Life is never easy – it is littered with obstacles; some that are expected, but others can sneak up on us like a bear in the woods! But overcoming these obstacles and adversity can help to make us stronger, braver, and maybe even a little wiser. And that’s the magic of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen – it is a joy to read, whether that’s children or even their adult reading partners. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is a deceptively simple children’s book that delivers a surprisingly profound life lesson with every turn of the page.
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, is a gem of a picture book – one that that sold over 11 million copies worldwide and is enjoyed by children everywhere (it has even been adapted for television and the theatre). It is a fun tale of a family adventure and overcoming all the obstacles in their path to achieve their goal.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt tells the story (in rhythmic form) of five fearless children and their dog as they embark on an adventure to find a bear. The fearless adventurers proclaim, “We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day! We’re not scared!”. Their adventure sees them wading through a river, squelching through mud, and battling a raging snowstorm looking for a bear. With each obstacle in their path, they chant the immortal words of:
“We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we’ve got to go through it!”
Through perseverance, they do overcome the challenges they face and eventually find the elusive bear, but bears are not to messed with and the tables turn – the children’s bravery evaporates when the bear gives chase, forcing the intrepid hunters to flee and facing the same obstacles again on their return home – just in reverse, before reaching the safety of hiding under their duvet.
Overall, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is wonderful catchy story where children can join in with the events. And it is sneakily educational. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is more than just a charming story of an adventure of going looking for a bear – it is a story about life itself and overcoming any obstacles you meet along the way, meeting adversity head-on and not trying to circumvent the tricky bits. A fun, philosophical and educational read.
The storytelling is simple and masterful, transforming the hunt for a bear into a chase scene that is pure brilliance. And the catchy sequences gets everybody joining in the adventure. The story is also very relatable with themes of courage, fear and perseverance.
Whether you’re 3 or 103, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is a joyful story, one that has adventure and meaning – and one that reminds readers that courage doesn’t mean being fearless, it means charging ahead and overcoming any obstacles and adversity that are in your way to push on and achieve your goals.
And while the storytelling of Michael Rosen is masterful and very engaging, the illustrations by Helen Oxenbury superbly capture and portray the adventure perfectly, changing from vibrant landscapes to stark black-and-white sketches upon encountering obstacles that help to build up the suspense. The illustrations really do bring the story to life.
A wonderful and engaging classic story that children (and adults) will enjoy reading, as well as joining in with.
The story may end with the line “We’re not going on a bear hunt again”, but I can guarantee that the young readers will (by re-reading the book, not going on an actual bear hunt – thankfully we don’t have wild bears in the UK to chase us home).
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
