Aya Has Never Seen A Bear
Gerelchimeg Blackcrane and Jiu’er
Greystone Kids

This story translated from the Chinese and set in the 1970s, features Aya and her grandparents who are members of the Oroqen tribe living a traditional life in the forests of Northern China.

One autumn morning Aya is woken by her Grandma’s calls and the return of her Grandpa to the camp with food and plans. It’s the plan that really interests Aya, for Grandpa wants to take her searching for bears in the deep woods after breakfast. Never before has she seen a bear so she’s really excited as she and Grandpa set off together on ponies. On their journey they see the leaves on the trees changing colour, birds migrating southwards and then a hare family in the bushes. Further on they see roe deer, an eagle owl and on the edge of the pine woods, a family of foxes.

As they arrive at the river valley between the mountains, Grandpa indicates the pine woods where the bears live. They dismount and continue on foot. stopping to sit and stare after a while. It’s a long wait till eventually a mother bear and her three cubs appear.

The cubs make for a rotten, mattress abandoned among scattered rubbish and the family snuggle together for a nap.
When the bears leave Grandpa and Aya burn all the rubbish to discourage the bears’ dependence on humans.

In keeping with its theme of patience, Gerelchimeg Blackcrane’s straightforward, gently told story that moves slowly in harmony and Jiu’er’s warm hued illustrations of the humans and the animals, are perfectly in tune with one another, A beautiful book that shows the importance of conservation and the intergenerational bond between Grandpa and Aya.

Further information about the Oroqen people is given in the back matter.