For a heart-warming, environmentally concerned book, try Knut: How one little polar bear captivated the world, told by Isabella, Juliana, and Craig Hatkoff, and Gerald R. Uhlich, with photographs by Zoo Berlin. The story of how Knut is rejected by his mother bear and raised by a human is well told and touching, and I also liked the tie-in at the end with polar bears and global warming. This worthy book is from some of the same people who brought us Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship about a baby hippo and a giant tortoise. I love these books -- educational (not boring), touching (not saccharine) and nurturing (not overwhelming) for young hearts and minds.

I loved this book! I think the critique and recommendation on this darling book is right on the money!

Fact: the number of bear attacks and other bear related injuries has risen worldwide by 400% since Knut entered the media. Kids look at him and say, "Oh, he's so cute, there's no way he's a vicious killing machine whose claws can cut through six inches of steel." And they're wrong.

Kids, listen, there is still only one way to sufficiently survive a bear attack. Hold open its jaws and gently sing any of Abba's greatest hits. If it is a black bear, some of their lesser known singles would suffice.

But the best defence is prevention. Don't get between a mother bear and her cub. Don't tease or provoke a bear, no matter how stupid or overweight you think its mother is. Always securely fasten all honey jars and pickinic baskets in airtight containers, so the bear's powerful nose can't detect the scent.

Please Beware! Dancing Queen will in NO WAY deter a bear from acting on instinct. It's best to stay away from the Abba repertoire completely in this case. Try humming Vanilla Ice or even a dance move of his or two. The bear (or dog or squirrel) is sure to run....Dwight....