Page 8 | To hate We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

Shabbalabadingdong · 2025-06-19T21:35:55+00:00

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.

Gattopardo · 19/06/2025 23:07

I hated that book with a passion.

So poorly written. It doesn’t rhyme (fine) but it also doesn’t scan well, and to me just sounds like some Pollyanna-ish claptrap. What a fucking beautiful day indeed.

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)

Seawolves · 19/06/2025 23:06

I'd rather go on a Bear Hunt than have Little Rabbit fucking Foo Foo riding through the bloody forest

BeachPossum · 19/06/2025 23:05

I adore it, if only for the absolute perfection of the final page where the disgruntled bear trudges back across the beach to his cave.

mynameiscalypso · 19/06/2025 23:05

Isn’t there also some controversy about Bear Hunt because Michael Rosen didn’t acknowledge for a long time that he was based on an old American folk song?

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!

Dominoeffecter · 19/06/2025 23:03

Loved playing famous five audiobooks to the kids on a long car drive, incredibly soporific

ShesTheAlbatross · 19/06/2025 23:02

mynameiscalypso · 19/06/2025 22:56

Fun fact: he’s not the dad, he’s the big brother. There are no parents in the story.

Excuse me??

You know what, that actually makes a lot more sense.

InTheWindow · 19/06/2025 23:01

It’s a really good story for making physiotherapy exercises fun for young children. Different actions for each verse and the over, under, around. Still find it tedious to just read though.

Screamingabdabz · 19/06/2025 23:01

PipersEyebrow · 19/06/2025 22:57

I love bear hunt. They go through all that shit (grass, mud etc) - they can't go over it they have to go THROUGH IT just to get to something they realise they don't even want. Maybe even something that was bad for them all along.
Ain't that life baby
And the tiger tst came to tea was a Nazi

Nah too obtuse for littlies and exhausted parents. Just give us something jolly that wraps up nicely. They find out the ‘going through shit’ in real time when they go to state secondary schools.

ShesTheAlbatross · 19/06/2025 23:00

PaxAeterna · 19/06/2025 22:55

Oh I loved it so much. I wonder are you acting out all the sounds right?? Enjoy it . Believe me they won’t be interested in listening to you reading so soon.

I long for the day they aren’t interested in Bear Hunt (which, tbf, I think I’ve now achieved). No one has said they hate reading to their children and are wishing their lives away, just that some books are crap. I’m reading famous five to DD1.

GoodOldTrayBake · 19/06/2025 23:00

dijonketchup · 19/06/2025 22:58

I found it more enjoyable as an adult with tiny children than I ever did as a child. I think of the tiger as a metaphor for motherhood, which eats away at everything you provide until you feel like you have nothing left to give. I felt the sheer relief of Sophie’s mum at her partner coming through the door with some fresh energy. Projecting massively 😆

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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 ….!

DdraigGoch · 19/06/2025 23:00

The dad is just massively irresponsible
Isn't that the eldest brother?

Come back to me after your 3rd child ina row decides that Thomas the fucking boring tank engine has to be read every night.
Read the original stories, there's about 170 different ones.

Shenmen · 19/06/2025 23:00

dijonketchup · 19/06/2025 22:58

I found it more enjoyable as an adult with tiny children than I ever did as a child. I think of the tiger as a metaphor for motherhood, which eats away at everything you provide until you feel like you have nothing left to give. I felt the sheer relief of Sophie’s mum at her partner coming through the door with some fresh energy. Projecting massively 😆

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I felt this too and the excitement for both mum and Sophie in being in the lit up dark street.

Shenmen · 19/06/2025 22:59

Dominoeffecter · 19/06/2025 22:53

Yes Thomas is boring and a lot of those trains are self righteous pricks, don’t get me started on the judgemental fat controller. The books I hated the most were fireman Sam ones, so long and boring

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Oh my god Fireman Sam was a boring twat.

I loved reading books to my kids and bought 100s in car boots.

i also hated most Mr Men books after the 4th reading. The smartest giant in town.Brown cow after the 250th time my autistic son made me read it (I still can say it verbatim and he is 20), you choose (though love the memories of this now at the time it would feel me with a dread if 45 mins of all 3 of the debating!)

NerrSnerr · 19/06/2025 22:58

PaxAeterna · 19/06/2025 22:55

Oh I loved it so much. I wonder are you acting out all the sounds right?? Enjoy it . Believe me they won’t be interested in listening to you reading so soon.

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

dijonketchup · 19/06/2025 22:58

Canthelpmyselffromjoiningin · 19/06/2025 22:43

I dont mind it. Much better than the tiger who came to tea where poor Sophie and her mummy are totally clueless what to do until the heroic man comes home from his Big Important Job and declelares they can all go to the cafe for tea because the silly females gave away all the food and drink. I know its not as bad as im saying but the casual misogyny makes my blood boil 🤣

I found it more enjoyable as an adult with tiny children than I ever did as a child. I think of the tiger as a metaphor for motherhood, which eats away at everything you provide until you feel like you have nothing left to give. I felt the sheer relief of Sophie’s mum at her partner coming through the door with some fresh energy. Projecting massively 😆

GoodOldTrayBake · 19/06/2025 22:58

mynameiscalypso · 19/06/2025 22:56

Fun fact: he’s not the dad, he’s the big brother. There are no parents in the story.

Haha snap! I was thinking/posting the same comment! Was totally confused by suggestions he was the dad….!

BrendaSmall · 19/06/2025 22:57

Mrs wishy washy was my eldests favourite!
this is going back to early 90’s

Dominoeffecter · 19/06/2025 22:57

PaxAeterna · 19/06/2025 22:55

Oh I loved it so much. I wonder are you acting out all the sounds right?? Enjoy it . Believe me they won’t be interested in listening to you reading so soon.

🙄

PipersEyebrow · 19/06/2025 22:57

I love bear hunt. They go through all that shit (grass, mud etc) - they can't go over it they have to go THROUGH IT just to get to something they realise they don't even want. Maybe even something that was bad for them all along.
Ain't that life baby
And the tiger tst came to tea was a Nazi

GoodOldTrayBake · 19/06/2025 22:57

Is it the dad?!?! I always thought it was a group of siblings and he was the older brother

mynameiscalypso · 19/06/2025 22:56

Fun fact: he’s not the dad, he’s the big brother. There are no parents in the story.

PaxAeterna · 19/06/2025 22:55

Oh I loved it so much. I wonder are you acting out all the sounds right?? Enjoy it . Believe me they won’t be interested in listening to you reading so soon.

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 19/06/2025 22:55

The Gruffalo Mc Grammar is excellent 👌I do " bear hunt " like he does now 😀