Rating: 
Summary: A Preschool Staple!
Review: Anyone who has taught in preschool settings will understand just how wonderful this book is. I remember being secretly relieved if it was chosen over The Wheels on the Bus...:)
My son is now too old for this treasure and I was sad to have to add it to the donations pile.
*sigh*
Rating:
Summary: Can't go over it
Review: Glancing at the cover of Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's, "We're Going On a Bear Hunt", I thought something along the lines of, "Hrmph. I bet they watered it down and made it syrupy. There's no way this kind of kid's book (in which a father and his four children of different hair colors go hunting for a bear) is going to actually end with the family finding the bear and getting chased back to their house". Well, you can just color me wrong all over. Not only is the book faithful to the original song, but it's a hoot to boot. The words are those old familiar ones we all love so well, and the pictures are a high-stepping romp complete with adventure, daring, and danger. Everything, in fact, that a good picture book could hope to be.If you've ever heard the song "We're Going On a Bear Hunt" then you know the way the story goes. A father and his rambunctious youngsters are setting out to locate one bear. They're not actually on a hunt in terms of carrying guns or anything of that sort. In fact, these people haven't anything with them but one another and the clothes on their backs. With their border collie along with they successfully cross the tall wavy grass (swishy swashy), ford the deep cold river (splash splosh), tromp through the ooey-gooey mud (squelch squerch), wander through the deep dark forest (stumble trip!), run through a whirling snowstorm (Hoooo woooo), and at last enter a deep dark cave (tiptoe). It's the dog that sees the malicious bear first and the brave troop run back over every place they'd been before to escape. In a moment of frenzied activity they enter their house only to discover that they've forgotten to shut the door. At the last minute they get it closed (angry bear safely outside now) and everyone crawls into bed and under the covers. The final shot in the book is one of the bear as he tromps solemly homeward again. This is quite an exciting book. Author Michael Rosen has captured the enjoyable sounds of the story quite well, and the high tension towards the end is just delightfully scary enough for the youngsters. But it is illustrator Helen Oxenbury that really lets this puppy shine. She has the ability to create scenes in which characters are interacting with one another against huge evocative backgrounds. I'm very partial to a scene in which the family is joyfully running through the tall grasses, dotted occasionally with deep red poppies. The sky is a blue one, filled with light puffy clouds and in the distance a flock of birds travels up and away. Admittedly, I love a good pastoral illustration, but this kind of care for illustrations is visible in all Oxenbury's color pictures (each appearing on every other page). If you're at all familiar with Helen Oxenbury then you'll find numerous scenes in this story that remind you of her other books. The baby found here looks like nothing so much as a clothed version of the infant in, "Big Mama Makes the World". The muddy squelchy vista in another picture is reminiscent of the barnyard takeover attempt in, "Farmer Duck". She knows how to pick `em, Helen Oxenbury does. Will kids be scared by a family chased by a bear? Pleasantly so, I believe. The shot of the bear walking home is enough to convince even the worry-wartiest of children that the family is not going to be eaten in the near future. All in all, this is just another one of those great picture books that fill the world. It reads aloud very well, so if you need a book to present to a large group, I've found the perfect match for you. If you like high adventure and a good tale, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" delivers both in spades. A wonderful addition to any storytime collection.
Rating:
Summary: Can't go over it
Review: Glancing at the cover of Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's, "We're Going On a Bear Hunt", I thought something along the lines of, "Hrmph. I bet they watered it down and made it syrupy. There's no way this kind of kid's book (in which a father and his four children of different hair colors go hunting for a bear) is going to actually end with the family finding the bear and getting chased back to their house". Well, you can just color me wrong all over. Not only is the book faithful to the original song, but it's a hoot to boot. The words are those old familiar ones we all love so well, and the pictures are a high-stepping romp complete with adventure, daring, and danger. Everything, in fact, that a good picture book could hope to be. If you've ever heard the song "We're Going On a Bear Hunt" then you know the way the story goes. A father and his rambunctious youngsters are setting out to locate one bear. They're not actually on a hunt in terms of carrying guns or anything of that sort. In fact, these people haven't anything with them but one another and the clothes on their backs. With their border collie along with they successfully cross the tall wavy grass (swishy swashy), ford the deep cold river (splash splosh), tromp through the ooey-gooey mud (squelch squerch), wander through the deep dark forest (stumble trip!), run through a whirling snowstorm (Hoooo woooo), and at last enter a deep dark cave (tiptoe). It's the dog that sees the malicious bear first and the brave troop run back over every place they'd been before to escape. In a moment of frenzied activity they enter their house only to discover that they've forgotten to shut the door. At the last minute they get it closed (angry bear safely outside now) and everyone crawls into bed and under the covers. The final shot in the book is one of the bear as he tromps solemly homeward again. This is quite an exciting book. Author Michael Rosen has captured the enjoyable sounds of the story quite well, and the high tension towards the end is just delightfully scary enough for the youngsters. But it is illustrator Helen Oxenbury that really lets this puppy shine. She has the ability to create scenes in which characters are interacting with one another against huge evocative backgrounds. I'm very partial to a scene in which the family is joyfully running through the tall grasses, dotted occasionally with deep red poppies. The sky is a blue one, filled with light puffy clouds and in the distance a flock of birds travels up and away. Admittedly, I love a good pastoral illustration, but this kind of care for illustrations is visible in all Oxenbury's color pictures (each appearing on every other page). If you're at all familiar with Helen Oxenbury then you'll find numerous scenes in this story that remind you of her other books. The baby found here looks like nothing so much as a clothed version of the infant in, "Big Mama Makes the World". The muddy squelchy vista in another picture is reminiscent of the barnyard takeover attempt in, "Farmer Duck". She knows how to pick 'em, Helen Oxenbury does. Will kids be scared by a family chased by a bear? Pleasantly so, I believe. The shot of the bear walking home is enough to convince even the worry-wartiest of children that the family is not going to be eaten in the near future. All in all, this is just another one of those great picture books that fill the world. It reads aloud very well, so if you need a book to present to a large group, I've found the perfect match for you. If you like high adventure and a good tale, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" delivers both in spades. A wonderful addition to any storytime collection.
