Chocolate, a Glacier Grizzly - Hardcover

Billed as a ``true story,'' this is the reported life-cycle of Chocolate, born in Glacier Park and weighing less than a pound and ``smaller than one of her mother's paws.'' On the way to asserting independence as a cub, she learns to dig for alpine bistort bulbs, search for a winter den, and beware the sting of a large male grizzly's claws. As Chocolate wanders through Many Glacier Valley, she beholds a strange creature on two hind legs-- a man. Midway through the story, the point of view switches from Chocolate's to that of the humans; the park rangers stun her with a tranquilizing dart, slip a radio collar on her neck for tracking, and transport her via helicopter to her new home much deeper in the park, away from people. The delivery is straightforward and without suspense, with awkward grammar and a disquieting blend of fact and fabrication. Wildlife sketches show bears at play, work, and on the move, in profile and upright, swimming, hunting, fighting, and sleeping, against mountainous, snow-capped scenery. (glossary) (Picture book. 6-10) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Chocolate follows the life of a female grizzly bear in Glacier National Park from her birth in a winter den to the birth of her own cub years later. The simple text includes a good deal of general information, as well as detailing the efforts of park rangers to move the fearless Chocolate to a remote area far from hikers and campers. Large, eye-catching watercolors march pleasantly in step with the gentle text. A glossary and a small color photo of the real Chocolate complete the picture. Chessie, told in a rhyming text, presents the saga of a Florida manatee who, in 1994 and 1995, headed north, swimming for more than 1500 miles and ending up near Port Judith, Rhode Island. In '94, Chessie was airlifted home, but in '95 did the round-trip on his own. Many manatee facts are included, as are a map of Chessie's journeys, a glossary, and a small color photo. Large, realistic watercolors provide a watery backdrop for Chessie's "biography." Attractive and approachable titles.?Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.