One shiney wet nose! Two big furry ears! Two big goggly eyes! IT'S A BEAR!!!! (We're Going On a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen)

Member Name: carlz2001uk

Product:	We're Going On a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen
Date:	05/10/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful watercolour illustrations. Rhyming story

Disadvantages: None

My daughter received 'We're going on a Bear Hunt' for her third birthday in May and it's still her favourite bedtime read. With the beautiful illustrations and catchy, repetitive verse it will be a children's favourite for many years to come.

The book centres on a family of five, looking for an adventure (and a bear!), across the countryside, and has wonderful illustrations which engage with the child's imagination. Each page has the illustration in water colour across a double page. Some pages are black and white and some are colour and the mixture is lovely.

The story has a repetitive rhyming feel, which makes it easy for children to follow, and my daughter actually knows all the words. Each scene starts the same with:
'We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared.'

The story then changes to suit whichever scenario they are trying to tackle, for example, long wavy grass or a deep cold river, and after they explain where they are it ends with:

'We can't go over it.
We can't go under it.
Oh no!
We've got to got through it!'

So the only thing that ever really changes is the place where they are, but there is a reason for this, as at the end of the book, they go backwards to get home and it's a great way to help children remember and join along.

The Independent on Sunday described this book as 'A dramatic and comic masterpiece. Beautifully produced, written and illustrated, this is a classic.' The book was also a winner of the Smarties Book Prize and was commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

It is priced at £5.99 RRP, but can be picked up a lot cheaper through book clubs, Amazon or take advantage of the 3 for 2 offers on children's books in places like WHSmiths in the run up to Christmas.

There is a 20th Anniversary edition of this book available, as well as a paperback with either a DVD or CD and the book is also available with a board game. See Walker Books website for further details.

Summary: 5 stars!