Rating:
Summary: Reading enthusiast
Review: I read to my 4 month son everyday (okay, ALMOST everyday). We take reading seriously and LOVE reading. We want our son to love reading too. This is a FABULOUS book. Rhythmic, repetitive (in a great way) and FUN. We love it.
Rating:
Summary: 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen.
Review: If you're going to buy one book this year for a young child, you'd better make sure it's this one. 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen, is a children's adventure story that's guaranteed to leave you wondering at the end. What's the bear really like? Is it a good idea to go on a bear hunt? Maybe it's safer to stay at home in bed. If you did, maybe you wouldn't have such an exciting adventure!
This story is about an optimistic family and their dog who are determined to search for a bear, despite the obstacles in their way. What happens when they finally meet the bear? You'll have to read it to find out!
I recommend this brilliant story to parents and teachers of young children because, as well as being a fantastic read, it's a great book for teaching them about adjectives and prepositions: "A swirling whirling snowstorm. We can't go over it. We can't go under it. Oh no! We've got to go through it!" I also really like the illustrations by Helen Oxenbury because they help to tell the story and bring the characters to life. This is also one of my daughter's favourite bed-time stories. She's not scared........... How about you? Do you dare to find the bear?
Rating:
Summary: 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen.
Review: If you're going to buy one book this year for a young child, you'd better make sure it's this one. `We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen, is a children's adventure story that's guaranteed to leave you wondering at the end. What's the bear really like? Is it a good idea to go on a bear hunt? Maybe it's safer to stay at home in bed. If you did, maybe you wouldn't have such an exciting adventure!
This story is about an optimistic family and their dog who are determined to search for a bear, despite the obstacles in their way. What happens when they finally meet the bear? You'll have to read it to find out!
I recommend this brilliant story to parents and teachers of young children because, as well as being a fantastic read, it's a great book for teaching them about adjectives and prepositions: "A swirling whirling snowstorm. We can't go over it. We can't go under it. Oh no! We've got to go through it!" I also really like the illustrations by Helen Oxenbury because they help to tell the story and bring the characters to life. This is also one of my daughter's favourite bed-time stories. She's not scared........... How about you? Do you dare to find the bear?
Rating: 
Summary: Aspiring Teacher Comments
Review: Michael Rosen's "We're Going On A Bear Hunt" is a cute tale suitable for any beginning reader or elementary level class. It has a repetitive and rhythmic verse. The story is a light-hearted adventure, with a fun twist at the conclusion for childrens enjoyment. The illustrations suited the text well, as they were not eccentric but not dull. I used the book for a lesson on sequencing for a first grade class. It can also be used to foster reading skills because of it's textual predictability and repetition. Overall, a helpful tool for fun activities and learning in the classroom.
Rating:
Summary: My autistic 3 year old son LOVES this book!
Review: My autistic son LOVES this book! It keeps him engaged and centered, which is frequently a challenge. He loves to recite the lines with me! We have only had it for two weeks and he already has most of the book memorized! It has been a great asset for his continuing language development!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: This book is fun and exciting - the short verses hold your attention and that of your young children. I have read this book to children as young as 10 months up to 8 years and they have all loved it.
This book would be useful in pre-school circle time with its repeated examples of "over" "under" and "through" could easily translate into play and movement activities.
The illustrations so beautifully capture expressions and movement.
In the story the family travels through mud, forest, snow and finally into a cave all in search of a bear, but don't worry, "it's such a beautiful day - they're not scared" The excitment builds - are they going to find a bear? And what will happen when they do? Read and find out!
I bought this book for my youngest child as a gift last year and I'm buying more this year to give to the children of friends.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: This book is fun and exciting - the short verses hold your attention and that of your young children. I have read this book to children as young as 10 months up to 8 years and they have all loved it.
This book would be useful in pre-school circle time with its repeated examples of "over" "under" and "through" could easily translate into play and movement activities.
The illustrations so beautifully capture expressions and movement.
In the story the family travels through mud, forest, snow and finally into a cave all in search of a bear, but don't worry, "it's such a beautiful day - they're not scared" The excitment builds - are they going to find a bear? And what will happen when they do? Read and find out!
I bought this book for my youngest child as a gift last year and I'm buying more this year to give to the children of friends.
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