We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Rating:
Summary: Has something for all young children ages 2-5
Review: I work with different age groups from 0-5years old. Kids as young as 1 year old enjoy the story telling portion of this cd. I do alot of handplays/body movements which the kids mimic as the story is playing. I use the cd alone and in conjunction with the book. Kids love it either way!
The first track is the lively descriptive tale and subsequent tracks are different "lessons" you can do with your kids/students if you like. I would recommend that the adult listen to those parts and introduce the lessons over time, don't overload a younger child's imagination with it. It's a great cd with charismatic voices and appropriate music that really brings to life a terrific children's book.

Rating:
Summary: OK for older child
Review: This CD has a lot of word play, lovely vocabulary (just like the book) and lots of instructions to follow. It is very participatory.

In short, it's not a terrific toddler CD. It's simply too complicated. I think a toddler might enjoy the CD if you played it while looking at the book together. (I'm planning on getting the book to find out.) But, don't count on being able to pop it into your car's CD to entertain your two year old... unless he or she is already enamored with the story.

Get this for a child
- Who is old enough to follow somewhat abstract instructions. For example the CD asks kids to "Move your hands to show what the following words might look like. Over. Under. Back. Up the stairs..."
- Who has enough attention span to enjoy an oral story on it's own right
- Or, who is already very familiar with the story and loves it!

Rating:
Summary: gets played over and over and over and over!
Review: We bought this on a driving trip in Maine this summer and our 4 year old just loved it. Still does now home in CA! He memorized the story and loves to repeat the story. Also they have various word and other games related to the story. You won't regret buying it!