{"product_id":"the-babysitter-tree","title":"The Babysitter Tree","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStory by Molly Beth Griffin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrations by Jennifer A. Bell\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvailable October 2026\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.mnhs.org\/collections\/browse-mnhs-press-titles\"\u003eMinnesota Historical Society Press\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYoung black bears tumble and spar, rest and recharge, and—most importantly—find safety and security in the shaded sanctuary of a white pine tree.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBased on the real behavior of black bears in the wild, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Babysitter Tree\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCharming illustrations in acrylics, graphite, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMolly Beth Griffin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e’s many picture books include \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eTen Beautiful Things\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eRhoda’s Rock Hunt\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRings of Heartwood\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. She lives in Minneapolis. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJennifer A. Bell\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e has illustrated more than fifty children’s books. She lives in St. Paul.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row pl-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row pl-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-sm-12\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-sm-12 pl-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"form-group\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"form-control-plaintext form-group-value\"\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e32 pages\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e10 x 10 inches\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully illustrated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eISBN:\u003cspan\u003e 978-1-68134-343-3\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"MNHS Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42724631576672,"sku":"452337","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/2243\/files\/GRIFFINBELL_9781681343433.jpg?v=1777313192","url":"https:\/\/shop.mnhs.org\/products\/the-babysitter-tree","provider":"Minnesota Historical Society","version":"1.0","type":"link"}