A Children’s Book that Matters to Humans & Bears

Posted on by deby by

Details about the book and facts about grizzly bears that outline why education is so important to the survival of these amazing animals. This book seeks to entertain young people while provoking their curiosity about the bears, which will lead to them asking questions and caring.

About the Book and Author – published October 2025, available November 2025. Presale is offered now. On Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4387513627/presale-special-pippin-of-yellowstone

“Pippin of Yellowstone” refers to a children’s book by photographer and author Deby Dixon about the true story of a grizzly bear cub in Yellowstone National Park. The book is available for presale and includes a coloring book, autographed copies, and donations from sales go to Trap Free Montana. The story follows a cub named Pippin, based on observations of a real grizzly cub, chronicling her life and adventures in the park. 

  • Story and theme: The book tells the story of a young grizzly bear cub in Yellowstone National Park, following her journey from birth through her adventures in the wild. It is written to be entertaining for children while also being suitable for adults.
  • Author: The book is written by Deby Dixon, a photographer who has documented the lives of bears in Yellowstone.
  • Book details: The book is available for presale and is published by Scott Publishing Company. A coloring book is also available, and a special presale offer includes both the book and coloring book with extras.
  • Charitable contribution: Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Trap Free Montana.

Facts about Grizzly Bears:

As a yearling grizzly cub who lost her mother, Pippin faced several life-threatening challenges in Yellowstone National Park

. Normal for cubs to spend 1.5 to 2.5 years learning survival skills from their mother, Pippin was forced to do so alone at a much younger age, which is highly unusual. 

Key dangers and challenges for a motherless yearling grizzly include:

  • Vulnerability to other bears: This is one of the greatest dangers a young grizzly faces. Other, larger bears pose a threat in several ways:
    • Male grizzlies (boars): A male grizzly may kill cubs so the female will go into estrus sooner and he can mate with her.
    • Older female grizzlies: A cub who attempts to return to its mother’s territory after being “kicked out” may face aggression.
    • Competition: A young bear must evade and compete with larger, more dominant bears for limited food resources.
  • Starvation: With crucial foraging lessons cut short, Pippin had to learn to find sufficient food on her own before hibernating. The disappearance of key food resources like whitebark pine seeds and cutthroat trout, combined with drought conditions that can impact berry crops, adds to this challenge.
  • Human-caused mortality: Grizzlies in and around Yellowstone face dangers from human activity. The overall bear mortality rate in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has been on the rise.
    • Vehicle collisions.
    • Conflicts with humans in developed areas, especially when a lack of natural food forces bears to seek alternative food sources.
  • Navigating the unfamiliar: For any newly independent yearling, the process of finding and establishing a new home range is dangerous and filled with trial and error. Without a mother’s guidance, this can be even more perilous.
  • Fear and stress: Without a mother’s protection, a yearling can be nervous and skittish, spending a lot of time hiding in trees. This can impede their ability to forage successfully. 

Despite these formidable challenges, the children’s book suggests that Pippin’s story has a “heartwarming happy ending,” where she makes friends with other animals who help her survive. While remarkable in a real-world context, a yearling losing its mother still has a significant chance at survival, as seen with other independent cubs, and it is possible for some cubs to be accepted back into their mother’s family, though this is rare. 

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