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Original poster

We're going on a Bear Hunt....all is made clear...!

133 replies

Clawdy · 11/11/2012 22:10

Just read an interview with Helen Oxenbury the illustrator,and she said the one everyone thinks is the dad is actually the older brother...they are ALL children.

OP posts:
Kahu · 21/11/2012 22:02

Sorry, link didn't work

Kahu · 21/11/2012 21:59

Just found this No sad bear at the end though Sad

confuddledDOTcom · 21/11/2012 21:59

BarbecuedBillygoats - I always ask that!

InmaculadaConcepcion - I read that in Michael Rosen's voice.

I've just done a Google images search (make sure you put the full name in Confused) to check what he looks like and I think he definitely seems more of the dad than the brother. I can see that being my family with my husband!

Got to ask this, how many people don't need the book any more?

BrianButterfield · 21/11/2012 21:49

I read it to DS this morning and then had to trek to nursery through teeming rain and deep puddles...must admit I kept mentally repeating "can't go over it, can't gp under it, oh no! I've got to go through it..." as I waded on.

LynetteScavo · 21/11/2012 21:47

DS1 was convinced the oldest sister is the Mum. Of course I'm far too mature to argue with a small child about something like this.

McPhee · 21/11/2012 21:45

Oh no

My bubble has been popped

This feels just like watching the very last episode of friends Sad

LapinDeBois · 21/11/2012 21:41

Ha, I nearly started this thread the other day when I read the article, because I got rubbished ages ago on MN for suggesting he was the older brother Grin. And of course it's an imaginary game - in what real life expedition would you encounter a warm-enough-to-wade-through river, a snowstorm and a real bear Confused?.

RubyGates · 21/11/2012 21:36

But! but but but but but.....

Bluestocking · 21/11/2012 20:56

He was just very fashion forward, Leafmould - they're all wearing dad jumpers now!

Leafmould · 21/11/2012 20:53

The dad older brother does not have the dress sense of an older brother. That jumper is definately a dad jumper.

Bluestocking · 21/11/2012 20:41

I always thought he was the older brother! My mum really scoffed at me when I told her this and said he was obviously the dad! Must make sure I tell her ...

FamiliesShareGerms · 21/11/2012 20:39

I saw that interview too, and found it v interesting. But not convinced that the brother is not actually the dad...

DD loves the book except for the last page "because the bear is too sad". Helen Oxenbury said that she modelled the picture on her friend who had suffered from depression, so he really does have a "sad human" quality

Grumpla · 21/11/2012 20:35

Haha notso has hit the nail on the head.

An older brother just wouldn't have the authoritass necessary to keep order.

BrainSurgeon · 21/11/2012 20:31

Noooooooooo

timetosmile · 21/11/2012 20:10

I take exception to the attitude that mothers are unfit to lead expeditions which involve wading and adventure. or would a mother have stopped and asked for directions without feeling that her identity was fatally compromised?

Bessie123 · 21/11/2012 20:03

Helen oxenbury has cocked her illustrations up then because there is no way that looks like an older brother. Unless there is some complicated back story and he is a half brother who is at least 20 years older than his siblings.

DontCallMeBaby · 21/11/2012 19:29

Heh, well I always thought people who thought the eldest girl was the mum were barking mad. Clearly I am too.

Going back to the Tiger of Tea fame ... DD and I went to see Judith Kerr talk last month. She said she wrote it when her daughter was small, and they were sometimes bored and wished someone would visit. So she told a story about someone coming to visit, and the someone happened to be a tiger. The daughter had a lot of say in what she did and didn't want in the story, so effectively edited it, aged 2!

Northernlurker · 21/11/2012 19:28

I always thought it wa a solo dad and mum was at work or otherwise absent.

InmaculadaConcepcion · 21/11/2012 19:09

I'M NOT GOING TO LET DS1 BABYSIT AGAIN!!

lurkingaround · 21/11/2012 18:17

DH hates that story. he thinks it's too scary. By contrast, the DCs love it.

But, it's a Dad!! With a much younger Mum. Look at him! I don't believe it. Can't believe I never got that. So I am in denial, it's a Dad.

The going out without coats in a snowstorm, wading thru the river etc, is a bit of a hint that there's no Mum there. But the Dad is the Dad.

whiskeytangofoxtrot · 21/11/2012 18:16

GOD I HATE THIS BOOK

TaurielTest · 21/11/2012 16:37

To those whose LOs find the lonely bear at the end sad - check out The Bear In The Cave, which is a sort of companion story (though not exactly a sequel) also by Michael Rosen - the bear goes to the city and meets some friends. My DS2 loves them both.

cate16 · 21/11/2012 15:56

I always thought it was a story told in bed with lots of pretending going on..

NigellasGuest · 21/11/2012 15:36

"I didn't want adults around because they tend to stilt the imagination" (Helen Oxenbury) - so true!

BarbecuedBillygoats · 21/11/2012 15:31

In that version
Why
Why do they tiptoe out of the cave when they've disturbed a bear and are trying to get away quickly?

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