The Teddy Bears' Picnic [Paperback]

Jimmy Kennedy (Author), Michael Hague (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A favorite childhood song brought to life by one of America's favorite illustrators.

"If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise;
For ev'ry Bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears
Have their picnic."

The Teddy Bears' Picnic has been sung and loved by English speaking children throughout the world ever since it was written. The intrigue conjured up by the teddy bears picnicking independently of their owners continues to capture the imaginations of children everywhere.

Michael Hague's illustrations are simultaneously panoramic and detailed. Against the backdrop of country landscapes, lovable teddies of all shapes and descriptions picnic and play.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hague has turned his considerable talents to the whimsical song written by Kennedy more than 40 years ago. The result, with its lavish, full-spread illustrations and large trim size, is almost a coffee-table book for children. In soft browns and ochres, Hague details the adventure of a boy who, disguised as a teddy bear, steals into the woods to spy on the bruins' picnic. As night falls, tiny animated mushrooms lift their heads; gnomes and fairies peep out from the tangle of roots, and even the gnarled old trees seem to come to life as the camouflaged bears peek from between the boughs. Given the lovely Teutonic gloom of this forest world, these goggle-eyed teddy bears may be a bit cutesy for some tastes. Nevertheless, the art goes a long way toward redeeming the text, to which time has not been kind. Kennedy's insubstantial lyrics are a jarring mixture of the sinister and the saccharine, as their thudding iambic tetrameter verses warn children to steer clear of the enchanted wood. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- No surprises here. The ursine stars of this popular nonsense ditty provide plenty of opportunity for Hague to draw his favorite subjects. In a fairly literal interpretation of the lyrics, he shows lots of teddy bears, in various shapes, sizes, and degrees of cuteness, heading into an autumnal wood to cavort well beyond the watchful eyes of their human owners. Children will not fail to miss the one curious child who follows his own teddy to the picnic site, since he is the one creature whose pale visage and upright posture are distinctly human despite his fuzzy bear costume. ?- Combining realism with romanticism, Hague remains true to his highly recognizable style, creating an appealing fantasy world full of curious details such as lithesome fairies and other fey creatures rendered in pen-and-ink line drawings washed in warm earth tones and livened by touches of soft reds and blues. The arhythmic, and at times, nonrhyming verse, captioned in unobtrusive black-bordered boxes and set against the full double-page illustrations, might read awkwardly to those unfamiliar with the tune. Unfortunately, no musical notation is provided. --Dorothy Houlihan, formerly at White Plains Pub . Lib . , NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805053492
• ISBN-13: 978-0805053494
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 11.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #558,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Obsessions > Teddy Bears

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I hoped for, January 1, 2012

By 

JoAnne - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Teddy Bears' Picnic (Board book)

This song/story has a special meaning to me as it was always the finale sung at our family's Thanksgiving gathering with my grandmother accompanying our singing on the piano. I purchased this book to carry on the tradition with my first grandchild and couldn't be happier with the quality and wonderful illustrations. We used to confuse the word "unawares" with "underwear's" and still sing it that way to this day. I agree with an earlier review that the teddy's bears parents depicted as children is the perfect adaptation for this story.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Teddy Bears' Picnic, December 12, 2010

By 

Nancy Ward "Medawara" (Indy) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Teddy Bears' Picnic (Paperback)

This book lived up to everything I hoped it would be. There is so much to find in the pictures. I was able to remember the tune from my childhood and sing the book to my 2 yr. old granddaughter. She loves it, everytime we look at it together she finds something new on each page, the pictures are that detailed. I love it and highly recommend this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Teddy bears' mommies and daddies..., November 30, 2009

By 

N. Reid - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Teddy Bears' Picnic (Paperback)

I love this version of The Teddy Bears' Picnic because it features fairies hidden in the woods, but mostly because at the end when the bears' "mommies and daddies" come, they are little children, not grown up bears. A very sweet, and appropriate take on it, I think.