Growing Up Grizzly: The True Story of Baylee and Her Cubs

Amy Shapira
Falcon (2007)
ISBN 9780762741496
Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 9) by Reader Views (5/07)

Imagine having to make your way through life without your mom and dad! It’s not a very happy thought, is it? Well, imagine you're a grizzly bear and forced to find your own way. He is not yet old enough to live on his own but not a baby anymore either. He's in between ages. It’s a pretty lonely time for young Emmett. He lives up in Alaska, where the temperatures range greatly. He travels to a cove where he is watched by visitors but no one knows just who he is or where he came from. He didn't have a name until the visitors started watching him.

There is a family of four bears living in the same area. Baylee is the mama bear with her cubs named Eleanor, Misha and James. Emmett likes to watch the family of bears, if only he could be a part of their family. The bear family seems to be having such fun. Baylee doesn't like Emmett being around and growls to get rid of him. Emmett was determined to make this family his. He makes friends with the little cubs and wins the mom over. Now he feels like a member of a family. We all need a little help sometimes and Emmett gets the help he needs from Baylee and her family.

"Growing Up Grizzly" is based on a true story of grizzly bears up in Southeastern Alaska. The pictures are actual pictures of bears in their habitats and doing what comes naturally to them. I especially liked the picture of the bear looking through a window of a cabin and seeing his reflection. He needed a friend. All the pictures are awesome! The book would be a delight for bear lovers, Alaska lovers and any others who would like a nice adoption story.

Note from Brianne's mother: Brianne has always liked the story of the three bears. “Growing Up Grizzly” is similar only without Goldilocks and with an additional bear. The storyline is excellent because it shows how it doesn't matter where someone comes from, he can be adopted into a family and find love and companionship. Even if the book was written for younger readers, it still brought a delight to this bear-loving reader.

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