To hate We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

Hate Bear Hunt. It makes no sense. Language-wise Thomas The Tank Engine is much more interesting and the illustrations are more fun too (I am talking about the ORIGINAL stories here, plus the books based on the 1980s TV series). Even my 2yo will listen to those in full.

I know what you mean and I also felt sorry for the bear walking sadly away at the end.

Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo on the other hand is a masterpiece of writing rivalling anything written by Shakespeare, Charles Dickens or Jane Austen.

I hated it. I don't care about the meaning, it's so repetitive and boring.

I admit to being incredibly happy both my DC were early readers & started reading by themselves!!!

Thomas - the most boring rubbish ever. The Tiger - probably of its time but at least it was slightly interesting what the tiger ate next! But yes never got the love for Bear Hunt. I don't do swishy noises that well.

My DS loved it! Read and re read so many times .When I worked at the Nursery a little boy loved it too ,I enjoyed it too. The Tiger who came to tea, was a simple story that Judith Kerr invented for her own young DD.I dont think there was anything anti feminist though.It was written in 1967, and was representative of many middle class homes of that time.

Ah my daughter and I absolutely love this book but I agree, what a dickhead little boy.

I don't mind Bear Hunt because it's pretty short. I also love that my DD looks at the 'sad bear' going back to his cave in that last illustration and came to the conclusion that he was friendly and just wanted to play but is now sadly walking home because they didn't.

I love most Julia Donaldson ones but one I can't stand is The Ugly Five. Yes at the end it's heartwarming or whatever that their babies find them beautiful but I hate that the animals all refer to themselves as being ugly, horrifying etc, it's basically all the negative self image talk I hope my kids never develop!

YABU! My two loved this book, we used to do all the actions and even hiding under the covers at the end.

Fucking hell I forgot how much I loathed this book until i read this!
it doesn’t scan nicely as a rhyming book, it doesn’t flow properly for a regularly for a regular story. Plus it’s just stupid.
Yanbu up, my worst kids story book by a country mile! And then someone bought us a bear hunt board game 😭🫠 can only conclude that they absolutely despised me!!

I love this interpretation! I had a dickhead XH so can't relate, but it's a lovely view.

I see "going on a bear hunt" as a metaphor for grief or difficulties in life: you can't go under, or over, you have to go through it. Thought a lot of this book during difficult times...

Slinky Malinky was my favourite to read 😊
Bear Hunt was ok but a bit meh.
i enjoyed doing old fashioned BBC voices for Tiger Who Came to Tea and yes - heavy sarcasm for the wonderful daddy who saved the day after his busy day being important while the silly girls fret and look pretty, my son used to laugh, he got it.

@WitcheryDivine this is amazing 😂😂😂 in my mind, your children are wide-eyed as you read it.

And bomping them on the head . I must admit to losing that one at preschool on more than one occasion.
I like The Bear Hunt cosmic yoga - well, actually most of the cosmic yoga based around stories. It saves me from reading them and gets the children moving.

The Paper Dolls is the one that hacks me off absolutely no end. A girl makes some paper dolls and loves them. A horrible little Tosser boy cuts them up but it’s ok because she remembers them and later on she makes some different dolls with her daughter.

Just makes me think of how many women get killed by men every year! Not where my brain wants to go mid book!

My kids don't like it but when I have read it it's always been as a song. Tiger who came to tea is a bit idiotic and the end is meh. But have a thought for me. My 4 Yr old daughter is into Star Wars: Beginning to Read Alone. Especially Anakin in Action. Just pointless sentences masquerading as starwars facts. No plot nothing real. Am shocked they were published at all those books. And by Dk! There are times she asks for Anakin in Action nightly and I just want to die. It's that boring and pointless

See I go the other way into deep sarcasm: “Just then St Daddy came home. da da daaaaa! Everyone clapped. Oh thank goodness said Mummy I would never have thought of going to a cafe.” etc

I hated it too. Like are you supposed to say it or sing it? Luckily my son didn't choose it much . I think it ended up in the charity shop quite rapidly

The only books I think are worth the read are Topsy and Tim.

Michael Rosen is interesting but he certainly stole little Rabbit Foo Foo from the Brownies (1980 ish) and didn't get the mitre or the punchline right

U R being unreasonable with no vote! I think u would find u are in the minority as Michael Rosen is a national treasure.

Try reading We're Going On A Bar Hunt afterwards with a nice glass of what you have. Takes the edge off.

I HATED that book for so long. But then I hit some rough times, problems, struggles. And heard an analogy, I forget where. About the troubles in your life. That you can't avoid. Somebody said, about your trouble, whatever it may be: "We can't go under it, we can't go over it, we have to go through it".
Suddenly I was able to put up with reading that book aloud again, because I was somewhere else in my own head. Thanks to the analogy.
Not sure if that helps. It helped me to read it in my own way I guess.
My pre-schoolers don't know or care either way about my own interpretation.
But it got me through that annoying book!
Solidarity! X

Agree, OP. I know the kids love it, but o do find it annoying.

I also have to add in the highways rat. My son adored it, but the rhythm is horrible.

Michael Rosen performed Bear Hunt, amongst other poetry, at my school-it was brilliant!

@Canthelpmyselffromjoiningin 😂 yep. I change the wording of the tiger the came to tea ‘mummy had a great idea’ etc.