"Be Very Very Quiet We be Hunting Bears" (We're Going On a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen)

Member Name: Autarkis

Product:	We're Going On a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen
Date:	28/04/09 (397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helps develop your children's speech and imagination.

Disadvantages: Your day maybe quickly consumed with reading this book over and over again.

Story time has always been a favourite part of the day with both of my children. My 18 month old baby boy gets excited when he knows we are going to read as he loves having his books read with him and enjoys looking at them himself.

Before I was pregnant with my son I worked in the primary school that my daughter attended I was mostly with the reception and year 1 children. That is when I came across this book, the group of children that I read this book to really enjoyed the story and it was fun to read. When my son was born I started buying books and his love for books has grown, a few months ago I was looking on Amazon and remembered this book - I just had to get it.

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen is a popular book that comes in different formats; I opted for the board book as these are designed for toddlers with eager hands that like to turn the page. The RRP of the board book is £4.99 I paid just £3.19 on Amazon a couple of months back which was an absolute bargain! You can get this book for a good price if you shop around. The book is recommended from 2+ however my son has been enjoying this story from 16 months of age and he is now starting to understand the story more and more.

The book has 36 pages so it is quite chunky and thick, the pages have rounded corners as with most toddler board books which are glossy and wipe clean. The book is of high quality with sturdy thick pages it has lasted better than other board books he owns and has no wrinkled or creased pages.

This has become one of my son's favourite books and I enjoy reading it each time. Unlike some books which can become a bit boring over time as children like to have their books read to them over and over again.

The book is about a family, A dad and his 4 children and a dog which take us in search of a bear and there are lots of adventures a long the way.

The book starts off:

We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day.
We're not scared!

On the opposite page reads:

Uh-uh! Grass!
Long wavy grass.

We can't go over it.
We can't go under it.

Oh no!
We've got to go through it!

The picture on this page shows the family in black and white as the story is exciting to read, and you can use actions as you read it. With older children it is fun to actually act out the story too.

When you turn the page the picture is in colour and shows the family at the other side of the long grass. The text is in a box which reads:

"Swishy Swashy!"

"Swishy Swashy!"

"Swishy Swashy!"

With the text getting slightly larger each time.
This is read in an exciting voice whilst I hold my sons hands rocking him from side to side as I read.

The book then repeats the text from the first page with different obstacles for the family to get through. The book follows the same format going through a river, mud, and a forest, my son and I always act out each part which is always fun. Until finally we come to a cave!

This is where the story becomes even more exciting! The text then reads "Tiptoe! Tip toe! Tiptoe! (Which I read slightly louder each time) "WHAT'S THAT?"

The next double page is inside the cave with the dog cowering up on one side and the bear on the opposite page.

The text then reads

"One shiny wet nose!
Two big furry ears!
Two big goggly eyes!

IT'S A BEAR!!!!"

My son has learnt the word bear from me reading this story to him and he always gets excited and anticipates this happening. When I read "it's a..." he will then say "Bear!"

The story then gets even more exciting and is read at a fast pace the story is then told in reverse as they have to quickly go back through the same path as they came. They get home and run up the stairs and hide under the bed covers. The story finishes "We're not going on a bear hunt again."

This is a really fun book to read and is still just as exciting to read even though it gets read most days and my son always gets excited and loves having it read to him.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Helen Oxenbury throughout with soft watercolour style pictures that don't detract from the story. The pictures show the children looking excited ready to catch a bear and the dad looking rather amused, with lots of repetitive text which helps with speech development with younger children and older children will love to join in as the story is simple. The story is told in a rhythmic way so children soon pick up on the story. The use of fun words that are used as we go through each of the obstacles are fun and make it enjoyable for children. The sounds can be made in a different way and can be exaggerated and acted out as the story is being read making it even more fun. Words to describe going through the obstacles such as swishy swashy, and squelch squerch! These always give my son a giggle as they are read enthusiastically. The pictures are quite simple and don't distract from the exciting story which the child will get lost in.

This is a fun book that lets children use their imagination and it is a great book for using actions and getting your child/children to join in as they read the story. This is a great way to encourage children to read and use their imagination.

This story never gets boring and I feel personally is best to read during the day when your child is feeling active; reading this in the evening close to bedtime may get your child too excited.

This story can be made into an activity with older children who can have fun making the different obstacles from different materials so the story can be acted out.

Children always enjoy this story and my son always enjoys having it read to him and although he knows what is going to happen he still gets excited and the tension up to the cave is always there. I can see we will have lots more fun with this book as he gets older and understands more and is able to join in with reading along.

This book is available in different formats and different sizes, and can be found in most good book stores and can be purchased online at Amazon.

I highly recommend this book to all toddlers and young readers who will have so much fun with this book.


Published on other review sites under the same author name.

Summary: Put on your coat and wellies it's time for a Bear Hunt.