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Children's books

July picture book of the month: Big Bear's Bottom by Steve Smallman

35 replies

RachelMumsnet · 02/07/2013 09:57

July's picture book choice is Big Bear's Bottom, the story of a loveable bear who gets into all manner of mishaps with his enormous bottom that just keeps getting in the way. If you think you're dcs will enjoy reading this funny tale from award winning author Steve Smallman apply for a free copy and come back to let us know what they think on this thread.

OP posts:
HazelDormouse · 02/07/2013 10:15

Sorry, I have entered twice by mistake. (Struggling using a touch screen.)

sallyc06 · 05/07/2013 17:19

What a fantastic book, my little grandaughter Skye aged 4 would love it when Nana reads to her when she goes to bed.

RachelMumsnet · 08/07/2013 12:06

The book giveaway has now closed and we've emailed those who will be receiving the 50 copies. Do come back and let us know what your dcs think.

OP posts:
cornflakegirl · 09/07/2013 09:38

Just seen that we will be getting a copy of this - thanks Mumsnet!

CaptainJamesTKirk · 17/07/2013 11:17

Anyone got theirs yet?! Mine hasn't arrived.

NumTumDeDum · 18/07/2013 10:52

My copy of this book arrived this morning and I read it to my ds (8months) and dd (4). Dd thought it was hilarious, but then, anything with the word bottom in it is funny as far as she is concerned! Ds seemed to enjoy the sound of the rhyme and was interested in the pictures. A nice story, DD will want to read it again.

iwantavuvezela · 18/07/2013 10:53

Will review as soon as we receive it ...... Looking forward to it ...

Blatherskite · 18/07/2013 14:12

Ours arrived this morning. DD (3) was desperate to read it immediately and enjoyed the rhyming and the fact that it says "bottom" a lot. Will read it again when DS (6) is home from school. I have a feeling he's going to find it hilarious :)

cornflakegirl · 18/07/2013 22:47

We got our copy today, and I read it with DS2 (3). He really liked it - he said his favourite bit was where the bear's bottom got stuck in the tree.

I thought it was a good book. The pictures are bright and engaging with lots of little details. The story was cute and the rhyme scheme worked well - none of them felt forced and the lines all scanned properly (a particular bugbear of mine). I also liked the predictability of the fourth line of each stanza ending with "bottom" - very engaging for pre-readers.

Thanks for a great book, Mumsnet.

glenka · 19/07/2013 08:55

Our copy came this morning, the book looks very colourful with good clear pictures. enough of a story to keep children interested. would say this is a good book for either a boy or a girl and it will make them laugh.

iwantavuvezela · 19/07/2013 09:23

Thank you for the book which arrived yesterday. I loved the bright illustrations, and rhyming text. My DD liked the idea of bears big bottom and appealed to her sense of humour! I am going to use the book as well with my 6 year old who needs to read with more expression. This book has lovely characters, easy to read, and will be a good tool to do this with her. Thank you for the book, it gets a thumbs up from our house.

PeterParkerSays · 19/07/2013 09:33

Our copy arrived yesterday. I was so chuffed and DS wanted it read to him striaght away. We liked the rhyming prose, and the bear walking along with a tree on his bottom. I like the little comic asides made by the other characters, seperate to the main text. DS wasn't particularly interested in them, but they made me smile which is always important if you've got to reread the thing again and again.

PSG1968 · 19/07/2013 12:45

Oooh what a lovely book had such fun reading it with my 4year old!! any thing with the word bottom made her laugh!! even my SD (13) was sitting with us & enjoyed the story

HazelDormouse · 19/07/2013 13:07

We received our copy today. Great book, lovely, colourful illustrations. Ds was a little unsure when he saw the cover of the book, however, he decided he rather liked the big bear at the end as he was kind to his friends. It has been decided that the white mouse is his favourite toy and the big bear is the five foot, big bottomed and cross eyed animal which is currently living in his bedroom, having been thrown out by other members of my family. (It looks like a real life bear.) Thank you once more Mumsnet.

Blatherskite · 19/07/2013 13:53

I read it again with DS and DD last night at bedtime. DH walked in and was enjoying it too. It's definitely a nice book to read. It flows well and has plenty of opportunities for funny voices to make the children giggle. Both DH and DS found the repeated use of the word "bottom" funny too!

It's a really lovely book

rennie1811 · 19/07/2013 21:25

I received this book yesterday and read it to my daughters as their bedtime story, they loved it. My youngest liked the pictures. She kept pointing at the bear and saying bottom which she found very funny. My eldest (6) also really enjoyed it. The story flows nicely and is easy to read. I agree with another poster that said there is plenty of opportunities for funny voices. My daughter enjoyed taking it in turns with me to provide the voices and she too loved the fact that it was about a bears bottom!!

CaptainJamesTKirk · 19/07/2013 22:50

Received ours yesterday... Will review for you tomorrow.

joolzy · 20/07/2013 07:48

Hi
We shared this with our 4yo DS last night, he loved this, he could see the funny side of the bear with the big bottom but also how hurtful people could be when someones a little bit different.

A lovely story with a message.

Doogle2 · 20/07/2013 12:45

My 6 year old son has been so excited waiting for this book. He wasn't disappointed when it arrived. Anything with the word 'bottom' in it is sure to entertain. We read it together and he also reads it on his own.
The pictures are lovely. He has asked to take it on holiday as he loves it.
Thank you

CaptainJamesTKirk · 21/07/2013 08:49

What a sweet little book! Unfortunately my DS didn't think the same because he has a slightly irrational fear of foxes (thanks to the gruffalo) and I hadn't realised there was a fox in it until I started reading it to him. Very sweet story and the illustrations are lovely. Although they did the dreaded landscape to portrait thing on one of the pages which I really dislike for some reason. We did enjoy it and liked that bear's big bottom saves the day.

NoWomanNoCry · 21/07/2013 14:54

Thank you for the free copy. What a fantastic book, my children absolutely loved it. Obviously with the word 'bottom' being used so regularly in the book, they were in hysterics most of the time. A good read that my reception class children could read themselves.

OneStepCloser · 21/07/2013 15:10

Received our copy, thank you. DS and Dh loved it, though DS was a little sad when big bear hid after his bottom caused a lot of trouble! He loved the big bear bottom monster tree as well. It was a lovely book.

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lolapops1 · 22/07/2013 12:24

Little one absolutely loves this book we have to read it over and over again.
Its a bit of a tongue twister.
Like that it tells a story of friendship.
Thought it was a bit similar to the gruffalo though,some of the animation is very similar as well.
Would recommend this book to other parents.

AugustRose · 22/07/2013 22:33

I really like this book, the story is similar to others we have read but I love the illustrations, bright and colourful with lots to see and talk about in the pictures with DS2 (2). My DD2 (6) hasn't had a chance to read it yet but I know she's going to find the much repeated 'bottom' very very funny.
Thank you for a lovely book.

johnworf · 23/07/2013 17:14

DD aged 5 loves this book. Especially when bear chases the fox away.

Illustrations are lovely too. We've read this 4 nights running though and although she loves it I know the words pretty much off by heart!

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