Cloud Eyes by Kathryn Lasky (1994) is "an original tale that flows with traditional cadences". This ambiguous description suits the setting and characters in this book. Lasky writes, "Once, long ago, there was a place where there were more bears than people." The lower case /p/ in people is maintained throughout the story, though the illustrations and text seem to refer to an indigenous culture. Cloud Eyes is a boy unlike the others. "His gift of finding stories in the clouds was as important as the skills of making tools or stitching moccasins; he could see and understand what other people could not." Cloud Eyes leaves his community to determine why honey has disappeared from the people's diet. His journey is both mystical and practical. Barry Moser's drawings, framed with fragile, deep red lines, convey an esoteric tone, implying the perception of legend. His drawings drew me to this book. But I'm left wondering about what place this story has in 2021. I don't see a reference to any authentic narrative passed down through an oral tradition. This leaves me questioning the book's purpose.
malena-maestra has a packet of engaging activities with bears and bees. Kim Belcher has Lots of Bears Clip Art. Homeschooling Queen as Bees and Honey Pack.
