Lucky Hares and Itchy Bears

by Susan Ewing, Evon Zerbetz (Illustrations)

Splash, dash, jump, and jitterbug with fifteen favorite northern animals in this lively, read-aloud book of poems and colorful images. Each picture-poem wraps an intriguing, unusual, or just-plain-fun fact about one particular wildlife into a whimsical package.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

My two greatest joys as a kid were riding my bike and reading books. Both offered escape and adventure—my bike took me flying out into the physical world, while books were the bridge to an inner world of emotion and ideas. I came to writing as way to hold the physical world like a bird in my hands, so I could see more clearly, feel more deeply, and understand more completely. And because in those moments when writing works, it’s magic.

I was born and raised in Kentucky, but wandered west soon after graduating high school. I lived in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest for many years, rotating through a variety of jobs, like working as a bull cook in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay, commercial salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska, staking mining claims for a geophysical company in the Brooks Range, working in a print shop, and waitressing. Then I got a job as an wildlife information officer, and started writing as part of the job. Something clicked. I loved it. Soon after that I wrote my first book, Going Wild in Washington and Oregon. I was the kid on the bike—thrilled and committed to the ride.

Somewhere in all that I finished my much-interrupted education and graduated with a BA from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. In 1991, I moved to the Gallatin Valley of Montana, which felt like home as soon as I saw the Bridger Mountains on the horizon. My life is at its sweetest equilibrium when I’m out hiking in those mountains with my husband and my dog.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book, and the poems are really fun. I used this book as part of a poetry unit with fourth grade students and it was quite popular with them. This is a wonderful book for Alaska children, or for anyone who loves the animals of the north, or for anyone who enjoys children's poetry.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun animal poems are accompanied by detailed, line cut illustrations. The poetry and illustrations work well together to create an engaging book that can be read from cover to cover or one poem at a time. Recommended.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mentor text for poetry and figurative language!

[Chiska · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book of fun to read poems for kids.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful picture book with illustrations by fave artist Evon Zerbetz. Perfect pairing with playful poems.