The Teddy Bears' Picnic

by Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman

The legendary Jerry Garcia joins with David Grisman to create a down-home, Dixieland version of this classic song. A cassette recording is packaged in the back of this new picture book version of everyone's favorite picnic in the woods. Best-selling artist Bruce Whatley has created a rollicking collection of singing, dancing and picnicking teddy bears with a slight 60's twist. So come along -- it's time for the Teddy Bears' Picnic!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1996

About the author

Jerome John "Jerry" García was an American musician, songwriter, artist, and lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. García was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group.

Performing with the Grateful Dead for its entire three-decade career (which spanned from 1965 to 1995), García participated in a variety of side projects, including the Jerry García Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, and Legion of Mary. García co-founded the New Riders of the Purple Sage with John Dawson and David Nelson. He also released several solo albums, and contributed to a number of albums by other artists over the years as a session musician. He was well known by many for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story.

Later in life, García was sometimes ill because of his unstable weight, and in 1986 experienced a diabetic coma that nearly cost him his life. Although his overall health improved somewhat after that, he also struggled with heroin addiction, and was residing in a drug rehabilitation facility when he died of a heart attack in August 1995.

Reviews

[Jason Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course Jerry Garcia would do a version of this song, how could he not given the Grateful Dead mascots? Apparently there was a book with a cassette that had that song, and this is it. It's just the lyrics to the song set to pictures, but it's still a great kid's book, and it gets my recommendation for wee tots since the pictures are great even if the tune is just a tad creepy. The lyrics read aloud are fine, but when set to the music written by John Bratton (his only lasting hit), a couple lines become slightly sinister, though I can't explain why. It's just a feeling, and I trust my gut. Bratton wrote the tune in 1907, but lyrics weren't added until 1932 by Jimmy Kennedy.

Inane story time. (I'm serious; this story is pointless, but I've not much else to say about this book, and it's way too soon for a man of my loquaciousness to shut up).

Every evening when I go home from work I put on my employee stalker/tracker thing we use "Back on (insert odd holiday here)," then I put a quip about it if there's room. July 10th is Teddy Bears' Picnic day, but I didn't have time on July ninth to briefly research it like I usually would. I confessed my ignorance of the matter to a coworker who was asking about it the next morning when another coworker came in and said "Are you serious? You really don't know about "The Teddy Bears' Picnic?" It's a song, and a book, and I used to sing and read it to my children all the time when they were young." It was news to us, so I ended up researching it anyway.

Coworker B knew of the Jerry Garcia version since she had this book, and since she and her husband are the biggest Deadheads of all time, a lot of puzzle pieces suddenly fell into place. I house-sat for them this week and just happened to see this book on a shelf in the room I was staying in. (If I see bookshelves, I simply must investigate; I can't help myself). I remembered the conversation mentioned above, read the book, and now I'm more educated than I was before. Unfortunately the cassette was not with the book, but we live in the age of YouTube where you can find any version of any song ever made with a few keystrokes, so that was easy enough to remedy. JG's version isn't all that creepy, but Anne Murray, Bing Crosby, and Rosemary Clooney evoke visions of Naughty Bear for some reason.



If you go down in the woods today,
you're sure of a big surprise.

Let's hope it's not the one shown above.

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an effort to clean off my over-flowing bookshelves, I am going to be reading through my children's books and decide which to keep and which to give away. This one's a keeper, mostly because of the illustrations. Not only does the artist create bears who resemble the two authors, he also weaves some of the same bears in page after page. The drawings are light-hearted and fun, and the little bears that frequently pop up in unexpected places (like the one peeking out of the knothole of a tree) make for a fun experience.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings up so many fond memories of my childhood. I love it!

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't help singing as you read this book. The teddy bear with the guitars are adorable! I love to see my little ones hold board books and look so serious as they practice reading.

[Taj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely ADORE this sweet story.. i grew up with my mom singing this to me as a lullaby and in december i remember her by reading & listening to this over and over
lost her a year ago & missing her greatly & this helps.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite songs as a child so I was delighted to find it in a sturdy board book with pictures. You don't have to know the song to enjoy reading the words in this book. The best part is my daughter really loves it, too. We are having great fun enjoying it together, old memories for her, and new memories for us together.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and clever pictures to go with the text of the well-known song.

[Laurie Deschenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book when she was two and three. We wore out the binding on it. We love the song as well.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always have loved reading this to my kids.

[Siomara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very cute because it is about stuffed animals that have a nice picnic at the park.