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Original poster

To hate We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

214 replies

Shabbalabadingdong · 19/06/2025 22:35

Just that really, I HATE it. I know it’s a children’s classic but whenever DD picks it to read my heart sinks. It’s so repetitive (which I get is the point) and annoying. It’s a metaphor for something, god knows what. The dad is just massively irresponsible, I’m surprised he doesn’t take them trudging across railway lines and MOD firing ranges. It’s just bollocks.

OP posts:
Brendathebear · 19/06/2025 23:32

I didn't mind the bear hunt the first couple of times I read it, but after that I couldn't do it anymore, it was beyond repetitive.

I thought the tiger in the tiger comes to tea was a metaphore for her mums alcoholism and thats why sophie wasn't fed or washed due to the neglect associated with it.

My favourite book though was 'stick man', adventure and then warm and fuzzy when he made it home <apologies for the spoiler if you haven't read it 😂>

Pinkrosesyellowroses · 19/06/2025 23:29

NerrSnerr · 19/06/2025 22:58

Clearly the obvious answer is that the OP is doing It wrong because it’s incomprehensible that someone would like something different to you.

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No - she’s right, it’s miles better if you know how to make good swishy swashy noises.

Original poster
Shabbalabadingdong · 19/06/2025 23:28

I actually quite like Beatrix Potter. Really crisp, clear English, and reassuringly old fashioned.

OP posts:
InterestedDad37 · 19/06/2025 23:25

purpleme12 · 19/06/2025 22:36

I loved it

👏👏👏
It's a long time since I had to read that to my kids - enjoyed it the first two times, despised it by the 50th time 😂
And don't get me started on Beatrix bloody Potter (which kid/parent is actually interested in 'soporific lettuce) or Roald fucking Dahl and his piss-poor wordplay 😀
(oops, quoted wrong post - meant to quote OP)

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 19/06/2025 23:25

A better book about a bear is 'I want my hat back'

AmelieSummer25 · 19/06/2025 23:24

Swimminginthedeepbluesky · 19/06/2025 23:05

I hate it

It's just so blah
Dah dah ddah dada -that out of kilter,out of sync verse.
It's the book equivalent of whining.
Make it stop!

Yes, I think you've hit the nail on the head!! It's whiney & definitely 'make it stop'

its been quite a few years since I've had to read it now, but just the title being mentioned and I get all angst & noooooooo

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 19/06/2025 23:23

I agree. I don't like it either. I just find it really boring and repetitive. My kids liked it enough but preferred the likes of Shirley Hughes, Julia Donaldson....just books with a bit more meat to them.

friskybivalves · 19/06/2025 23:21

And best of all it’s short. And funny. Works for adults and children. Decent twist at the end.

PaxAeterna · 19/06/2025 23:20

GoodOldTrayBake · 19/06/2025 23:00

I always thought Sophie’s mum had just been at the wine and beer and then got the munchies (hence blaming the tiger for eating/drinking everything), and was too tipsy to make dinner ….!

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oh me too. Yeah right a tiger drank all the beer.

friskybivalves · 19/06/2025 23:20

I can thoroughly recommend Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type for a subversive take on the Union movement. It’s genius.

Purplebunnie · 19/06/2025 23:19

Hate it with a passion, it doesn't rhyme and the metre is out, it really grates

Absolutely love Where's my Teddy, we kept a lot of DC books and DGC loves it as well, we may need to buy a new copy it's so tatty now. BUT it has rhyme, you can put a lot of intonation in to it.

AmelieSummer25 · 19/06/2025 23:19

Somehow certain books used to get mislaid on a regular basis!! That was top of the list for It!!

Original poster
Shabbalabadingdong · 19/06/2025 23:16

Beamur · 19/06/2025 23:12

I quite like the non rhyming bits, it keeps you a bit off kilter.
The hungry caterpillar was not a favourite.
I loved some of the Julia Donaldson ones but not all. Loved Tiddler. Hated Zog.
Shirley Williams was sublime. Dogger is one of a kind.

Dogger is a classic and the illustrations are just lovely.

OP posts:
MsTada · 19/06/2025 23:16

I also hate Were Going On A Bear Hunt. The only good thing about it was that it stopped my little one being scared that a bear was going to attack him in his sleep (he got a bit scared after the bear shook the beehive in The Bumblebear).

I just pointed out that the bear buggers off after they shut the front door because bears can't open doors, and we always shut our front door. He hasn't worried about it since.

Every now and again he asks something like 'can dinosaurs open doors?' or 'can crocodiles open doors?', and we just have to reassure him that nope they can't. Thank you Bear Hunt.

mathanxiety · 19/06/2025 23:16

Also tragically lost was 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie'.

Original poster
Shabbalabadingdong · 19/06/2025 23:15

Thanks for the heads up about it being the big brother - you’re right! He’s still irresponsible.

The best thing about Tiger that Came to Tea is that many people interpreted it as a metaphor for the Nazis, given the author’s background. She was then interviewed and confirmed no, it’s just a tiger!

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 19/06/2025 23:15

YANBU.

Our copy got (cough, cough) lost. Oh dear, what a shame, but I'm sure there are plenty of other great books out there...

Beamur · 19/06/2025 23:14

John Burningham! That's the name that was eluding me. Wonderful books. How many times did we read 'would you rather'

phoenixrosehere · 19/06/2025 23:13

YANBU

Why would you go looking for a bear in the first place?

MiddleClassProblem · 19/06/2025 23:13

Dominoeffecter · 19/06/2025 23:10

And ‘each peach pear plum’ & ‘peepo’ 😍

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Oh yes! I love spotting all the stuff going on in the background 😂

Beamur · 19/06/2025 23:12

I quite like the non rhyming bits, it keeps you a bit off kilter.
The hungry caterpillar was not a favourite.
I loved some of the Julia Donaldson ones but not all. Loved Tiddler. Hated Zog.
Shirley Williams was sublime. Dogger is one of a kind.

largeredformeplease · 19/06/2025 23:12

I like it.

At the moment I am reading my 3 year old all my old John Burnigham books…anybody a John Burnigham fan?

Would you Rather…?
Mr Gumpy
The Magic Shopping Basket

I love them.

(Also, I believe John Burnigham was married to Helen Oxenbury, who illustrated Bear Hunt. And the 5 kids in the story are based on their 5 kids. Ie, it’s the big brother, not the dad, as pp pointed out.)

TeddyOatmeal · 19/06/2025 23:12

I used to like reading the Hairy McClary books and books by John Burningham to my children many years ago. Also some books about Garth Pig. We used to get books from the library so they would get read intensively while we had them but then they had to go back obviously and so I would get a break from any particular one 😊 somehow the annoying ones might never be found again😉

Dominoeffecter · 19/06/2025 23:10

Arseynal · 19/06/2025 23:07

YANBU. It’s a shit book. I’ve no time for the very hungry caterpillar either, who got on my wick as a child. The tiger who came to tea is spectacular. Much sympathy to fellow mothers of Thomas enthusiasts- so dull.
I like Alan Ahlberg - cops and robbers, burglar bill, mr creep the crook (no wonder I grew up likening crime fiction)

And ‘each peach pear plum’ & ‘peepo’ 😍

MiddleClassProblem · 19/06/2025 23:10

I grew up with Peace at Last and The Jolly Postman so those books I imposed on my kid.
Love a book with letters to nose about in. And peace at last is very relatable!