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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Where's My Teddy?

 Alborough, Jez. Where’s my teddy? Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 1992.

Title: Where's my Teddy?
Author: Jez Alborough

Have you ever gone somewhere and not had something comforting with you? Of course we have, and we all panic. This is exactly what has happened for Bear who has lost his teddy bear somewhere in the forest. At the same time Eddie, a young boy, has also lost his own teddy bear in the forest. Eddie retraces his steps in the scary forest in search of his teddy. He discovers a gigantic stuffed bear that would be way too big for his small bed at home. Then he hears crying and sees a bear who is sobbing because he is distressed by the tiny size of his teddy. Eddie takes the big stuffed bear to the real bear and they swap the teddies over. But then they both get so scared of each other than they run away!  Alborough has written the story with rhyming text that clearly shows the juxtaposition of the large and small characters as well as both characters points of view. The Illustrations done in watercolour paintings help captivate the readers to the story using large and small items on each page. 

Augustus and His Smile

Rayner, Catherine. Augustus and his smile. Intercourse, Pa. : Good Books, c2006.

Title: Augustus and His Smile
Author: Catherine Rayner

Augustus the tiger is sad, he has lost his smile L.  He decides to start looking for his smile. Augustus’ search takes him all over the world; he explores jungles, deserts and oceans before he finally discovers his simile. He finds his smile in a pool of water.  Augustus realises that he is smiling because there are so many good things around him that he has been experiencing. When be begins to think of his search he smiles. The author has created a simple story with a poem like telling that allows the children engaged in the story to speculate about what makes them feel good.  The message of this book is clear and simple – what makes you enjoy the natural world and what parts do you like the best. The illustrations in this book show the beauty of the world and how much happiness it can bring us when one just simply opens their eyes.  Augustus and his smile makes for a  great story for all imaginative children who love to explore the world around them.

Sleep Like a Tiger

Logue, Mary. Sleep like a tiger. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012.

Title: Sleep Like a Tiger
Author: Mary Logue

This recently published bedtime story book by Mary Logue features a little girl who does not want to sleep.  Her parents start to suggest small things to get her ready for bed, like getting into pyjamas and brushing her teeth.  The little girl proclaims she is wide awake and begins to ask questions about how other things in the world sleep. Her parents tell her about sleeping habits of familiar animals. After her parents turn off the light she remembers the descriptions of the tiger and makes it part of her bedtime routine.   She begins by finding a warm spot like a cat, then she  folds her arms like the wings of a bat and curls up like a snail, and falls asleep like the animal who sleeps to be strong—the tiger. All young listeners will engage in the story because they too have a desire to stay awake.  The illustrations are done by Pamela Zagarenski, her illustrations are rich with vibrant catching details. For example she portrays the young girl’s family as royalty. The tiger that the little girl wishes to be like is also portrayed as a king for his strength. This book won the 2013 Randolph Caldecott Honour Award.

It's a Tiger!

LaRochelle, David. It’s a tiger! San Francisco : Chronicle Books, c2012

Title: It's a Tiger
Author: LaRochelle David

This book is attention grabbing from the very beginning, starting with a little boy asking the readers if they are ready for a story. From there begins the tale where the child imagines he is in the jungle swinging from vines with monkeys before ... Oh No! What’s that? A thick orange and black tail! It’s a tiger! RUN!  As the suspenseful story continues the readers are taken through many pages of escaping the tiger playing hide and seek. On every page you can see the tigers stripes hidden somewhere among the jungle, which allow children to look closely at each page engaging their cognitive abilities.  Jeremy Tankard’s illustrations, done with bold black lines and ink, help the characters stand out on a page and bring attention to the tiger’s stripes.  The story is written so that it goes soft to loud to soft again as you read it aloud, therefore engaging children in the suspense of the story more.             

Tiger Can't Sleep

Fore, S. J., Tiger can’t sleep. New York : Viking, 2006.

