Chico Bear Adventures

North State Academic Press

Department of Health and Community Services

California State University, Chico

There are currently three Chico Bear Adventures books: The Awakening, The Journey Home, and Return of the Immortal One.

Chico Bear Adventures Book	Summary
Tomita, M., and Sbarbaro, V. (Eds.) (2009). Chico Bear Adventures: The Awakening. Softcover Book, 254 pages. Chico, CA: North State Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-9820648-6-3. Library of Congress Control Number: 2009925942. (TOC) (Chapters 1-3)(Cover, small JPG) (Audio Summary) Available Online: Lyon Books (Chico, CA) Amazon Barnes and Noble	The Awakening is the first of the Chico Bear Adventures novels. Dr. Ben Hamilton is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and a health education professor at California State University, Chico (Chico State). He has two Welsh Corgis named Kirby and Gracie. Ben stumbles upon two large almond fruits hanging on a tree in his backyard. The two almonds do not contain nuts, rather, Chico Bears, mythical creatures that once roamed the land in Northern California. Ben, with the help of Old Wise Muzza, brings the two Chico Bears to life. We learn the two Chico Bears are named Matthew and Andrew, who have taken on human form, and appear to be in sixth grade (age 11) and fourth grade (age 9). The boys possess supernatural powers, well beyond the abilities of mere mortals. Although Chico Bears appear human, their adoptive family members see them for who they really are whereas other humans see them as two human boys. In the 1800s, General John Bidwell sent away all Chico Bears to hide them from the dark forces and the Evil One. All of those Chico Bears are now long gone and are spirits, waiting for Matthew and Andrew to bring them home to Chico. The spirits must be returned to Chico, and then merged with their brethren in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The boys meet their first Chico Bear spirit in Bidwell Mansion named Sierra. This meeting at Bidwell Mansion sets the professor and the boys on an adventure to find all Chico Bear spirits, and to bring them home to Chico. The Awakening was written by Dr. Mark Tomita and 16 health education students at Chico State. Dr. Tomita wrote the first three chapters and the last chapter. The students wrote the “adventure” chapters in the middle of the novel.

Tomita, M. (2009). Chico Bear Adventures: The Journey Home. Softcover Book, 388 pages. ISBN 978-0-9820648-7-0. Library of Congress Control Number: 2009904929. (TOC) Available Online: Lyon Books (Chico, CA) Amazon Barnes and Noble	The Journey Home is the second Chico Bear Adventures novel, and is authored by Dr. Mark Tomita. The story opens with Matthew and Andrew attending public schools. In the previous novel, the boys were home schooled, but Ben feels the boys should now attend public schools, and concentrate a little more on day-to-day living. He understands the urgency of bringing the remaining Chico Bear spirits back home to Chico, but he feels life needs to be “normal” for him and the boys. Matthew is now in the seventh grade and Andrew in the fifth grade. This novel is very different from the first. Matthew, for example, learns life’s lessons about puberty. Matthew also sings two songs which he composed, Come Home to Chico and Kirby’s Song. The adventures are localized to Chico, California, and the Northern California region, and the adventures are rich in historical facts with typical Chico Bear twists. There are hilarious scenes with Kirby and Gracie, who take on human form in two chapters, and Matthew and Andrew, who take on adult form. The reader will be taken on an emotional roller coaster, for much of this second novel has its funny moments, but there are also touching moments. Tragedy will also strike, leaving the reader stunned. The Journey Home, as the name implies, ends with all Chico Bear spirits returning home to Chico.

Tomita, M. (2010). Chico Bear Adventures: Return of the Immortal One. Softcover Book, 350 pages.	Return of the Immortal One is the third and last Chico Bear Adventures book. This novel is in press, and won’t be available until Spring/Summer 2010.

| Chico Bear Adventures | PinoChico |

CONTACT

Mark Tomita, PhD, CHES

North State Academic Press

Department of Health and Community Services

California State University, Chico

1207 W. 7th Street

Chico, CA 95929-0505

Revised March 8, 2010

North State Academic Press Chico Bear Adventures Home Page

URL: http://www.csuchico.edu/~mtomita/nsap/chicobears/index.htm