Once upon a time a big black bear found a manuscript under a tree. While he couldn't eat it, he did read it, and decided it wasn't bad. Borrowing some clothes from a local store, and the name Hal Jam from the label of his favourite food, he headed to New York to seek his fortune. Then he took the literary world by storm. The Bear Went Over the Mountain is a riotous, magical romp with the buoyant Hal Jam as he leaves the nurturing world of nature for the glittering world of man - where a bear makes good despite his animal instincts, and money-hungry executives see not a hairy beast with a purloined novel, but a rough-hewn, soulful, media-perfect nature guy who might just be the next Hemingway. Hilarious, ironic and tender, The Bear Went Over the Mountain is an irrestible fable for grown-ups. 'Delightful...hilarious...in Hal, Kotzwinkle has created a real star' ublishers Weekly