The Green Story Circle: Every Autumn Comes the Bear

November’s Book: Every Autumn Comes the Bear (1996) by Jim Arnosky
November’s Activity: Making “dens” and eating a special “bear snack” (a.k.a. dried berries & goldfish crackers!)

Here’s How it Went:
That time of year has arrived when getting out the door takes an extra 10 minutes.  There are hats to contend with (to put on, to put back on, to put back on again)…there are little hands to weave into the fingers of gloves.  No matter how I try, I never start this process early enough and so, if there’s somewhere you want me to be in the months between November and April, consider me late.  But the idea of being late for school still gives me a stomach ache (too many mornings in detention!) so it was at a brisk clip that Loki and I took off down the street for Green Story day.
You’ve done this before, he reminded me.  You don’t need to be afraid. It’s charming that he interprets his mother’s inability to leave the house without a neurotic kafuffle as “reading jitters.”  But I was a little nervous.  Every Autumn Comes The Bear is a beautiful book.  But it’s also quite simple and short.  I wondered if it would keep his classmates’ attention.  Also, the activity I had planned—making “bear dens” with blankets, chairs and tables—was not without risk.  I got the idea because my own boys are constantly deconstructing our couch to make forts.  I’d sort of floated the idea by Loki’s teacher, but I wondered if she’d really be okay with us turning her classroom into tent city?
Of course, she’s way cooler than I was giving her credit for.  When we arrived (on time!) with my giant bag of blankets and I told her my plan, she was all for it.  Turns out I had also underestimated the power of a fantastically illustrated book.  The kids were rapt.

Every Autumn Comes The Bear follows its main character (the bear) through his mysterious world as he prepares for hibernation—a word most kids in Loki’s class miraculously knew.  With sparing prose, readers are introduced to the bear’s natural surroundings and the creatures that fill it—ravens, grouse, raccoons, deer, even a bob cat.  At one point the bear reaches up to claw a tall tree.  Why would he do that? I asked.  To get honey! To knock the tree down, they answered.  I think it might be to mark his territory, to let other bears know—hey, this is my turf, I said feeling wise (I think that’s right!).
After the story, the class split up into groups to build their dens and to receive their bear snacks:  the goldfish crackers representing real fish (I didn’t think canned salmon treats would go over so well) and dried berries representing…berries.  They were clever and cooperative builders and so quiet during the snack that I wondered if they really were ready for a good long nap.  I sure was.

December’s Book:  Based on your very kind recommendations, we’re going to read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein in December.  On the surface, it may not seem like a book about conservation.  But I think, at its core, it is…because what The Giving Tree reminds us is that real value does not come from stuff but from relationships.  A perfect book to read as the season of consumption (echem, I mean the holidays) approaches!
Help!  I’d like to do a project with the class that reflects that idea—that giving isn’t about things, but about giving of yourself to others.  Any ideas???  Also, still need good book recommendations for the rest of the year!  Thanks for your thoughts.