The Miniature Teddy Bears' Picnic

by Jimmy Kennedy

Kennedy, Jimmy

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Storytime, Poetry, Music

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

James Kennedy OBE (20 July 1902 – 6 April 1984) was an Irish songwriter.

He was predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer" or co-writing with composers such as Michael Carr, Wilhelm Grosz and Nat Simon.

Kennedy won two Ivor Novello Awards for his contribution to music and received an honorary degree from the New University of Ulster. He was awarded the OBE in 1983.
In 1997 he was posthumously inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most precious childhood books. Because I knew the song off by heart, this was one of the first books I could 'read' independently. Linking the lyrics I knew with the written words on the page was so valuable, though at the time I was just enjoying the book. I must have read this hundreds, possibly thousands of times. Over and over again, never bored of it! The illustrations were some of my favourites as well -- I still remember them fondly. 🐻

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the gems I found at the Mill Valley Library Sale over the weekend. I love this book! As the adorable old gentleman at the volunteer table was ringing up my stack of books (25-cents, 25-cents, 25-cents--what a bargain!) he raised his eyebrow at this one. "Now, this one is $3.00," he said kindly. I grinned and said, "I know." ;-)

Rosenshantz (my very-favorite children's music group as a kid!) did a version of "Teddy Bear's Picnic" that I loved. I can hear the entire song as I read through this lovely picture book. The real reason to check out this book is the illustrations by Alexandra Day. They are so enchanting! The variety of teddy bears and their activities is so much fun, so delightful. And the ending has a touch of surprise and magic and is at once odd and charming. If you like the cover art, be sure to check this one out. It's a treat!

ETA 2022: I looked at this again many years later now as a parent feel compelled to point out this was done in the early '80s and does show some the teddy bears dressing up with masks, in one spread the masks look a bit African and another scene perhaps Inuit and I honestly cannot tell based on where this is in the text if it's meant to imply teddy bears come to the picnic from those lands or if they are little British teddy bears playing "dress up" -- one of the teddy bears is wearing a feather headdress later playing hide-and-seek -- so just wanted to mention this for today's audience.

[Robert Luff · Rating 1 out of 5]

This "cute" board book for small children is SUPER CREEPY! "Every bear that every lived" gather together for a picnic in the woods. There's a picture of teddy bears in angel wings preparing to leave heaven to attend. So they're, what, undead? A little later there's this ominous warning: "If you go down in the woods today you'd better not go alone. It's lovely down in the woods today but safer to stay at home." One bear hangs upside down from the tree canopy. Several bears wear tribal twigs and war paint while others hold creepy masks with human faces. When they leave for the day, the procession looks like a white supremacist march of torches through dark woods.
My son is two. This is dark. It's going back to the library tomorrow!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty sure I read this as a kid and we did actual teddy bear picnics from it. Illustrations are super cool, plot is basically a poem. Not the best Children’s book but it’s cute and my son got it as a Christmas gift.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The classic story/song but the illustrations are kinda weird

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This specific version has nice illustrations.

[Sutton Eleanora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonus- Jonny sang the song for us as well!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, usually I think that adding books for very young children is cheating. You don't get credit for reading a Sandra Boynton board book, even if Moo Baa La La La is pure genius (it is, by the way). But I break my own rule for this one--I can still picture every page and sing the song. Buy it.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and gentle story.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was growing up my parents would sing "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" to me and my two sisters. I found a copy of this book at an estate sale and had to buy it. When my parents (age 80 and 83) came over for dinner and I showed them the book they both sang it to me as we turned the pages. What sweet memories from my childhood and now also as an adult. This is a great story for children of all ages!

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 Really adorable illustrations of teddy bears 🧸. The story/song lyrics are cute, as well. Not sure why I didn’t love this one more. The tone felt a bit sad (either it was the words or something about the illustrations), even though the overall theme was supposed to be happy or celebratory. Otherwise, I would have given this book more stars. Still a fun one to read if you love teddy bears or you have children who love them.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book is just too creepy: kids and their parents dressing up like teddy bears to picnic with anthropomorphic teddy bears. The sinister tone—“If you go down in the woods today/ You’d better not go alone/ It’s lovely down in the woods today/ But safer to stay at home”—adds to the ominous atmosphere of this odd open-air affair. Gauzy illustrations blur the distinctions between the realms of reality and fantasy in disquieting ways.

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were pretty cute, but some were creepy and unexplained. Was the kid actually a bear? Was the kid crawling into a teddy bear? Was the Dad a bear? Just weird. I much prefer Eliza Wheeler, though there are similarities. Also, the song didn't consistently rhyme and the meter was annoying. I'm a stickler, so it needs to be all or nothing when it comes to singsongy stuff.

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book for young children as it is a well known song and you can sing it as well as read it to the children. I would recommend it to be read to children within the EYFS as I feel they would get the most out of the book and the most enjoyment.

[Kristen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Teddy Bears' Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy is a cute book to read for enjoyment rather than a lesson. I would recommend this book to someone just wanting a fun book to read, but not necessarily for in the classroom. Definitely a good one, but not a must have.

-Kristen

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pre-k teacher has requested a read-aloud of this book and I'm pre-reading several versions of this to find the one I prefer. I found the illustrations in the Alexandra Day version a touch frightening to pre-k little ones, but the Michael Hague illustrations are the version I chose.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to teach the song with!

[Reggie Virus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if it’s supposed to feel creepy but idk I was confused when the kids dressed up as bears and the bears had human faces haha

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are absolutely adorable. I remember the teddy bears picnic song from when I was little, but when I tried reading it in tune I completely buggered it up lolz!

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way creepier than I had remembered. All the teddy bears are people wearing costumes like Furries.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly a little creepy and the rhyme scheme is a disaster.

[diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

read bc i made a joke about werebear p*rn to a coworker and he recommended this instead. also the bing crosby song.

5/5 stars

[Stephen Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Jimmy Kennedy for his dreamy illustrations to this 1907 classic.

Anyone who loves teddy bears will be enchanted by this book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite childhood books, I'm over the moon to be able to read it to my son.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words in this story are the teddy bear song which can be read or sung. The illustrations are wonderful.

[Literary Strawberry]

"If you go down to the woods today / You'd better not go alone / It's lovely in the woods today / But safer to stay at home" Why is this so ominous?? What are the teddy bears going to do to them???

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to Granddaughter. The words were a bit confusing making it difficult to read out loud.

[Sydney Kovacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

wait a minute, how have i never read this book before??? i'm obsessed. i want this entire book tattooed on my forehead. love love love love. where's my invitation to the teddy bear picnic????

[Wanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

writing not as great as beautiful illustrations