SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

March 16, 2020 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, ill. Helen Oxenbury

March 16, 2020 by Betsy Bird   6 comments

To help out families stuck in their homes with small children, people have been creating videos of people reading picture books. And WHAT, I ask you, is a better readaloud than this storytime classic? Nothing, I tells ya! Nothing! Kate gets introduced to Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury for the very first time. Imagine showing someone who has never seen this story performed for small children encountering this book without that bit of context. We spend a bit of time considering the bear’s motives here. Maybe the bear has come out of hibernation is starving. Maybe it’s lonely. And maybe this is just a great book through and through. Maybe.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, PlayerFM, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

You probably won’t be able to read it in full but here is the 2014 Telegraph article about the book, but it’s there in case you need it.

Kate had a point. I’m a bit baffled. First you see the younger sister with her shoes off, then in the next shot she appears to be putting them on BEFORE traipsing through mud. Confoosing.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The case of the mysterious pants. One minute their muddy, the next . . . foof!

“There’s a blizzard? Where do they live? The Midwest?” Kate makes a good point about typical spring weather.

I don’t know much about dogs, but that ain’t a bear fighting dog, folks. That’s a border collie.

So as the older sister drags the baby (who aside from the dog is the only person taking this seriously) to its certain death . . .

Sorry, kids! You’re on your own! If this really is the dad, he has some work to do on his parenting/fleeing for your life skills.

“I do like how the baby has a stuffed bear, even as there’s a bear outside, ready to maul the family.”

To my mind, this last image is the strangest and most impressive. It just sort of shoots the whole enterprise up a level.

This book made #12 on my Top 100 Board Books Poll.

Here is Michael Rosen performing this book by his very own self:

Did you think I was kidding about the parody book? Oh, ye of little faith:

And here is the video that Kate recommended. I present to you, Black Violin:

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Fuse 8 n' KateHelen OxenburyMichael Rosen

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margaret & H.A. Rey

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: The Mitten by Jan Brett

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Valentine for Norman Noggs by Valiska Gregory, ill. Marsha Winborn

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Who's In Rabbit's House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves by Sally M. Walker, ill. Angela McKay

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Here Be Monsters: On Horror, Catharsis, and Uneasy Truces with Yourself, a guest post by author Rebecca Mahoney

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Middle Grade Books 2022 | SLJ Best Books

USBBY Announces the 2023 Outstanding International Books List. Download a PDF of the Full List.

14 Fiction and Nonfiction Books to Celebrate Pi Day

14 New Installments in Popular YA Series

39 Exceptional Titles to Start the New Year, Including Works by Dan Santat and Kwame Alexander| Starred Reviews, January 2023

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DanB says

    March 16, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    There’s an animated short of the book (I assume it’s Weston Woods, because it’s always Weston Woods) that adds a subplot, possibly inspired by the final image: one of the daughters recognizes that the bear is nice and just wants to make friends. If I remember correctly, she convinces everyone to come out of the house to play with the bear at the end.

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      March 16, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      As someone who is still scarred from the documentary Grizzly Man. . . . hooboy! Thanks for the background info!

  2. Sarah Shapiro says

    March 20, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    OMG Betsy. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Wide Sargasso Sea. I read it last year. It’s super weird. I think I’m just not used to the style of writing!

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      March 22, 2020 at 10:22 pm

      I’m looking forward to it! Mind you, I tend to listen to my audiobooks when I’m walking to work and . . . well . . . that’s not really happening so much these days, eh? But once everything’s open again I’ll download that puppy lightning quick!

  3. Jade says

    April 13, 2020 at 9:33 pm

    I just listened to the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt episode, thank you! I’m from Australia, so the idea of going on a bear hunt here can only be imaginary – similar going searching for a monster – a bit scary, a bit exciting but all make believe (since there are no bears here). Maybe it’s similar for the author and illustrator as they were based in England? This would also help to explain the snow storm and poorly chosen attire. Anything goes in your imagination! It was interesting to hear this book read from the perspectives of people who may actually come across bears! Thanks again.

Trackbacks

  1. Extra Stay-cation Resources – Colorado Online Libraries says:
    March 23, 2020 at 6:41 am

    […] We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: This one and others by Fuse 8 n’ Kate – https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/03/16/fuse-8-n-kate-were-going-on-a-bear-hunt-by-michael-rosen-ill-helen-oxenbury […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023