by Carmen Oliver, Katy Dockrill
Kids Can Press
5/7/2019, hardcover
SKU: 9781771389792
This inspiring book is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest, the home of these elusive animals. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for change. Full color.
The summer Simon turns thirteen, he becomes fascinated with a rare type of black bear called spirit bears. He learns that some have a pure white coat and that they exist in small numbers in the Great Bear Rainforest - not too far from his own home. But the spirit bears' habitat is under threat from deforestation, and Simon knows he must help protect these incredible animals. In school, however, Simon struggles to find his own voice. At lunchtime, he eats in the bathroom to avoid bullies. Even so, Simon becomes a voice for the spirit bears - standing up for these animals who cannot speak for themselves. Simon's remarkable journey leads him to meet Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hike the Great Bear Rainforest, where he encounters one of the elusive white spirit bears. This inspiring true story is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who as a teenager founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition to save the spirit bears. The organization, which had started out as a small community of friends and classmates, eventually grew to a include 60 million members in 85 countries.
As a child, Simon Jackson found navigating the world of the school playground difficult. He felt most at home in the woodlands, learning about and photographing wildlife. As a teenager, he became fascinated with spirit bears, a rare subspecies of black bear with creamy white fur. These elusive creatures were losing their habitat to deforestation, and Simon knew he had to do something to protect them. He decided he would become the voice for the spirit bears. But first, he would have to find his own.
Carmen Oliver's inspiring true story is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest --- the home of these elusive animals. Katy Dockrill's captivating art adds depth and beauty to the story. Photos and additional details about Simon Jackson's life and about spirit bears are included in the end matter. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for change. Simon's story is an excellent example of growth mindset at work, highlighting personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism. This book can also be used to lead discussions about character education as it relates to courage, resilience and perseverance. In addition, it has strong science curriculum links to the environment, animal habitats and the effects of clear-cutting.
Carmen Oliver's inspiring true story is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest --- the home of these elusive animals. Katy Dockrill's captivating art adds depth and beauty to the story. Photos and additional details about Simon Jackson's life and about spirit bears are included in the end matter. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for change. Simon's story is an excellent example of growth mindset at work, highlighting personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism. This book can also be used to lead discussions about character education as it relates to courage, resilience and perseverance. In addition, it has strong science curriculum links to the environment, animal habitats and the effects of clear-cutting.
About the Author:
Carmen Oliver is a children's author whose books include Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies. Born in Canada, she now lives outside Austin, Texas.
Katy Dockrill is an award-winning illustrator whose work has appeared in children's books and magazines. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.