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've just clocked that we did this rhyme in brownies which was fun but don't want to read it to my son who is 5. Personally I like the meg and mog books to read to him and he likes looking at the Richard scarry books.

It the 'what a beautiful day' bit that annoys me - it completely ruins the rhythm of the whole thing. That said, when I learned it as a child it was 'we've got the guns and the bullets' which was masively inappropriate in content-wise but at least scanned better.

My DS loves it and repeats every blooming sentence.. Only book hes got this obsessed with.., which is ashame cos I cant stand it!!!! Might have to record the animation for him tho.. when is it on?
He also thinks the bear is just going back to his cave to play with his trucks/playdoh/teddies/depends on the day!!

Ooh someone else said it about Julia Donaldson books I agree, they are completely overrated!! People keep buying them for ds and I'm like "Noooooo!" (not literally of course).

She just keeps on churning them out and the masses keep lapping them up. There are far better children's authors around. Think she should wind her neck in for a bit and leave space for someone else

Yanbu. Agreed. Hate it.

In fairness, at least Julia Donaldson books are quite well written with rhyme and quirky twists. They flow nicely to read.

Never got Bear a Hunt and didn't even read it to DS. Loved Hungry Caterpillar and Dear Zoo. Absolutely LOVE Dogger. My DS was worryingly amused that I cried every time I read it!
Neither of us were that keen on the Gruffalo, but loved the Smartest Giant in Town and Room in the Broom and the Snail and the Whale. DS too old for the new ones but I get the impression they just knock them out now.
Ooh we also liked Slinky Malinki. And Richard Scary (esp his lowly work and drawings of pickles!)

Oh no, is it going to be that? I was hoping we might get another Julia Donaldson adaptation - we'd go nuts for What The Ladybird Heard around here. Or The Singing Mermaid. Any of them!

Yes my son has always loved Richard Scary - the best illustrations although I do find them amusingly dated!

Is my son the only kid in the world who was terrified of the cat in Hairy McClarey? He's 4 now and still doesn't want to read that book!

Can't read Dogger sadly as one time I tried I cried.

Argh, I hated Bear Hunt with a passion but when my ds was little he loved it so I had to read the fecking thing every day for about a year

Bear Hunt is not even close to the genius that is The Hungry Caterpillar. It has holes you can wedge your fingers in, psychedelic pictures and an upside down butterfly at the end. Classic !

Topped only by The Tiger Who Came to Tea, with the alcoholic Mum who has drunk all Daddy's beer and spent the house keeping money on booze so has to concoct a story as to why they have no food in the house (and why the water got cut off- A tiger drinking the taps dry - she was off her head to think she would get away with that!) Also a classic!

Not a fan of 'going on a bear hunt' but the children's book thst I hate the most by far is 'guess how much I love you'. Ridiculously saccharine but basically about a parent who has yo ensure they have the last word and won't let the kids win at anything. I really really hate it.

I hate that one too Camper! I can't stand reading it out loud as the two character names (cba to write them here) are so awkward to say over and over and over and over...

Eustace I love your assessment of Tiger.

I hated Shirley Hughes books as a child. The illustrations were creepy.

I quite like bear hunt but the first time I heard it was while training in a nursery & watching 30+ small children joining in with it as a song was lovely.

Peepo by the Ahlbergs is a favourite here. It's the only children's book so far to make me a little tearful at the dad in his uniform - I always wonder if it'll be the last time he says goodnight to his children. I also love how much the dad does around the house & the grandmother too. The mum seems to spend most of her time sitting down. I have various mental/physical health issues so this family dynamic appeals to me!

I like Bear Hunt and love the last page illustration. The bear on the beach seems peaceful to me, not sad. The bit that annoys me is when you lose the nice rhythm towards the end. Maybe I'm saying it wrong!!

Brilliant reviews of Hungry Caterpillar and Tiger who came to tea, Eustace.

I hated it as a kid and i hate it even more now. All the gorgeous children's literature out there and we have to drone on about a bear hunt. YADNBU.

i never got it either.

love slinky malinky though.. DS asked why i call the cat that sometimes, so i bought the book!

YANBU. No idea why it is considered a classic.

YANBU. its dull and not a very good book. author must have known the publisher ...

My dc (now 14 & 17) and I all like it. I don't think it's as story to read - it's more something to shout & act out. My dd is looking forward to watching it on TV.

Camper - I hate Guess How Much I Love You. So sickly sweet. I thought I was some sort of monster for hating it..

The Ahlberg books about the dodgy thriving supply teacher and the funny family are brilliant.

And I like 5 minutes piece. Was that Ahlberg? Can't remember.

My DC love Bear Hunt. Thanks for the head's up that it's on TV. I hadn't realised. They will be thrilled!