Bill Martin

Children see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a teacher looking at them.

Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?

Sarah Sammis

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? breaks with a rule I've had about posting reviews of re-read books. Brown Bear was Sean's favorite book two years ago when he was at his last day care (before starting preschool in April 2006). It was one of those books he had memorized and Ian and I were able to purchase a copy based on his recitation of it (his memory is that good).

After our trip to Eureka and points north I found Sean's copy of Brown Bear while unpacking. I set it aside for him to read in the bath and took the time to reread it myself (out of mommy nostalgia).

Brown Bear is one of those list type stories where one item (or animal) leads to another. The list is told through the pattern: "(x) color (y) animal, (x) color (y) animal, what do you see? I see a (m) color (n) animal looking at me." The newly introduced animal is then asked the "what do you see" question to introduce another new animal and so on until the conclusion which first surprises by a break with the pattern and the tests by asking the reader to recite along with the narrator the entire list.

To go with this ear worm of a list, each page is colorfully illustrated with Eric Carle's painted tissue paper animals. I remember having trouble following along with Sean's recitation until I read the book and could remember Carle's animal creations.

wildemononoke

Rebeca 

I think Guillermo’s favorite part was the white dog. He didn’t want us to turn to the next page.

Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?

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