The Grizzly Mother (Mothers of Xsan #2)

“Nox Lik’i’nxw, the Grizzly Mother, awakens from torpor. Her firstborn cubs gnaw and scratch at her, impatient to explore outside of their den.” Anchored in the culture of the Gitxsan Nation, this spellbinding account of a grizzly bear’s first few years with her cubs is the second title in the Mothers of Xsan series. The text centers observations and explanations of the bears’ behaviors, adroitly using Gitxsan words in a way that makes their meaning apparent: “Nox Lik’i’nxw and her cubs feel an air of change as Lasa gwineekxw, the Getting-Used-to-Cold-Moon arrives.” Sophisticated scientific concepts are seamlessly incorporated, then explained in crisp footnotes: “Torpor is a state of lowered bodily activity in response to cold.” Saturated with ocher hues and expressively detailed with black line, Donovan’s illustrations amplify the text’s lyricism with nuanced perspectives and subtle formline art motifs. A closing page provides information on the Gitxsan Nation. Ages 9–12. (Sept.)