Ian McAllister
Born in Vancouver, Ian McAllister has become a leading Canadian advocate for coastal rainforest and marine wildlife protection. An award-winning author and photographer he is the founder of the wildlife conservation group Pacific Wild. He has spent the last twenty years documenting large carnivores that inhabit the rugged north coast of British Columbia. His research has been featured in many international television documentaries, films, magazines and other publications.
He is the author of four books on the carnivores of the BC coast and has been the recipient of a number of awards including the (NANPA) North American Nature Photographers Vision Award, along with his wife, Karen McAllister, he was named one of the "leaders for the 21st Century" by Time magazine. He is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) and lives with his family on the central coast of British Columbia in Heiltsuk First Nation territory. His current work focuses on the predator prey relationships, inspired by salmon, along the north Pacific.
Books (1)
Synopsis:
For seventeen years, Ian McAllister has lived on the rugged north coast of British Columbia, one of the last places on the planet where wolves live relatively undisturbed by humans. The Last Wild Wolves describes his experiences over that period following two packs of wolves, one in the extreme outer coastal islands and another farther inland in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
The behavior of these animals -- which depend on the vast old-growth forest and its gifts -- is documented in words and pictures as they fish for salmon in the fall, target seals hauled out on rocks in winter, and give birth to their young in the base of thousand-year-old cedar trees in spring. Most interestingly, scientific studies reveal a genetically distinct population of wolves -- one that is increasingly threatened by human incursions.
Reviews
"McAllister's extraordinary photographs come from waiting for his subjects to show themselves. He watches from tree platforms built over rivers where the wolves catch salmon, and he shoots while sitting motionless among packs that have consented to tolerate his presence among them . . . The resulting photos are thrilling, especially the close-ups of wolves' faces . . . and the panoramic landscape shots, but the word-pictures conjured by McAllister's text are equally vivid." —Victoria Times Colonist
Additional Information
192 pages | 11.00" x 10.50"
Kids Books (6)
Synopsis:
A Whale’s World follows a pod of spy-hopping orcas as they explore the ecosystems of the Great Bear Sea while hunting for their next meal. Past rocky shores and through kelp forests, they observe foraging wolves, hungry grizzly bears, curious black bears, graceful fin whales, splashing porpoises, slippery seals and other members of the Pacific coastal food web. The book gives readers a fun introduction to the many ways that marine and land animals interact with their environments and with each other.
Educator & Series Information
This is the fourth book in the My Great Bear Rainforest Series.
Books in this series include:
Wolf Island
A Bear's Life
The Seal Garden
A Whale's World
Recommended Ages: 5-8
Additional Information
32 pages | 10.75" x 8.75" | Hardcover (HC)
Synopsis:
Every spring the Great Bear Rainforest becomes a nursery to some of the most adorable baby animals out there. Award-winning nature photographer Ian McAllister has photographed the cutest of the cute to teach the little ones in your life about some of the little ones found in this temperate rainforest on British Columbia's Pacific coast. Orca calves, wolf cubs, seal pups and herring eggs (arguably not traditionally cute but still interesting!) feature in this vibrant exploration of one of the most beautiful great outdoors on offer in this big wild world.
Educator Information
Board Book for young children (2 years and under).
Keywords: nature, photography, animal babies, wild animals, Great Bear Rainforest, Great Bear Sea, Pacific Coast
Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"
Synopsis:
Just below the surface of the Great Bear Sea, a world of mystery exists. Intertidal zones full of colour and exotic-looking life can support thousands of different species of plants and animals.
This new book by Ian McAllister and Nicholas Read explores the intricate relationship between this mysterious underwater ecosystem and the life it supports; mighty great whales, sea lions, dolphins, sea otters, wild salmon, bears, wolves, soaring eagles and so much more.
Synopsis:
Extensively illustrated with Ian McAllister's magnificent photographs, The Salmon Bears explores the delicate balance that exists between the grizzly, black and spirit bears and their natural environment, the last great wilderness along the central coast of British Columbia.
Key to this relationship are the salmon that are born in the rivers each spring, who then go out to sea as juveniles and return as adults to spawn and die, completing a cycle of life that ensures the survival of not only their own species but also virtually every other plant and animal in the rainforest.
