Author Terry Pierce remains tied up, busy writing, so I asked a representative spokesbear to answer a few questions about her latest board book, EAT UP, BEAR, published last week by the Yosemite Conservancy. This spokesbear seemed to know a lot about scrumptious snacks.
Good morning, Spokesbear. I understand you’re the representative for the wild bear population of Yosemite.
That’s [chomp, gromp, mmmm] me! I’ve taken over for Yogi and Boo-Boo.
Since Terry Pierce and Nadja Sarell can’t be here today, I’d like you to answer a few questions. I realize human food is pretty tasty, Bear. Can you tell us your favorite people-only food?
Mmm-mm-yum! Bears will eat almost anything that people eat from cheese doodles to hot dogs to peanut butter. We really will eat anything humans leave out for us. But I’ll admit, one of the problems with human food is how they package it. Since us bears can’t unwrap food, we eat the packaging, too, and that’s just not good for us (oh, the tummy aches!). And once, my cub got her head stuck in a giant cheese doodle plastic jar, trying to get to the last one. Luckily, some kind humans helped her get the jar off her head. I can’t imagine what would have happened to her if they hadn’t rescued her. It would have been un-bearable. If only those humans had stored their cheese doodle jar properly!
But you know that’s not healthy for you, Bear. What’s a good bear-food that tickles your taste buds?
You’re right, human food is tasty. And sometimes, they make it so easy for us bears! Like when they leave it out on a picnic table, or leave their ice chest out. They even leave food in their cars! A locked door won’t keep me from getting to a tasty bag of chips or nuts. Have you seen my claws and powerful arms? And speaking of nuts, that’s a good-bear-food us bears love. Nuts, seeds, grubs, ants, fresh spring grass, berries—yum! Sometimes, I’ll even catch fresh trout for a meal.
That sounds more like it! Hey, maybe you can even tell me about how Terry cooked up this book?
Yes! There’s a story here, so bear with me. In 2018, I was so “scratch-your-back-on-a-tree happy” to hear about Yosemite Conservancy’s call out for a children’s board book (you know, those chunky books meant for your littlest cubs). Well, a writer named Terry Pierce saw the call out and sent them a manuscript about how to store human food so us bears can’t get into it (and then have to eat good bear food). Terry lives not far from Yosemite National Park in the mountain town of Mammoth Lakes, California, so she knows about how to “coexist” with black bears. “Coexist” is a fancy human word that means getting along with someone, and Terry knows the best way to coexist with bears is through proper food storage.
Why is food storage important? Well, us bears are what you’d call “opportunistic eaters.” We’ll break into cars, tents, backpacks, coolers, even homes if we think food is inside. We can really make a mess of things and do a lot of damage when that happens. (My cousin once ripped the door off a car just to get to some peanuts left in sight!) But the bigger problem lands on the bears. When a bear relies on human food so much that he’ll do anything to get some (and cause the kind of damage I mentioned), humans label him as a “problem bear” and that could mean big trouble. Sadly, a “problem bear” will be put down. It’s never happened to anyone in my family, but I hear the stories. So, you can see why I was so happy to see Terry’s new book. It helps little cubs and their families see that their own actions could ultimately save the life of a bear! Proper food storage helps keep all bears eating healthy, good food that nature intended for us to eat. But I do wish that once in a while nature would make it rain hot dogs or jellybeans!
Wow, so this is really an important book, Bear! Thanks so much for letting us savor it!
Hey, I’ve got an even better way for you to get a taste! Yosemite Conservancy will give a book away!
Sweet!
Blog readers, leave one comment below to enter.
A random winner will be selected later this month!
Good luck!
With twenty-five published books, Terry Pierce has experienced the joys of being a writer in many ways. She has a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Development and an international A.M.I. teaching diploma. Terry was a pre-primary Montessori teacher for twenty-two years before deciding to follow my dream of writing for children (what she calls, “the best mid-life crisis ever!”). She’s been writing since 1999, with her work appearing in magazines and the children’s book market. She has an MFA in Writing for Children &Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, including the Picture Book Concentration certification. She also teaches online children’s writing courses for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. Visit her at terrypiercebooks.com.
54 comments
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April 13, 2021 at 11:59 am
lmconnors
An important message sent in a fun package! Congratulations!
April 13, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Kassy Keppol
cute
April 13, 2021 at 12:02 pm
carolegerber
This is an unbearably clever interview! Thanks to Bear for lumbering by to let us know about Terry Pierce’s adorable new board book!
