The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain

The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain

The True Adventures of Coola and Grinder

ISBN 9781772032772
Hardcover | Publication Date: April 23, 2019
Book Dimensions: 8 in. x 10 in.
48 Pages

About the Book

Starred Selection, Best Books for Kids and Teens

A beautifully illustrated and educational children’s book that tells the true life story of Grouse Mountain’s famous resident grizzly bears.

Coola and Grinder are two adult grizzly bears living at the “peak of Vancouver” on Grouse Mountain. For the past eighteen years they have been among the mountain’s biggest attractions. People from all over the world flock to see these magnificent creatures, who live in a five-acre wildlife refuge that simulates a grizzly bear’s natural habitat. Contrary to popular belief, the bears are not brothers; they were brought to the mountain as orphaned cubs born on opposite sides of the province—Coola hails from Bella Coola, and Grinder (named after the Grouse Grind hiking trail) was born near Invermere.

The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain tells the heartwarming and inspiring tale of Coola and Grinder’s life on the mountain, their distinct personalities, and their important role in teaching wildlife rangers and scientists about grizzly bear behaviour. Written for young school-age children, this book presents facts and entertaining anecdotes about the bears in a clear and engaging way, and imparts valuable lessons about the importance of wildlife conservation. This richly illustrated book will foster children’s love of wildlife for years to come.

About the Author(s)

Shelley Hrdlitschka is a long-time resident of North Vancouver, home of Coola and Grinder. She discovered her love for children’s literature while teaching school and was inspired her to write her own books. She is now the author of eleven novels for teens. When she is not reading or writing, she can be found hiking, snowshoeing, Zumba dancing, or hanging out with the grizzly bears at the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Rae Schidlo is a retired teacher who loves the outdoors, animals, hiking, cycling, swimming, gardening, reading, line dancing, and volunteering at the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge.

Linda Sharp is an artist and set designer who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alberta. She works in fabric and paint, using oilsticks to capture movement and visual energy. Linda volunteers with North Vancouver Community Players and Theatre West Van, designing graphics and painting sets. She is the illustrator of the bestselling book The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain, by Shelley Hrdlitschka and Rae Schidlo.

Reviews

"An excellent introduction to the lives of grizzly bears." —Canadian Children's Book News
"Steers away from being sensational and focuses instead on motivating young readers to be interested in the welfare of grizzlies." —BC BookWorld
". . . offers many facts about grizzlies — their diet and hibernation routines, explanations of the differences between the two bears (one is a coastal species, the other from the interior). Websites provide links to more information about bears and animal conservation, and also to the webcams on Grouse." —BC Books for BC Schools
". . . will be a hit with young readers who have an interest in wildlife." —Resource Links
“Through this inspiring story, we have a rare opportunity to learn more about the orphaned grizzly bears of Grouse Mountain and to develop a deeper understanding of their life and habits. Rich illustrations and a touching narrative make this book a wonderful resource for any young reader.” —Deborah Hodge, author of West Coast Wild
“The remarkable lives of these two gentle giants are superbly described by the authors, while the beautiful illustrations perfectly capture the bears’ myriad facial expressions. Grinder and Coola have taught thousands of people that, despite some obvious differences, they really are a lot like us.” —Dr. Ken Macquisten, D.V.M. Managing Director/Veterinarian, Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife