We're going on a bear hunt

Our garden is growing fast, especially the grass at the back, which hasn't been mowed all year. It is tall and wavy and reminds me of the classic children's story "We're going on a bear hunt" by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

Remember the swishy swashy, long wavy grass? For those who don't know the story, it is about a family who goes on a bear hunt. They set off, with confidence, "We're not scared". The hunt takes them through tall grass, a deep river, a dark forest, a snowstorm and thick mud, into a cave where they meet the bear and, of course, they are as scared as anything and retrace their steps. Watch this YouTube video with Michael Rosen performing the story.

This week we went on "a bear hunt". With gumboots on our feet and sunhats on our head we head out into the garden. As I read page by page we make our way through the long wavy grass, a deep cold river, thick oozy mud, a big dark forest and a swirling whirling snowstorm. "We can't go over it. We can't go under it. Oh-no! We've got to go through it!" What a fun way to "read" a story.

"Long wavy grass"

"Thick oozy mud"

"A big dark forest"

"Back through the grass! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy!"

Anybody surprised the children asked to go on "a bear hunt" again the following day?