A Bear Named Trouble: A story from the headlines

In Marion Dane Bauer’s book, A Bear Named Trouble, ten-year-old Jonathan and his father move to Anchorage, where his father is the new zookeeper. Jonathan loves animals and befriends a young, injured bear named Trouble who had broken into the zoo. After killing Mother Goose, the zoo’s favorite attraction for children, Jonathan struggles with his grief for the goose and his anger with Trouble. Eventually, Jonathan understands Trouble’s actions and plans a way to save the bear’s life.

A Bear Named Trouble is based on a true story. Look through the St. Petersburg Times for a story about an animal in trouble (or a photograph). Write your own story idea with a similar theme to Bear Named Trouble and enter it in our Headlines Book Battle Contest. Click here for more information.

Comments

[Sheryl Adams]

3rd grade LIC - Snack and Chat
Attended: Mrs. Rouse’s class with Mrs. Hill. And Kayliegh from Mrs. Kliensorge’s class.

Our favorite parts were when:
Trouble was a baby, because we like baby animals.
Mama Goose climbed up and sat on Jonathans lap as he fed her popcorn. It was funny to picture Mama Goose pecking at Jonathan’s ear.

The story made us sad when:
Mama Bear made Trouble go stay away from her and be on his own all by himself.
Trouble was looking for food and heard the gun shots of hunters.
And when the Mama Moose hit him with her hoof and broke his jaw.

We hope you have as much fun getting together and discussing “Trouble” as we did.
Ms. Sheryl Adams, LIS
Starkey El – 3rd Grade Snack and Chat group.

[T J]

A touching book about a bear and a boy perfect choice for a Battle book
Forest Lakes Elem.

[fm, Oldsmar ES]

It was very interesting to be reading this book this past summer while in Anchorage, Alaska. I did take my grandchildren to the zoo, and we did see the bear area, but we didn't find any information about Trouble. The zoo was very clean and the animals were cared for. They even have a live polar bear cam; http://www.alaskazoo.org/polbrcamhome.htm. You should check it out.

[B.S., Mrs. Gusky, 4, Orange Grove]

Last week in the ST. Pete Times there were pictures of dogs swimming in the Fossil Park pool. They were having a great time.

In the book A Bear Named Trouble, Trouble at the beginning of the story, is enjoying life with his mother. She provided for all of his needs. Life for him at this time was the best ever!

[B.M, Ms. Bate's 5th grade class, Mrs. Oldja LIS, Lakewood El]

When I read A Bear Named Trouble, I was interested in it because it took place in Alaska. My family amd I always wanted to go there. Also I was very disappointed that they had to tranquilize Trouble and that he killed Mother Goose. I did enjoy the details that they put in the story. I almost felt the pain of the tranquilizer dart,the smell of the salmon,and the texture of the soft,wet snow.

[JL, Mrs. Pederson's 3rd grade class, Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School]

My favorite part is when Jonathan cared about Trouble. I felt sad when Trouble broke his jaw and Mama Goose died.

I hope you feel for Trouble as much as I do.

[Grettel - 5th Grade - Noethwest E.S. - Mr. Parr's class]

I liked it because it is based on true story (although they added a few fake bits). It's very much like "Runt", which I read last year for the BOB. I'm not surprised that another book by this author was selected. Marion Dane Bauer is a very talented author. I enjoyed it very much and I hope you will too.

[Sheryl Adams]

Our group enjoyed our discussion of A Bear Named Trouble in our ‘Snack – n- Chat’ session.
We were mad at Mama Bear when she abandoned Trouble for a mate. We think Trouble’s mom didn’t teach him how to be on his own.

The author took us on an interesting journey with several twists in the storyline. We had fun picking out what the facts in the story were, and what was made up by Marion Dane Bauer.

How will Rhonda feel when she finds out about Mama Goose? We were shocked when we read the event. What was your reaction when you read it?
Over all we would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

5th grade Snack –n- Chat group with Ms Sheryl Adams, LIS at Starkey Elementary, Seminole, Fl

[Sheryl Adams]

A Bear Named Trouble is based on a true story. We liked the story because it has lots of action. We would recommend this book to anyone who likes animal adventure stories.

