To think we're going on a bear hunt is boring and not a new classic

[StrongTeaHotShower]

My three year old daughter has never liked it and I find it dull and not particularly charming. Everyone else I know loves it and now it's the main t.v event for pre-schoolers being dramatised on Christmas Eve. Is it just me?

I don't get why it was turned into a book? We don't have the book, but I remember it from Scout campfires as a child/teen!

Terrible book. They don't even leave the poor sod a picnic basket after waking it.

Ooh and make bits up. We often come up against alien invasions, traffic jams and what ever else DS has been watching on YouTube.

I am a children's book obsessive. We own 100's. Really really dislike Bear Hunt. Dull, repetitive and not at all well written. DD's (3 and 17 months) dislike it too.

I actually had nightmares about that bear chasing me when I was a kid. I only realised the nightmares of the bear chasing me came from this book when I bought and read it to my toddler. I am very careful to explain how sad the bear looks that they didn't want to play in the end. My toddler is also a sensitive soul.

I'd say kids year 1 up. Like all Shirley Hughes it's a simple story and beautifully illustrated. Her Alfie books are lovely too. I still get year 6's in the school library asking to read Dogger to the little ones. For some reason it just resonates. Every child has lost a toy at some point. Classic tale of toy lost and found!

Dogger is brilliant. There are so many big childhood emotional issues addressed in one story with a familiar setting. There don't seem to be many contemporary children's books like this. They usually feature fantastical imaginary scenarios. Dogger is entirely realistic.

YANBU. I absolutely hated reading it to the kids. It just doesn't flow well.

I do agree with the OP. I think it is rubbish; and my DGS is scared by the idea of the bear being at the door.

This made me chuckle, I don't generally watch adverts so hadn't seen it advertised this was the first pic I took this morning 7.00an to post to our pre-school page we love this story so many opportunities to expand it, act it, sing it, draw it everything.

DS loved this story, he ended up with about three different versions of it as a pre-schooler. DD wasn't that fussed but didn't dislike it. Their dad wasn't fussed about it until he heard the rhythm of it and liked it from then on.

On the other hand, none of us were at all taken by 'Where the Wild Things Are', yet enjoyed the film version, so even those of you who don't like Bear Hunt as a book might want to at least check out the animation.

YABU. My 14yo still responds to challenges, getting lost etc with "we can't go under it, we can't go over it..." Just don't tell him I told you!

yanbu, makes my teeth itch. One of the most boring moments I ever had as a parent helper was my introduction to this book. There's a sodding app out for "playing" it now. There must be some paint to watch dry instead.

It's so interesting to see little kids reaction to the last page. They're scared of the bear but then they feel sorry for it.

I can't bear it. Or in fact any other Michael Rosen books especially that one with the punchy rabbit and the too cool for school hipster cafe one

I also strongly dislike most Julia Donaldson books. There. I said it.

It's an okay book. It's purposely repetitive - just like Teletubbies. However much you enjoy it depends on how you read it aloud - you need to put some effort in! Not as good as Room on the Broom for reading out loud, though.

As for Farmer Duck, I preferred Animal Farm.

I hate it and simply do not get it. Hated reading it. Neither child interested in it. No idea what the appeal is.

We love Shirley Hughes though.

when is it on??? my dd loves it

It's a funny one. Boring, doesn't scan very well, doesn't really make sense. Still, my 1.5 year old sometimes wants to hear it.

If I were choosing a story for that tiny tot age group to dramatise, I'd go for something like Dear Zoo which offers more potential for fun.

You moan about it now when reading it to your toddlers, but it will become your mantra when they are teenagers! As pp mentioned!
'Mum, he's finished with me'
'I failed the exam and the head of maths wants to see me'
'I don't want to see the orthodontist - I lost my retainer a month ago'
'Now Fliss and Debra aren't talking, and I don't know what to do'

You can't go under it, you can't go over it, you'll just have to get through it, dear teen.

I prefer the 'going on a bar hunt' version. Far more entertaining. No YANBU, it's dull as dishwater like Where the wild things are.

Agree. There are literally hundreds of better books for that age that are much much better.

Where do we stand on the very hungry caterpillar?

It's OK. They could definitely have found something better though, it is so dull.

Obviously, not literally stand on the very hungry caterpillar.

I'm not advocating random acts of animal cruelty.

Yanbu. Dull. DD found it boring too. But she remembers it years later and can recite some of the stanzas. Not difficult though.