It's not often I come across a local author I personally know when choosing a review book at our librarians' meetings, but when I do, I have to grab it! I was excited to see Carmen Oliver's newest release, A Voice for the Spirit Bears.
Oliver's previous book is meant for younger readers--I had her present to our kindergarteners at our school--so I was expecting the same from this book. With much more text on each page, I soon realized that this is meant for slightly older children--environmentally-conscious elementary to middle school ages who are in search of a hero to inspire them. A Voice for Spirit Bears is based on the life of David Simon Jackson, an environmental activist who found his passion as a child. The story opens as Simon is scouting for bears at Yellowstone at the age of seven. Caring for all kinds of bears, he raised funds and sent letters to halt the deforestation of brown bears' habitat in Alaska, and later ran a campaign to help save the rainforest in British Columbia that is home to the rare Spirit Bear. Oliver includes an afterword featuring a more detailed biography and photographs of Jackson, the bears he's trying to protect, and information on the foundation and programs he runs as an adult.
The illustrations by Katy Dockrill are quiet, spare and introspective, lending emphasis to the text. A Voice for the Spirit Bears is a wonderful example of the difference children can make, and makes a nice read-aloud for curricular units on habitat and conservation efforts.
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