Aya Has Never Seen a Bear

A stunning glimpse into the rich culture and traditions of the Oroqen people from the beloved creators of The Moose of Ewenki.

A marvelous story about Aya, a young girl whose grandfather lives a traditional life in the mountains of northern China. He has introduced her to all the animals and plants of their region and the way of life of the Oroqen people. One morning, Aya’s grandfather tells her that he will take her deep into the forest to see bears—something she has dreamed of for a long time. So off they ride, very quietly, through the fall woods.

Filled with stunning illustrations, Aya Has Never Seen a Bear is a beautiful introduction to one of the traditional peoples of China.

Gerelchimeg Blackcrane is an award-winning Chinese Mongolian writer of natural literature and a breeder and trainer of native Chinese mastiffs. He has published many novels, including Black Flame, Ghost Dog, Black Dog Haranohai, Wolverine River, Blood Colt, Smoke from Wolf Valley, and Six Seasons of Reindeer. He has collaborated with Jiu’er on picture books, including The Moose of Ewenki, another story of a traditional people of Inner Mongolia, also published by Aldana Libros. His works have been translated into more than ten languages and sold internationally, exported abroad, with a wide readership of children and adults. He currently lives in the Hulunbuir grassland in Inner Mongolia.

Jiu’er is an award-winning sculptor and picture book writer and the first female Chinese artist to be featured in the Honor List of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). She lives in Beijing, China, along with her Mongolian hunting dog, whose name is Huhe.