail. The criteria is preventing extinction and constraints, such as the needs of a growing human population, are addressed and serve as examples of critical , balanced thinking about species conservation.
3-LS4-4 (Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and types of plants and animals that live there may change.) Students can pick one or more of the solutions to panda survival to make a claim about. They can substantiate and argue for their claim based on the text. There is also a discussion of how pandas are an umbrella species – saving them helps save other species that share their habitat.
4-LS1-1 (Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.) See the photo caption on page 2 to learn about how pandas’ cheek and jaw muscles allow them to eat tough bamboo. The caption on page 16 tells how pandas have a special, thick lining in their throats and stomachs to protect them from splinters. The caption on page 42 details their strong sense of smell (typical of bears) that helps them communicate with other bears, such as for finding mates.
Let them giggle while they learn! Hilarious speech bubbles and illustrations will have everyone cackling. Short, informative text and sidebars will have everyone learning all about bears – the eight species, their physical characteristics, where they live, what they eat, hibernation, cubs, and threats to bears. The books ends with tips on how to help bears and how to be safe around them. The witty humor will help readers and listeners remember their bear facts for a long time. Ages 4-8.
Kind of nonfiction: Due to the speech bubbles and unrealistic illustrations, this book is informational fiction. The nonfiction text and sidebars are traditional (a broad overview written in a clear information-sharing style, ie expository writing), but the clever humor puts this book in a category of its own. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
What if children could visit polar bears in the Arctic? Readers can in the following two imaginative and engaging picture books.
In The Bear Report, a reluctant student is tasked with finding facts about polar bears. When a giant white bear suddenly appears and takes her on a tour of his Arctic home, sharing his favorite things, she becomes enthralled with these bears. She creates a detailed project board that goes far beyond the facts she was asked to find. This book is fun and whimsical and relatable – a great way to introduce an inaccessible, far away land and its intriguing creatures. Ages 4-8.
In The Polar Bear, as a child reads, she is drawn into the bear’s Arctic world. She learns all about these biggest of bears from their paw adaptations, teeth, diet, and feeding strategies to how they clean themselves, hibernate (or not), and raise their young. It’s filled with evocative, extra-large illustrations. Ages 4-8.
Kind of nonfiction: These titles help illustrate the continuum between fiction and nonfiction. The Bear Report is closer to fiction, with facts only presented as part of the child’s polar bear project on the last spread. I would classify it as informational fiction. The Polar Bear is nonfiction with facts presented on all but the first and last spreads. These spreads draw the reader in using a fictional child character who appears throughout the book. Which book do your children/students like better? Why?
A few more bear book suggestions:
The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears for ages 9-12
All About Bears from the National Geographic Kids Pre-reader series for ages 2-5
Bears from the National Geographic Kids Readers Series, Level 3 for ages 6-9