4th -Grade Snack-n-Chat group facilitated by Ms Sheryl Adams, LIS and Mrs Linda Raybourne, Reading Coach - Starkey Elementary

[Will V. at Forest Lakes Elem.]

I like how Trouble gets a home in the zoo and possibly meets another bear.

[Emma C]

I haven't read that yet, but it sounds really good. I really should read it soon. IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

[M.M.R, Mrs.Lopez,3, Orange Grove Elementry]

A bear named Trouble is a book about a bear who gets use to people.The bear starts to feel safe around people.In the Seminole Beacon there was a story about a cat named Big Boy.Big Boy likes to be by people and he's not afraid. It's almost the same thing that happened to Trouble.

[J.C., Mrs. Henderson's 5th Grade Class, Garrison-Jones Elem.]

I think this is just like the problem we have in Florida with us building where animals homes are. That is forcing animals and humans to interact just like in " A Bear Named Trouble".And just like in the book that can lead to problems.

[R.C. Mrs. Fry's 5th Grade Class, Garrison - Jones Elementary]

As our community continues to grow natures shrinks. As we continue making developments some animals lose there homes. They are forced into are community. Like in the movie
"Hoot" where people are building a pancake house over burrowing owls homes. When animals get desperate for food we attract them with our waste that we leave out. Like in a bear named trouble.

[AR,Mrs.Fry fith grade class,garrison-jones el]

A bear named trouble is a that is very simaler to Hoot.Hoot is a book about owls that are about to be killed because people are trying to make a pankake house.A boy trys to show people that there are owls under them and the boy succeeds in stopping owls deaths.In a bear named trouble Jonathan saves troubl the bear from being killed by the killers and Jonathan's dad shoots him with a trankliser gun and trouble gets sended to a safe place.

[gl mrs.fry's 5 grade class garrison-jones elem.]

A Bear Named Trouble and wildlife are alike in some ways becaues bears in Alaska come into towns looking for food just like Trouble being attracked to theloaf of bread.They are also alike by bringing in reptiles from different places and let them loose in the Everglades.

[TW,Mrs.Fry 5th grade class Garrison-Jones Elem.]

In this book a bear named Trouble goes into a town to find food. He ends up running into people and causeing trouble. This relates to real life because in Alaska Alasken bears and polor bears enter towns to find food. They cause trouble like Trouble. Sometimes there are so many bears that people can't leave there houses because it's to dangerous. This book also relates to real life because bears wonder from the forest into towns.

[AR,Mrs.Fry fith grade class,garrison-jones el]

A bear named trouble is a that is very simaler to Hoot.Hoot is a book about owls that are about to be killed because people are trying to make a pankake house.A boy trys to show people that there are owls under them and the boy succeeds in stopping the owls deaths.In a bear named trouble Jonathan saves trouble the bear from being killed by the killers and Jonathan's dad shoots him with a trankliser gun and trouble gets sended to a safe place.

[SB, Mrs. Henderson's 5th Grade Class, Garrison-Jones Elem]

When I was 8 I went to Alaska and theytold me that bears wandered into schools looking for food so this is like in a Bear Named Trouble.

[C.J., Mrs. Henderson's 5th Grade Class, Garrison-Jones Elem.]

This book is related to wild life by when mothers have bears go on there own and they might not know what to do for food so they go wondering into towns looking for food because people are building houses where the animals might of lived.

[gl mrs.fry's 5 grade class garrison-jones elem.]

A Bear Named Trouble and wildlife are alike in some ways becaues bears in Alaska come into towns looking for food just like Trouble being attracked to theloaf of bread.They are also alike by bringing in reptiles from different places and let them loose in the Everglades.

[A.H/Ring5/Oldsmar]

A Bear Named Trouble is a cool book.My favorite is when Jonathon is feeding Trouble bread.

[c.b. miss downes 4th grade class]

a bear named trouble was a great story from Marion Dane Bauer. Though i liked runt alot better. bear named trouble was a great choice for battle of the books and just for a reading book. Keep on reading!!

[B.S Ms. Cerratos class]

my friend read this book he said it was so so great!!!!! i have did not read th book yet but im looking forward too!!!!!!

[B.L/mrs. rings 5th/oldsmar]

It was a realy good book because Jonathan was real brave when he tried saving Trouble when the fish and game team was trying to shoot Trouble because Trouble hurt Mama goose.