We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Citation :  Rosen, Michael. We’re going on a bear hunt. London : Walker Books, 1989.

Title : We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Author : Michael Rosen

 

This classic story by Michael Rosen features a family who go out on a bear hunt. They are at a beach and use their imagination to go through obstacles such as long wavy grass, thick mud, a forest and an unlikely snowstorm before they reach a large cave. In the cave they find the object of their search and run quickly back through the obstacles in a reverse order and back to the safety of “home”. The story is very repetitive with the words we’re going on a bear hunt we’re going to catch a big one, this will encourage children to say the words along with the reader and help them engage in the story and its meaning. The meaning is very simple, all about how it’s ok to use your imagination and go exploring. Also there is the message that it is ok to be scared of things you just need to know how to react when you get scared. The illustrations by Helen Oxenbury swap between a page of B&W illustrations to one in colour, showing the real world of the hunters in the B&W and the colour as their imaginations.  Author Michael Rosen has many video’s on his personal website of him acting out many of his stories – the main one being we’re Going on a Bear Hunt, these would be great to share with the family. Have a look at MichaelRosen.co.uk here.

Me and My Mum

Ritchie, Alison. Me and my mum. London : Little Tiger, 2009

Title :  Me and My Mum

Author: Alison Ritchie ; illustrated by Alison Edgson
 

 From Alison Ritchie comes a heart-warming story that celebrates the loving relationship between a mother and her child, as they spend the day together. The story is told using bears who appear more like stuffed animals than real to engage children as if it is their own bears in the story. Little Bear learns that his mum is so smart she can do pretty much everything.  It provides a simple storyline where Little Bear’s mother is not afraid of the dark and how he can be brave to when she’s holding him tight. Alison Edgon’s illustrations, done in a soft acrylic style painting, show the admiration that Little Bear has for him mum and truly captures the love between mother and child.  This story is a favourite of younger children too, even though the recommended age is four plus. Me and My Mum is the companion book to Me and My Dad. Both can be used well with single parent children. Especially this one with single mothers as the child realises there mum is all that Mum Bear is, a perfect role model. This book is available with both variations of the spelling of Mum/ Mom through Amazon.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?

Martin, Bill. Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see. New York : H. Holt, 1992.

Title : Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author : Bill Martin Jr ; illustrated by Eric Carle

There are many reasons why this book is still recommended for children even though it’s an old classic. It is because it helps teach children so many things, some of which are listed later. The Brown Bear at the beginning sees something another colour and it goes through many animals all in various colours until it reaches a gold fish that sees a teacher looking at him. The teacher sees the children and the children see all of the animals that have been talked about already in the story. The book provides a great base for learning colours with children, as well as developing there cognitive skills to see if they can remember what animals and what colour they were that they have seen in the story.  The simple illustrations by Eric Carle are just enough to engage the children and capture their attention with the white page behind the animals.  The story is written with rhythm, repetition and predictability, all of which make for a highly interesting and engaging story.   

A Friend for Little Bear

Horse, Harry. A friend for little bear. Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, ©1996.

Title : A Friend for Little Bear
Author: Harry Horse

A simple and charming story about a little bear that is all alone on a small deserted island who is longing to find happiness. Little Bear decides to collect the items that float past his island hoping that one of them will bring him happiness. He collects a wooden horse, then a bottle, a clock, and a guitar and more until the whole island is full with his treasures. He doesn't know what the treasures are but believes he needs them all the same. However not a single one brings him happiness. His island got so full that the wooden horse was swept back into the water.  Finally Little Bear realises that he needs his friend instead of the cup so he tosses the cup away and when the wooden horse floats by his island again he couldn't have been happier.  The charming water colour illustrations help bring to life the friendship and happiness between Little Bear and the wooden horse. The story allows children to engage in how important friendship and happiness are and the lengths that can be done to achieve both of these.

Thank You Bear

Foley, Greg E. Thank you Bear. New York : Viking, 2007.

Title : Thank You Bear
Author: Greg Foley

This simple yet heart tugging story about friendship features a little bear that found a little box and decides that his friend mouse will love this. Bear sets out to find his friend and show him his new found treasure, but bears other friends do not see how it is the greatest thing ever. Monkey says “not so great” and Owl comments how he has seen those before.  Bear begins to bout that his box is actually a treasure. Yet when Bear finally finds his friend Mouse, Mouse looks inside the little box and says “It is the greatest thing ever. Thank You, Bear!” Mouse explores the box and curls up inside for a nap and Bear is pleased again about his treasure that he has shared with Mouse. The Author has written this book in a very simple manner so the book can be enjoyed by very young children. The story can also be read for older children as it talks about what it is like when friends do not value other friends treasure (toys etc.). 

The Very Cranky Bear

Bland, Nick. The very cranky bear. Gosford, N.S.W. : Scholastic Press, 2008.

Title: The Very Cranky Bear
Author: Nick Bland

Nick Bland’s The very cranky bear is a quick read and one that you could read every night and not get tired of it.  The story is of four friends (Lion, Zebra, Moose and Sheep); in the Jingle jangle jungle who find a nice cave to play in to stay out of the rain. Except they find a very cranky bear trying to sleep in the cave. The bear chases them out of the cave and back into the rain. The friends decide that the bear is cranky and that he needs to be cheered up. Zebra gives him stripes, moose makes him antlers and lion gives him a main. Bear just gets crankier! It ends up being simple sheep that offers bear a pillow because all he wants is to sleep in peace. Bear quickly falls asleep and the friends can play in the cave.  The story rhymes on each page, engaging children in the story as well as the load roar of the bear.  It makes for a great little story teaching moral character; however it may be not as clear a message for little children the story line will be loved anyway.  This book is one of a series - others include The Very Itchy Bear , The Very Brave Bear and The Very Hungary Bear. 

Say Please, Little Bear

Bently, Peter. Say please , little bear. Bath [U.K.] ; New York : Parragon, 2011.

Title: Say Please, Little Bear
Author: Peter Bently ; illustrated by Rob McPhillips
 

In this whimsical tale Peter Bently , Little Bear is taught how to be polite by Daddy Bear. Daddy Bear helps Little Bear see how much fun it is to share, take turns and being helpful along with how each of these show politeness.  The messages in this story are very clear and presented in a playful manner that makes it an ideal for early learners. Daddy bear uses a stuffed animal to talk with his son while they are at a party. He uses the stuffed toy to encourage Little Bear to be better behaved, show politeness etc.)It allows children to learn these messages as Little Bear does; “if he does those things then I can to!” would most likely be a thought going through all young children’s head.  The adorable illustrations are done by Rob McPhillips and they aide the easy to read text making the story a sure favourite among children as a read aloud with an adult story time book

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