In clear language suitable for young readers, the authors describe the day-to-day activities that define the lives of these bears through the four seasons. But this is also very much the story of the Great Bear Rainforest—a vast tract of land that stretches from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaska border and contains some of the largest stands of old-growth forest left on the West Coast. The Salmon Bears focuses on the interconnectedness of all life in the rainforest and makes a strong case for the importance of protecting this vital ecological resource.
Additional Information
90 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"
Synopsis:
Where does a harbor seal hide from storms and hungry orcas?
When storms roar and orcas are on the prowl, it's the seal gardens of the Great Bear Sea that provide safety and shelter to sea lions, otters, a variety of seals and other sea mammals.
Ian McAllister's glorious photographs reveal the beauty and mystery of this rarely seen place of refuge. This is the third title in the My Great Bear Rainforest series, following Wolf Island and A Bear's Life.
Reviews
"The expert photography in these books is the perfect medium to tell the stories of survival in this unique wild place…The books in the 'My Great Bear Rainforest' series can effectively be shared with younger listeners who will find the photos captivating and whose curiosity will be aroused by the infrequently seen settings. Highly Recommended." — CM Magazine, December 2017
"The concept of a seal garden will be new to most viewers, and the illustrations will intrigue children and adults alike. McAllister's handsome photos, particularly those taken underwater, offer some unusual and almost otherworldly effects of light and color. — Booklist, December 2017
"Playful images of seals abound. Even the coral, kelp, and stones are shot with care…McAllister and Read's love for the wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest is evident in their respect for their subjects. Recommended for nature lovers and those that need encouragement to dip their toes into nonfiction." — School Library Journal, January 2018
"The writing skillfully incorporates facts with a story that promotes understanding of nature. This book is highly recommended for school and public libraries. It would be an appropriate gift for any child. Children are curious about nature and love a good story. The Seal Garden provides for both." — Resource Links, February 2018
Educator & Series Information
This is the third title in the My Great Bear Rainforest series.
Books in this series include:
Wolf Island
A Bear's Life
The Seal Garden
A Whale's World
Recommended Ages: 5-8
Additional Information
32 pages | 10.75" x 8.75" | Hardcover (HC)
Synopsis:
The Great Bear Rainforest is a majestic place full of tall trees, huge bears and endless schools of salmon. Award-winning photographer and author Ian McAllister's luminous photographs illustrate the story of a lone wolf who swims to one of the small islands that dot the rainforest's coast. The island provides him with everything he needs—deer, salmon, fresh water—everything, that is, but a mate. When a female wolf arrives on the island's rocky shores, she and he start a family and introduce their pups to the island's bounty.
Awards
2018 Silver Birch Express Award short-listed
2017 Resource Links The Year's Best commendation
2018 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize short-listed
Reviews
"The story is really told by the big, bright pictures—which glow with the rhythms and beauties of this remote habitat...Enthralling fare for budding naturalists." — Kirkus Reviews, January 2017
"Striking photographs chronicle the life span of a male wolf in the Great Bear Rainforest...Careful and varied page layouts include concise, vivid language that describes his journey and images that bring the reader up close—all this is missing is the feeling of misty air on skin...This well-made title offers great visual detail supported by age-appropriate text." — School Library Journal, February 2017
"Readers will find much to like about the written account of the wolf's first year on his own...With Ian McAllister's wondrous photos and Nicholas Read's accessible text, young readers are sure to learn why it is of great importance to protect and sustain the Great Bear Rainforest." — Sal's Fiction Addiction, April 2017
"This non-fiction narrative is filled with facts and scientific details to explain the habitat and lifestyle of wolves living on an island. Their story is compelling and interesting. The photography in this book is stunning with panoramic views and detailed close-up images to support the text…This book is a good choice for those looking for engaging narrative nonfiction." — School Library Connection, June 2017
Educator & Series Information
This is the first book in the My Great Bear Rainforest series.
Books in this series include:
Wolf Island
A Bear's Life
The Seal Garden
A Whale's World
Recommended Ages: 5-8
Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 10.75" | Hardcover (HC)
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