Spring has come to the mountains, and the bears have emerged from their winter's sleep -- all but the Great Bear, who sleeps on in his den.
In the Ute village, a boy called Short Tail worries that the Great Bear will starve if he doesn't waken. So Short Tail heads off into the mountains to rouse the Great Bear. But on the way to the Great Bear's den, Short Tail too falls asleep, and slips into a magical dream in which the Great Bear teaches him a wonderful secret to share with his people.
Will Hobbs's lyrical text and Jill Kastner's rich, evocative oil paintings bring the story of a Native American tradition ot vivid life.---from the publisher
32 pages 978-0689835360 Ages 8-11
Keywords: Native American story, nature, bears, seasons, Native Americans, connection, dreams, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, respecting others, multicultural, diversity, diverse books
From the author:
"Stories that speak of connections between people and bears have long been a part of the traditions of native peoples. Soon after I came to live in southwestern Colorado, in 1973, I attended the Ute Bear Dance and was moved by the simplicity and power of this ancient rite of spring. As with most oral traditions, there exist variations in the story of the origin of the Bear Dance. 'Beardream' is based upon a version of the story common among the Utes of Colorado and Utah. ..."
"... future generations of the human family will have greater and greater need for the inspiration of native wisdom, which see humankind not apart from nature, but as part of nature."
