As a child, Simon Jackson found navigating the world of the school
playground difficult. He felt most at home in the woodlands, learning
about and photographing wildlife. As a teenager, he became fascinated
with spirit bears, a rare subspecies of black bear with creamy white
fur. These elusive creatures were losing their habitat to deforestation,
and Simon knew he had to do something to protect them. He decided he
would become the voice for the spirit bears. But first, he would have to
find his own. Carmen Oliver's inspiring true story is based on the early
life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On
his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane
Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest --- the home of
these elusive animals.
Katy Dockrill's captivating art adds depth and beauty to the story.
Photos and additional details about Simon Jackson's life and about
spirit bears are included in the end matter. Part of the CitizenKid
collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for
change. Simon's story is an excellent example of growth mindset at work,
highlighting personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism.
This book can also be used to lead discussions about character education
as it relates to courage, resilience and perseverance. In addition, it
has strong science curriculum links to the environment, animal habitats
and the effects of clear-cutting.