Reader, reader what do you see?
Why it's another edition of Throwback Thursday for you to enjoy with me!
Obviously you know from the picture and my silly intro that this week we're reminiscing on the old classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.
Brown Bear was published in 1967 and has been entertaining babies and toddlers now for over 40 years. I had this book as a child and remember some family member telling me I dragged it around everywhere I went. I just recently started reading this with my daughter and she's enamored with it as well. It's amazing to see really because except for the awesome tissue paper collage illustrations of Eric Carle, I can't really point out why it's such a fantastic children's book --- it just is!! I always marvel at children's books like this and wonder what makes them so endearing to children. Maybe it's the rhythm and rhyming of the words or it could also be the anticipation of seeing what's on the next page. I can also see how kids starting to learn how to read on their own would love a book like this because they can easily identify the animals in the pictures and predict what the words are from the rhyme.
A fun little fact about this book: In January of 2010, it was banned by the Texas State Board of Education. Seriously though, the book banning is getting out of hand, but that will be a topic for another time.
So what about you? Do you remember this book as a kid and have you shared it with your children?
Do you have a favorite book from your childhood you'd like to share with us here on Book Dads? I'd love to feature it on a Throwback Thursday post.
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Currently this book is very important in my house. It is my 7 mos. old son's favorite book. We read it before he takes his naps and it is my go-to strategy when he get fussy. I just need to start singing Brown Bear and he starts to smile.
I learned how to sing the book by listening to Bill Martin Jr. in this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdHCYgO9zh8
Great pick for ThrowBack!
That's awesome Eric! Always good to have a go-to for fussiness control! Thanks for the video - I'll check that out.
As you already know, it is a current favorite in our house. I've read it twice today so far.
As for the banning, now I must go find out why because I'm curious. Is it the blue horse or the purple cat? Happy New Year.
Did you find out yet? It's hubbub over the name of the author Bill Martin. State of Texas BOE has him confused with another Bill Martin. Hilarious in a way, if only to show how looney folks are but sad as well because it shows how looney folks are.