Shovelhorns and Black Bruin – print


Classic Stories for Boys, Shovelhorns-The Biography of a Moose and Black Bruin-The Biography of a Bear, Two Wildlife Adventures By Clarence Hawkes
Author: Clarence Hawkes ● Editor: Timothy Frank ● Cardamom Publishers: 2010
ISBN: 978-0974218168 ● LCCN: 2010931094
Perfect-bound ● 6” x 9” ● 310 pages ● $13.95

Classic Stories for Boys, Shovelhorns-The Biography of a Moose and Black Bruin-The Biography of a Bear, Two Wildlife Adventures

By Clarence Hawkes

Now you can read two of Clarence Hawkes’ wildlife adventures in one book. Readers of all ages will love these stories, but especially boys who enjoy the outdoors and stories that don’t hold back from telling about the life and death struggles that occur in the wild.

Do your sons enjoy reading? Are you having trouble finding something for them to read that really catches their interest and is good for them to read? Here are two wildlife animal stories that will keep them captivated. These aren’t some namby-pamby tales but realistic adventures written by Clarence Hawkes in the early 1900’s; classic stories which boys will enjoy.

Shovelhorns, first published in 1909, is the story of a moose in the harsh woods of New Brunswick, Canada. Relive the life of this moose as he grows from a small calf to a great bull moose. Learn how his mother protects him from a fierce wolf pack. As he matures he experiences his own adventures and battles, including his be­friend­ing by the son of a northern hunting guide, and the inevitable time in his life when he must prove he is deserving of the title “King of the Wilderness.”

Following this story is another exciting adventure. Black Bruin, first published in 1908, is the story of a black bear in northern New York. You’ll be hooked from the start as you read the exciting circumstances of how this bear becomes part of a young farmer’s family. This black bear from the wild desires freedom and his strength and appetite bring him constant conflict. You’ll be enthralled reading the many trials Black Bruin faces as he strives to be “King of the Mountain.”

Clarence Hawkes’ storytelling will keep you turning the pages and wanting to read more of his wildlife adventures from this exciting era.

One more thing, both stories are illustrated by Charles Copeland.

Free excerpts may be downloaded here.

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Reviews for Shovelhorns and Black Bruin:


October 6, 2011 Karin

Caradamom Publishers has brought back two classic novels into one new book:  Shovehorns, The Biography of a Moose, and Black Bruin, The Biography of a Bear.  Written by naturalist Clarence Hawkes (1869-1954), these realistic adventures are sure to appeal to boys of all ages who love the outdoors and hearing about the realistic life-and-death struggles that occur in the wild.

A naturalist as well as an author, Hawkes wrote more than 100 books, including nature stories and poetry.  Despite losing a leg at age 8 and being blinded in a hunting accident at age 13, Hawkes lived a full life and counted Helen Keller among his friends.  His style of storytelling will keep boys (or girls) of any age with a love of animals and nature enthralled.

First published in 1909, Shovehorns, The Biography of a Moose follows the development and life of a small calf  who becomes a great bull moose in Canada.  Throughout the story the reader will learn how his mother protects him as he grows and witness the many adventures he takes throughout his life including the one in which he must prove he is deserving of the title, “King of the Wilderness”.

Black Bruin, the Biography of a Bear was published in 1908 and is the captivating story of a black bear in northern New York who surprisingly becomes part of a young farmer’s family.   The black bear’s strength and appetite coupled with his desires for freedom cause constant conflict and many trials as he strives to be “King of the Mountain”.

Each story is beautifully illustrated with a helpful introduction (including photographs) about the Moose or Bear that teaches as much as it spurs interest and a natural fascination with the animal.   Such a wonderful book. You may want to consider reading it aloud as a family or borrowing it from your child when he is done.

Free excerpts may be downloaded here.

Karin Katherine

Heart of the Matter


If you know a boy who enjoys the outdoors and stories that don’t hold back from telling about the life and death struggles that occur in the wild, then you won’t want to miss out on this book. Shovelhorns & Black Bruin tells two adventurous forest animals. Clarence Hawkes’ storytelling will keep you turning the pages and wanting to read more and more of these wildlife adventures from the early 1900’s. Shovelhorns & Black Bruin is a fabulous combination of two classic tales.

JM Cremp’s


By R. Gondek on November 25, 2013

We got this for our son for his 8th birthday. He said it was a great book. He really enjoyed it.