We're Going on a Bear Hunt facts for kids
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| Author | Michael Rosen |
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| Illustrator | Helen Oxenbury |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Walker Books (UK) Margaret K. McElderry Books (US) |
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Publication date
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25 December 1989 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0689504764 |
| OCLC | 18259147 |
We're Going on a Bear Hunt is a super popular picture book for kids. It was written by Michael Rosen and drawn by Helen Oxenbury in 1989. This book has won many awards. It even set a Guinness World Record in 2014 for the "Largest Reading Lesson." About 1,500 children listened in person, and 30,000 more joined online!
Contents
The Story of the Bear Hunt
The book tells the exciting story of a family going on an adventure. Four children, their baby sister, and their dog decide to hunt for a bear. They travel through many different places. Each place has its own challenge.
First, they go through long, wavy grass. Then, they cross a deep, cold river. After that, they squish through thick, oozy mud. Next, they bravely enter a big, dark forest. Finally, they face a swirling, whirling snowstorm.
After all these obstacles, they find a bear! The bear is in a narrow, gloomy cave. This meeting makes the family panic! They quickly run back home, going through all the obstacles again. The bear chases them all the way.
When they get home, they lock the bear out. The children are safe inside. They hide under a duvet and say, "We're not going on a bear hunt again!" At the very end of the book, the bear is shown looking sad on a beach.
Art Style and Sounds
Most of the pictures in the book are painted using watercolour. These paintings are full of color. But, the six pictures where the family faces a new challenge are black and white drawings. This makes those moments stand out.
The book also uses special words called onomatopoeia. These are words that sound like what they describe. For example, "swishy swashy" for grass or "splish splosh" for the river.
Before each obstacle, the children sing a chant:
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared.
And while they cross each obstacle, they say:
We can't go over it.
We can't go under it.
Oh no!
We've got to go through it!
Characters and Settings
The characters in the book are a family. The oldest child is often thought to be the father, but he is actually the older brother. The children in the book are based on Helen Oxenbury's own kids. Even the dog in the story is like a real family pet she had!
In the TV show based on the book, the family's mom and dad appear. The four older children, who don't have names in the book, are called Stan, Katie, Rosie, and Max in the show. The baby sister still doesn't have a name. The dog is named Rufus in the TV version.
Many of the places the family travels through are based on real places. Helen Oxenbury knew these locations in England and Wales. The only place not based on a real spot is the river.
Awards and Records
We're Going on a Bear Hunt has won several important awards. In 1989, it won the main Nestlé Smarties Book Prize. It also won the award for books for children aged 0-5 years. The book was also recognized by the Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards.
Other awards include the 'School Library Journal Best Book of the Year' and the 'Mainichi Newspapers Japanese Picture Book Award.' It was also highly praised for the 1989 Kate Greenaway Medal.
In 2014, the book's publisher, Walker Books, celebrated its 25th birthday. To celebrate, they broke a Guinness World Record! Author Michael Rosen read the book to 1,500 children in person. Another 30,000 people listened online. This set the record for the "Largest Reading Lesson."
Different Versions and Adaptations
This popular book has been made into different forms of entertainment.
Theatre Play
The story was turned into a stage play. Sally Cookson directed it, and Benji Bower wrote the music. The play has been shown in London's West End and other theaters. The ending of the play is a bit different. In the play, the family and the bear become friends. Time Out magazine gave the play four out of five stars. They said the actors were "wonderfully entertaining."
Television Show
A half-hour animated TV show based on the book first aired on Channel 4 in the UK on December 24, 2016. Famous actors like Olivia Colman and Mark Williams did the voices. Michael Rosen, the book's author, also voiced characters. In the US, Anna Faris and Jimmy Kimmel did some of the voices.
Mobile App
A mobile app based on the book was released in December 2016. You can find it on Amazon, Android, and Apple devices.
Cultural Impact and "Bear Hunts"
The book has become very well-known. In 2013, two writers, Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees, wrote a funny version of the book for adults. It was called We're Going On A Bar Hunt.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a fun activity called "bear hunts" became popular. People in the United States, Belgium, Netherlands, and Australia put stuffed bears in their windows, front yards, or on mailboxes. Children could then look for and find these bears while out on walks or drives. It was a way to make walks more exciting during a difficult time.
