Labrador retrievers are hunting dogs. At least a lot of them are. That’s what they were originally bred to do.
These hunters mostly retrieve ducks. Labs were bred to go find ducks that fell into the water, so that the hunters didn’t have to get wet and muddy. Labs love to be wet and muddy. I have been known to retrieve ducks —
I like to bring back just about anything that falls into the water –
And I like to play a good game of Hot and Cold, hunting for toys hidden in desks. But I don’t know about hunting for bears. Especially in dark caves. But our California Princesses LOVE going on bear hunts! I think most all little kids love going on bear hunts!
The Noodle Princess, who is 2 yrs old, recently discovered the fabulous book about bear hunts — We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
They recently checked it out from the library. This is an especially wonderful addition because it is a pop-up book!! This book was published in 2007 by Little Simon. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt was first published in 1989 and before that it was a favorite camp fire song. It has since become an early childhood staple. The pre-schoolers at my school sing and perform this song daily. They love wading through squishy mud and swimming through big rivers.
If you don’t know the story, (where have you been?!) it’s about a family that decides to go on a bear hunt. They encounter lots of natural obstacles that they can’t go over or under or around so they have to go THROUGH! The Noodle Princess reads this book to me over the airways via Skype. She loves the refrain – “We’re going on a bear hunt! Gonna catch a big one. What a beautiful day. We’re not scared! Oh, oh —– “
And in this book from the library she has all the tabs to pull that make the pictures come alive!
And she even likes to draw her own bear hunt —
But — library books have to go back to the library! She was not at all happy about that!!! So the King and Queen had to go on a book hunt and find the Noodle her very own pop-up copy of the Bear Hunt. Now everyone is happy and safe at home and she can pull the tabs to her hearts content.
Mr Rosen has a really cool website that you might want to visit here.
You can view a series of video interviews with Ms Oxenbury here at Reading rockets.
Dantheman has a whole list of activities and suggestions to go with this song/book here.
And now Mr Michael Rosen himself doing We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!
Hope you have some exciting adventures this week!
Rhythm
Reading With Rhythm 
Great post Rhythm. You fetch and swim well! I remember singing “Going on a Bear Hunt” as a young child — long before it was a book. Glad that is was published into a book because kids love the repetition.
Thanks Ms Tilton! Fetching and swimming are my favorite things. Well, and eating. And well, belly rubs. and ….. Anyway, kids do love going on bear hunts. The song and the movements to go with. It is great fun!
Great book to read aloud! and great photo of you with the duckies…
Thanks Ms Heavenrich.I won a stuffie with those ducks!!
Rhythm, you have hunted the same kind of bear as me. A teddy bear. That’s enough wildlife for my taste!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Teddy bears are the only kind of bears worth hunting! I’m with you!
Awesome book and excellent retrieving skills! Melvin can’t swim. I’ll leave it at that!
Oh. I’m sad for Melvin. The Mom Person had a Lab some years ago – St Gretta – who couldn’t swim. She had to be rescued on many an occasion.
Oh ow, a pop-up version! That would be awesome. I’m a bit obsessed with pop-up books at the moment – I recently came across a great one for the boy mini-fleshlings: The Pop Up Book of Poo!
We have a pop-up book of Pooh. But a pop-up book of Poo would be awesome! I can just imagine it!
And it’s an information book…so really, it’s all about the learning.
Right?!!
We loved this book when the kids were little – especially the last few pages when they are retracing their steps. Such a good book:)
It is an excellently fun book!
Well done, dear Rhythm! I’m impressed! 🙂 Love the second photo, you look gorgeous.
Love, hugs and and pat
Dina Xx
Thanks Ms Dina!
Thanks for reminding me of a delightful book, Rhythm. I haven’t looked at the copy in my library in a while but I know it’s not a pop-up. I think I just might have to look into getting one even though they don’t last as long as the ‘normal’ kind. The kids love them so much though, they are worth it. I also appreciate the ‘extras’ that you’ve included here. It’s always nice to enrich the experience of a story with resources like this.
Kids are tough on pop-ups for sure. But they sure do love them!
I’m going camping tomorrow – I guess that’s an adventure! 😀 I love that video! 😀
Camping can always lead to adventure! Be sure and cook hot dogs and sing about bear hunts!
Hot dogs are a total “in” 😀
The thrill of a bear hunt…awesome 🙂
Yes indeed! I like the swimming through the river part best!
Bear hunt!!!
Ever been on one? That would be an interesting photo shoot!
OK, so when I was a little bit younger … well, like in 1973-ish … we went to Camp and sang an echo chant called “going on a Lion hunt” which sounds very much like this bear hunt you’re talking about. What fun to connect and reminisce! And you look like you’re having SO much fun! I can’t wait until the day I get to play with you.
I guess that a lion hunt would be very much like a bear hunt. Except I don’t think that lions stay in dark caves like bears. Maybe I should come visit your school so we could play some tennis!
bear hunts sound super fun to me!
Yes! If it’s bears that are already stuffed that we’re hunting!
thanks!
You’re welcome!!
I love this book, excellent choice. Rhythm, if you ever want to hunt real ducks, you just let me know. I’ll hook you up!
Hmmmm! Sounds like an interesting proposition! I saw a real duck once. Flew down and landed in our yard. I was quite surprised! He was kind of fun to watch.
Hmmm….I can see there is a lot of work to be done here.
hahaha!!