Title: Tiger Can't Sleep

Author: S.J. Fore

In this amusing story there is a tiger in a little boy’s closet that is making so much noise that the poor boy cannot fall asleep. First the tiger is eating chips loudly, and then bouncing a ball before he plays musical instruments.  Each new activity is described with sound words that the children listening can enjoy. Finally the little boy asks him to stop being noisy and the tiger admits he cannot sleep because he is afraid of the dark. The stories main theme is the old classic of reassuring preschoolers that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark and what their room may hold. The boy knows this and he is not afraid so when the tiger asks if he can sleep with him in the bed the boy agrees so they can both sleep. The beautiful illustrations and simply written story make for an attention grabbing story for young children.  

Oh, No!

Fleming, Candace. Oh, No! New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, c2012.

Title: Oh
Author: Candice Fleming ; illustrated by Eric Rohmann

A delightful repetition book where the children can join in with the Oh, No! As one animal after another, end up falling into a pit as they try and help a small frog. The poor frog was chased by a tiger and falls into the deep pit. A mouse, a Loris, a bear and a monkey all try and help him out until an elephant comes but he too falls in to the hole. This whole story takes place inside this pit as they try and figure out how to get out. The poor frog ends up having a very large and unexpected rescuer after a long wait… it was the tiger! The story engages the children with the suspenseful story of the frog and the repetition of the “oh, no!” There is a small message for the children behind all of the repetition that is very simple; if you cause someone to be stuck or in pain, help them out when you can. The tiger may have been chasing the frog but he eventually came to his senses and helped the frog out of the pit.  The illustrations, done by Eric Rohmann, aid the story line and the message. Careful when you read this it may get very noisy!

Tiger's Story

 Blackford, Harriet. Tiger’s story. New York : Boxer Books , 2007.

Title: Tiger's Story
Author: Harriet Blackford

A beautiful story that reads like non-fiction as it follows a young tiger through his life.   It begins when tiger is a small cub that lives with his mother and sisters in a forest in India. The illustrations in the books help the children engage in the story and enter the tiger’s world to watch him grow. First they learn how the tiger learns to pounce through the grass and learn sights, smells and sounds of his jungle. Later on the story he learns to hunt and then as time goes on the little tiger is now ready to find his own place in the forest. Young tiger sets out to find a place “just like his old home” to make his new home in. He crosses an old tiger’s path and runs away scared. Tiger’s running causes him to find a new home near a stream with fluttering butterflies. The illustrations done by  Manya Stojic.   The thing I like most about this book is that the author has provided her own notes that include information about the tiger’s physical characteristics, behaviours and how the tiger is an endangered species.  It provides information for the children who are older to try and pick up on the tiger’s physical characteristics within the illustrations. 

Do Lions Live on Lily Pads?

Walsh, Melanie. Do lions live on lily pads? New York : Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

Title: Do Lions Live on Lily Pads?
Author: Melanie Walsh

Do Lions live on lily pads? Is one of many books by Melanie Walsh, for preschool to kindergarten aged children, which encourages the children to increase how much they know of the world around them.   This book also encourages the children to answer the questions with simple yes or no answers, engaging in the story. For example “Do lions live on lily pads? NO, but frogs do.”  The answers are all explained with examples and all are no except for the last one that says “Do fleas live in fur? Yes! Scratch, scratch!” The story makes for a great guessing game , lots of laughs and loud answers from any audience  The Bright colours, small amounts of text, and subjects that provide just enough detail to identify each animal make a great eye catching story for toddlers.

Library Lion

Knudsen, Michelle. Library lion.  Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2006.

Title: Library Lion
Author: Michelle Knudsen

This book is a story about a lion that visits a library. Naturally you would think he causes problems, making noises but he doesn't want to leave.  Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, doesn't see any reason to expel this main attraction (for other customers), if he abides by her rules.  Lion obeys the rules and obediently helps out around the library, like liking envelopes and helping out Miss Merriweather. Beautifully drawn watercolour images capture the reader’s attention, as well as show the excitement of other Library visitors of various ages, as they watch the lion waiting for story time.  It is a simple beautiful story that can be enjoyed by parents and children, all about following rules and the friendships that can help you obey them. Illustrations are done by Kevin Hawkes.

In the Lion

Foley, James. In the lion. Newtown, N.S.W. : Walker Books Australia, 2012.

