Let’s Go Home Little Bear by Martin Waddell & Barbara Firth

Let’s Go Home Little Bear is one of my favourite picture books!

The Story: Big Bear and Little Bear go for a walk in the woods. On the way home Little Bear stops and listens every time he hears a strange noise. There is a rational explanation for every noise but Little Bear convinces himself that they are being followed by monsters! Back in their cave the two bears snuggle up together for a story and relive their walk before falling asleep.

Several of Martin Waddell’s books were published when I was doing my teacher training so I often read them on teaching practice. Twenty years later my daughter loves them and I never imagined that I would also be reading them in German! Big Bear and Little Bear are such loveable characters and have a very caring relationship. Barbara Firth’s beautiful watercolour illustrations are a great accompaniment to the gentle pace of the stories which are perfect for bedtime reading. The text is repetitive and words like Drippers, Plodders and Ploppers provide great opportunities for wordplay and the introduction of alliteration.

We also like Can’t You Sleep Little Bear in which Big Bear gently allays Little Bear’s bedtime fears and You and Me, Little Bear in which Little Bear has lots of playtime fun.

Age Range: 3 +

Author: Martin Waddell / Illustrator: Barbara Firth