We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Inspiring Reading and Play

We added Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's We're Going on a Bear Hunt to our son's library a little early (at around 13 months), but I am glad that we did because it has been one of B's most-requested books ever since!  This book is a fun way to share the classic chant, "We're Going on a Beat Hunt."  I remember doing that chant back in nursery school (and I have done it with my own classes), but my husband had not heard of it before!  Have you?  The repetitive chant, rich with onomatopoeia, follows a family on a journey to find a bear.  (My husband thinks the parents in this book must be the worst parents in the world...they take their baby through a river and a snow storm and more to find a bear!)  Again and again, they chant, "we're not scared."  But wait until you see what happens when they finally find the bear!  Helen Oxenbury's illustrations are as warm and cozy as always and remove any edge of scariness in this book.

We have the gift set shown above, which would be a sweet gift for a toddler or younger preschool aged child.  I like to hide the bear and then pull it out once we get to the page with the bear!  This is a great book to share with children of multiple ages, and both the small board book edition and the larger hardcover have their merits.

Who Loves It:
Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers will enjoy sharing this together.

Why We Love It:

• Repetitive chant invites young children to chime in
• Onomatopoeia encourages children to build phonemic awareness
• Strong rhythm makes it a fun read for all ages
• Strong use of positional vocabulary (over, under, through, up, down) helps to teach important early math concepts

Suggested Activities:

• Younger toddlers will enjoy finding their own eyes, ears, and nose once the bear is found
• Hide a teddy bear while you are reading, and take it out when the bear is found in the cave.  Chase around your little one and tickle!
• Invite older toddlers and preschool aged children to chime in as you read.
• Preschool aged children might enjoy acting this one out.  Try adding "bear hunt" props, such as a backpack, binoculars, or a safari hat.  Create a cave with blankets and furniture.
• Create sensory bins that represent the various parts of the family's journey: water for the river, cotton balls for snow, Easter grass for the long, swishy grass.

Playtime Rhymes for Little People: So Beloved, We Had to Buy Two

An alternate subtitle for this post might have been, "My toddler loved it to death."  Little B got this book as a gift from my mom at 6 months, and at 14 months, we are already on our second copy thanks to the heavy wear and tear it received after many joyful readings.

While this hardcover collection of songs, nursery rhymes, lap bounces, and finger plays is not terribly sturdy, it is a delightful collection that caregivers and infants and toddlers will enjoy again and again.  Clare Beaton's illustrations are painstakingly created with antique fabrics and exude charm and nostalgia.  The book arrives with a CD of the poems and rhymes.  The CD is a great bonus to the book and an additional way for your child to enjoy it, but not my favorite of B's music options.  Small notes on each page teach parents the movements to each rhyme.  This book would make a great baby gift!

Who Loves It:
Infants and toddlers and those who care for them -- this is a great book for songs to sing while bouncing a smiley baby on your lap.  This is also a great resource for early childhood teachers.

Why We Love It:

• Gorgeous illustrations
• Nursery rhymes support phonemic awareness
• Parents and caregivers can use this book to learn songs and lap bounces that children will enjoy again and again, long after the book is put away
• Suggested movements for each rhyme will help engage active children in reading

Activity Suggestions:

• Let an older toddler or preschool age look at the book while listening to the CD
• Learn a couple of the lap bounces or finger plays well, and enjoy them while you are stuck trying to entertain a wiggly toddler in line at the grocery store, at the doctor's office, etc.

Ask Mr. Bear: Timeless Story, Vintage Pictures

Ask Mr. Bear was originally published by Marjorie Flack in the early 1930's, but has not lost its charm with young children (or those who read to them).  Young Danny is preparing for his mother's birthday.  He asks many farm animal friends for suggestions, but still cannot find the perfect gift.  Finally, Mrs. Cow suggests
that Danny ask Mr. Bear.  Danny ventures through the woods alone (and with a hint of trepidation), but thanks to Mr. Bear's suggestion, is able to find just the perfect gift for his mother.

This is a sweet story to read around the time of a birthday or a visit to a farm.  It is not overly moralistic, but a great way for children to be reminded that the best gifts are not always material items.  The pictures are charming but definitely vintage.  Older preschool aged children might not be easily won over by them but adult readers will enjoy reminiscing about their own childhood picture books.

Who Loves It:
This book is perfect for ages 1-4, and accessible on various levels.  My 14 month old is already enamored with it and has asked for it again and again.

Why We Love It:

• Repetitive language
• Predictable text
• Older toddlers will be able to chime in as you read a build literacy skills
• Simple "home-adventure-home" story arc.  The book begins with Danny at home, follows him on his adventure, and returns home with him when he gives his gift to his mother.
• Charming, vintage pictures

Activity Suggestions...

• Younger toddlers can build language by practicing animal sounds as each animal is introduced and  labeling each animal
• Older preschool aged children (in a small group) can take on the roles of Danny and the various animals and act the story out as you read
• Children of all ages might enjoy a visit to a farm and talking about the different necessities we gain from animals
• Use a felt set, stuffed animals, or puppets to retell the story.