April 13, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Brenda Huante
This book sounds like so much fun!
April 13, 2021 at 12:27 pm
boardmancamera
Congratulations on the great book!
April 13, 2021 at 12:43 pm
lizzie
How delightful! Thank you for writing this!
April 13, 2021 at 12:44 pm
Angie
This sounds like the perfect book to teach human cubs and their parents how to keep bears safe and healthy! Adorable! Congrats, Terry. Thanks for stopping by Spokesbear!
April 13, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Happy Birthday, EAT UP, BEAR! | Terry Pierce
[…] we celebrate the release of EAT UP, BEAR! (Ill. by Nadja Sarell, Yosemite Conservancy) over on Tara Lazar’s blog with an interview with a Yosemite bear! […]
April 13, 2021 at 1:19 pm
tpierce
Thank you, Tara, for allowing the Yosemite spokesbear the chance to share the good news about the book! 😉
April 13, 2021 at 1:31 pm
readmybook2002
Thank you for the delightful storytelling about your book. Great visuals.
April 13, 2021 at 1:44 pm
Bethanny Parker
A great message for parents and for kids. Good luck with your book.
April 13, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
oh, yeah. I know about those bears and bear boxes. Yosemite is such an amazing place, I’m glad that Terry (and the spokesbear) created this important (and fun) reminder.
April 13, 2021 at 1:56 pm
Thelia Hutchinson
Awesome. Great board book idea.
April 13, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Claire A. B. Freeland
Such an important and interesting topic with fabulous illustrations. Well done!
April 13, 2021 at 2:56 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
So sweet…thanks for sharing!
April 13, 2021 at 2:57 pm
janetfrencksheets
Those berries look tastier than cheese doodles anyway! Those illustrations are striking. Congratulations on creating a fun and informative book.
April 13, 2021 at 2:59 pm
Chelle Martin
I love bears! Thanks for such a helpful book that will educate people, especially those who buy or build homes in places where bears live. I wish NJ would ban bear hunts.
April 13, 2021 at 3:42 pm
kathydoherty1
Such a super cute cover! I love bear books!
April 13, 2021 at 3:52 pm
Marla Yablon
Your book sounds adorable! Can’t wait to read it!
April 13, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Mary Warth
Great post- I love the “spoksbear” and their book bear buddy.
April 13, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Nancy Furstinger
A terrific message for kids, big and small. I live in Bear Central (aka the Catskills) and have had twin and triplet bear cubs up my tree–thrilling! However, I have to keep reminding my neighbors to keep their trash indoors until pickup day…otherwise the bears will pay the ultimate price. Looking forward to reading your book!
April 13, 2021 at 4:16 pm
chaunceyelephant
Fun and practical at the same time. I’m sure Yogi and BooBoo would appreciate your concern fir their diet 😉
April 13, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Gail Hedrick
Thanks to both the Yosemite Conservancy and the very talented Terry Pierce-great information presented in such a charming, fun, helpful way. Thanks to Tara Lazar, and her helper, Bear!
April 13, 2021 at 5:40 pm
cinzialverde
Congratulations! This is such a great message and the book looks adorable. Can’t wait to read it.
April 13, 2021 at 5:54 pm
Aly Kenna
I want to hear more from Spokesbear, maybe some more gossip around Yosemite too. Sounds like a lovely project and a wonderful book to munch on – way to turn the table on the cubs!
April 13, 2021 at 7:15 pm
judyrubin13
What better source of information than a Yosemite Spokesbear. I, definitely, will follow the rules.
April 13, 2021 at 8:14 pm
Eileen Mayo
What a fun post! I love the illustrations. Congratulations!
April 13, 2021 at 8:18 pm
Linda Mitchell
I’m in love with the way the words and illustrations love each other!
April 13, 2021 at 9:10 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Loved the post! Looks like a great book…congrats!
April 13, 2021 at 10:14 pm
seschipper
Wow SpokesBear, fantastic interview! Great lesson to be found in this book! Thanks Tara!
April 14, 2021 at 6:14 am
yangmommy
I hope your book is sold in every Nat’l park that is home to bears! We humans really need to be more careful. However, if it rains jellybeans, watch out bears, cuz I’m tipping over my brolly! 🙂
April 14, 2021 at 7:02 am
Catherine J Lee
I love this interview with bear! He relays some important information! I can’t wait to read this book!
April 14, 2021 at 7:55 am
brennajeanneret
Yes! What a smart book (and interview)! I lived in Northern CA for many years and I was always bummed when people left their food out. Thanks for sharing!!
