The Babysitter Tree - Hardcover

by Molly Beth Griffin (Author), Jennifer A. Bell (Illustrator)

Young black bears tumble and spar, rest and recharge, and--most importantly--find safety and security in the shaded sanctuary of a white pine tree.

When a mama black bear goes foraging, she leaves her cubs with their babysitter--a huge white pine tree--where they'll be safe until she returns. They are sad to be left behind, but soon they are playing in the shade of the tree. All is well, until a coyote's scent sends them climbing high into the branches. Will mama come back? Will she scare the danger away? The cubs discover that their mama will always take care of them, even when that means leaving them with another trusted caretaker.

Based on the real behavior of black bears in the wild, The Babysitter Tree is for every child who has been left with a sitter and has missed their grown-up. It is for all of us, at any age, who appreciate reassurances that we will be cared for, protected, comforted, and eventually reunited with the ones we love most. And it is for all the wonderful babysitters and caregivers who help our little ones feel safe--and who make parenting possible.

Charming illustrations in acrylics and colored pencil capture the roly-poly playfulness of bear cubs and the expansive, protective branches of that icon of the northland, the white pine, their babysitter tree.

Author Biography

Molly Beth Griffin is the author of many picture books including Ten Beautiful Things, Rhoda's Rock Hunt, and Rings of Heartwood. She is a teaching artist at the Loft and holds a master's in fine arts in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University. She critiques manuscripts, visits schools and libraries, and hosts a monthly picture book salon in Minneapolis, where she lives with her family.

Jennifer A. Bell is the illustrator of more than fifty children's books. Her work includes The Best Gift for Bear, Gentle: Hope and Healing at an Animal Sanctuary by Ellie Laks, and The Adventures of Sophie Mouse series by Poppy Green. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.