The bears of Canada

[blue_lotus13]

As Chapters is located in downtown Vancouver, we get a lot of international tourists. Many of these international tourists want to purchase books for their grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews or some other random child. As a result, the staff in the kid's section created a table of attractive Canadian children's books. We are quite happy with our selection.

However, we have noticed a rather disturbing theme. Many visitors are obsessed with children's books about bears. For some reason, they want pictures of bears and somehow associate bears with being Canadian. As I have never seen a bear in any city in Canada, I wonder about their obssession.

Instead of buying one of the attractive Canadian children's books, some customers have even purchased a four dollar book printed in Taiwan which has some ugly pictures of bears in it.

However, I must admit that I have encountered this fascination with bears while living in Indonesia and Mongolia. People in these countries loved hearing stories about personal experiences with bears.

I have decided that I will write a children's book about Canadian bears. I predict that it will be a bestseller.

Comments

[arwenoid.livejournal.com]

Tell 'em to go to Whistler. There's a whole bear store. I guess that's how they stay in business.

Strangely enough, while this is indeed in Whistler, this picture was not taken at the bear store:

http://snapshots.arwen.org/mypics/birthday2k3_10

Which is good, because I think the kindly, middle aged proprietor may have come chasing me away with a broom.

Nice tag on the undies. Sheesh.

books on bears

[wraithgirl.livejournal.com]

This is strange and fascinating. I would never have guessed.

I've written a children's book with a polar bear (Drake and the Polar Bear), but I assumed it would never be published. Perhaps I should revisit it. ;)

[angharad.livejournal.com]

As I have never seen a bear in any city in Canada

My Aunt-&-Uncle (who live in Victoria) gave me a book of poems once, years ago, and I've never forgotten the beginning of this one:

In Churchill, Manitoba,
Just West of Hudson's Bay,
I was swallowed by a Polar Bear,
One frosty winter's day.

[(Anonymous)]

You raise an interesting point. I think the bear/tourist thing has been in effect for some time. It is definately really big in the rockies around Banff/Jasper. I was recently thinking about things that signal spring and bears are on the list. I saw my 1st bear of the season just the other day.
If you write a book may I submit some photos?
Graham
http://www.lovewine.blogspot.com/