April 14, 2021 at 12:09 pm
tracivw
This is such a great idea and much needed reminder to help keep the bears alive by storing your food properly. I’m beary excited to read this book.
April 14, 2021 at 1:15 pm
writeknit
Fun and informative! A winner for sure 🙂
April 14, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Elizabeth Moore
Very good. Well done and timely.
April 15, 2021 at 5:57 am
srkckass
It looks like this book has it all! Great job!.
April 15, 2021 at 9:36 am
mariagianferrari
Love this, Terry! The art is adorable and so vibrant. Congratulations to you and Nadja!
April 15, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Amy Mann
I can’t wait to read this (in person, I hope) to young patrons at my library. It’s been so long since I’ve seen those little faces!
April 15, 2021 at 2:05 pm
Jenny Morales
This looks like a great book! It reminds me of keeping our food in locked boxes while camping in the Rocky Mountains. I’d rather meet a bear in the pages of a book than IRL!
April 15, 2021 at 4:17 pm
evelynchristensen
Sounds like a great book with an important message. Congratulations, Terry!
April 15, 2021 at 8:38 pm
Carrie Finison
This looks great! When I do school visits for my book Dozens of Doughnuts (which is a fictional story about a bear making doughnuts) I talk about what bears eat in real life and nonfiction vs. fiction. I’d love to get a copy of this to share!
April 15, 2021 at 9:00 pm
Artelle Lenthall
Excellent idea, having a spokesbear take the interview. I wish you’d asked him/her about some actual ways to store food to coexist with bears as well. Guess we’ll have to buy the book for that 🙂
April 15, 2021 at 11:49 pm
betlw
This book sounds funny but yet educational for campers or others when in the wild. It sounds like a book to take along to help you hide your food so it’s safe from bears and so that bears don’t eat things that might make them sick. I would love to read this book and see the cute illustrations as well as learn a lot too.
April 16, 2021 at 2:25 am
Linda
I love all the really bright colours in the illustrations.
April 16, 2021 at 2:19 pm
YauMei Chiang
Thank you for this book giveaway. Everyone needs to learn about the diet of bears and how we can save them from our foods.
April 16, 2021 at 7:31 pm
Lenora Biemans
What a fun and clever idea!
April 16, 2021 at 8:46 pm
Beatrice Brown
What an informative book. The illustrations are a great compliment.
April 16, 2021 at 8:52 pm
Annie Lynn/AnnieBirdd Music, LLC
So many things I am glad for…. That the Yosemite Conservancy realized that a funny but serious book would be the best way to educate the uneducated visitors, and that Terry saw the call for a book and nailed an important topic beautifully. And, w/humor. The illustrations look exciting, and I think I recognized Bridalveil Fall? I had the opportunity to camp in, and experience enlightening moments, on three separate occasions and seasons (missed Spring…bucket list). Our first time camping, I remember someone instructing us about food storage while camping. What I appreciated was our neighbors at the site next door, checking on us to remind us about storage. Not everyone has educated neighbors, and bears getting hurt while trying to access human food (or humans too!) is so avoidable, if everyone knows the rules……enter this book, perfect for families or anyone planning on camping and cooking. I.M.O., I would make this book required LISTENING when visiting Yosemite visitor center, if planning on camping. The story and message will stick in everyone’s mind for sure! I can just imagine kids warning their parents or fellow campers about food storage while camping, because of this book. Someone else commented this book should be in all parks where bears and campers are…. I agree! The NPS needs to commission a book like this for each NP. Also…I’d be glad to write the funny warning song to go with them😁. This was an important step in environmental conservation, one I hope will continue! Having said ALL this (conservation is my passion), please enter me in the drawing for this needed book. I like that it rhymes and flows, like the Tuolumne River. Stay well. See you again Yosemite….. congrats to all!
April 17, 2021 at 6:52 pm
Meredith Fraser
Such an important concept in such a delightful book!
April 18, 2021 at 2:27 pm
Sandy Perlic
I’m so happy to see one of my favorite mediums–picture books–being used to communicate this important message in a way that everyone can understand and support. Go, Terry!
April 26, 2021 at 3:56 pm
jensubra
Love the simple way this important information is conveyed to kids. We can start too early teaching children how to care for the environment and its creatures! Thanks, Terry!
May 10, 2021 at 7:08 pm
Stephen S. Martin
This Bears saying again – What a great story !
May 13, 2021 at 7:37 pm
Karen Chun
Wow…what a cool story and a way to educate the very youngest readers.