Title: In the Lion
Author: James Foley

This dark and humorous book for young children is James Foley’s newest book that is about a lion in the zoo that has many things inside of it. This lion will swallow up everything and anything it can, so you better watch out!  Here is a teaser of some of the people that the lion eats; a dentist, a chef and the zoo keeper. Only one little boy has the courage to try and stop the lion from swallowing him up. The story is written with repetition, each new thing inside the lion adding to the list, just like there was an old lady who swallowed a fly story, which we all know the children love. Foley has used bright colourful cartoon style illustrations that, along with the repetitive text, allow the children to engage in the story and create a delightful read for groups or one on one reading sessions.  James Foley’s website has some resources that are great for engaging the older children’s information. If you would like to have a look go to : 

http://www.jamesfoley.com.au/view/In+The+Lion/82/

We're Going On A Lion Hunt

Cuyler, Margery. We’re going on a lion hunt. Tarrytown, N.Y. : Marshall Cavendish Children, c2008.

Title: We're Going on a Lion Hunt
Author: Margery Cuyler

 A different take on the old classic we’re going on a bear hunt. In this story a class of kindergartners and their teacher head of on an imaginary safari to find a lion.  Just the same as the original story the children and their teacher have obstacles to get through to find the lion, they head through mud, sticks, long grass and a few other obstacles before they come across a dark cave. The children reading along with this story may get a little spooked but it is not too bad as the children in the story find a cold nose and sharp teeth and realise it’s a lion! They run all the way back to their classroom for safety.  The author has incorporated repetition, sound effects and participation opportunities to encourage a fun and exciting story to read. This along with beautiful bright cartoon watercolour and pencil illustrations help the children connect with the animals and their native habitat of the safari.

Raa Raa the Noisy Lion : Raa Raa Finds his Roar

Chai, May-Lee. Raa Raa the noisy lion: Raa Raa finds his roar. London : Ladybird, 2012.

Title: RaaRaa Finds his Roar
Author: Ladybird books published by ABC Store

This book is a story that is based on the new animated show (Raa Raa the Noisy Lion) for pre-schoolers that the ABC broadcasts.  In this story Raa Raa the noisy lion learns about noises that the other animals in the Jingly Jangle Jungle can make and he wants to learn them too.  Raa Raa soon discovers that he cannot swing like OooOoo (monkey) or toot like Huffty the elephant, which makes him very upset. In the end his friends get him to roar and of course he can do it very well with a load ROAR his friends cheer!  Raa Raa learns that his friends cannot roar the way he can, just like he can’t do the things they can do. As Raa Raa learns that everyone has something special they can do, the children reading the story can also learn this message. The story encourages young children to try the sounds around them and helps develop their communication skills.  If you would like to see more books about Raa Raa the ABC store has a range that you can purchase from online or in store. Here is the link to the full range of books:  http://shop.abc.net.au/products?browse=format_ids&format_ids=7&keywords=raa+raa

The Show and Tell Lion

Abercrombi, Barbara. The show and tell lion. New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2006.

Title: The Show and Tell Lion
Author: Barbara Abercombi

We all know that children love to tell made up stories, and what a perfect time to do just so in a show and tell time in a classroom! One day little Matthew has brought in nothing so he decides to tell his class about the lion, named Larry, that is living in his house.  His class mates love the idea so much that every day after that he keeps telling them all about Larry.  It is decided that Larry will be sent to the zoo at one stage in the tall tale. Matthew’s class ends up wanting to see Larry before he moves! Oh no what is Matthew going to do now? His mother is understanding of her son’s imagination but encourages him to be honest – so Matthew decides he is going to be honest at his next show and tell by drawing out his story of Larry. His class is disappointed; however they end up loving the story even more. This beautiful story combines imagination and child-friendly drawings of Larry to create a simple heartfelt story that encourages children’s imagination and drawing pictures themselves. 

Introduction :)

To all my good readers,

Just a quick message to explain what is going to be on this blog. Over the next couple of days you will be able to see a list of children’s books that have been hand-picked by me, with the topics / characters of Lions, Tigers and bears. All stories will have some messages teaching children lessons within the story; these will be explained or commented on in the individual book annotations. You will also be able to see a cover of the book so that you know what to look for in stores or a library. Within each category (Lions/Tigers/Bears) each book will be listed in alphabetical order according to the title of the book.

Enjoy :) 

Steph Bishara 
Library Worker