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The Bear Went Over the Mountain
A beloved nursery rhyme classic to put your child on the road to reading!Rosemary Wells, one of America's foremost creators of children's books, will have the very youngest child turning pages and remembering the words. What better way instill a lifetime love of reading and learning?
18 pages, Board Book
First published September 1, 1998
About the author
Rosemary Wells
488 books388 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).
Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 26, 2013
I was gripped instantly on page one. I know it was page one, even though the pages in this book are not numbered because the codex is not a large volume but the pages are thick. Literally. Like pressboard. Because they are pressboard. Ordinarily, this might frustrate readers who choose not a bookmark, but enjoy creating "dog ears" to mark a passage; however the book's charm and sturdiness will defeat such attempts.
I enjoy a book that has diagrams, illustrations and other visual aids to get the point across and Ms. Wells does not disappoint. She made each and every image herself, in bold colors and they are easy to understand even for a lay-man. In fact, the anthropomorphistic images are key, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Let's get into the text!
Ms. Wells takes charge of her subject matter right away. She doesn't bother with a preface, which I find refreshing in a philosophic metaphor such as this one (this review, not the book).
I counted quickly and discovered that this book was composed with 23 different words. Many of the words repeat themselves, but it's impossible to not reuse a word, no matter how large your lexicon. I mean, there are only so many synonyms for the word "book," right? It's a compelling argument for her technique. Hooray!
SPOILER ALERT!! Scroll down! Dive! Dive! Tora Tora Tora!
"Hooray" is in fact, the only text on the last "page" of this book. I put "'page'" in quotes because the more I handle this palm-sized tome, the more I realize that the weight of the stock itself begs another term. Oh yes, board or card. Now I remember I mentioned that before. But as I like to say, "if it weren't for repetition, we wouldn't exist."
Ok, I feel much more comfortable writing that "Hooray" is the final and only word on the last card of this book. But the "Hooray" is not the climax of the book, but rather it's denouement, so maybe this is not much of a spoiler after all.
The book has a funny way with tenses. At this point I'll sum the plot and explain the tense (past, present, future) issues:
The bear is a boy-bear -- an anthropomorphic and happy cub who goes "over a mountain." So Rosemary Wells begins the tale as a recollection. In a lovely diagram the cub appears to hug his mother before he leaves to go over the mountain. He gets to the top of the mountain and this is further illustrated clearly and with some whimsy as well.
At the page where he's depicted at the summit it's revealed that the bear's goal was "to see what he could see." But here's the the thing. The bear had not yet gone OVER the mountain. He was merely at the apex of said mountain. And sadly, this is where the book wanders and is somewhat unclear.
In fact I argue that the book should have been titled, "The Bear Went To The Top Of The Mountain." It's true that in the end, he traversed down the other side of the mountain but had he intended to arrive at the base of the other side of the mountain to "see what he could see?"
No.
On card five of this puzzling read, it turns out that the the only thing the bear could see (from the top, the top of this frustratingly timeless mountain!) was "the other side of the mountain."
Thusly, if all that he could see "was the other side of the mountain" then the bear had not yet "[gone] over the mountain. again, he could only "see what he could see" from the very top.
Is the author playing some cruel trick of illogic? The areas between card five and seven beg that question. It's best resolved by concluding that the bear was wrong. He thought he was going over the mountain to see what he could see, but when he got to the top some thing crucial happens with this increasingly complex protagonist.
To fully understand the bear's transformation of his world-view, we must return to the illustrations. On the facing page of the first card of the book there is a forebodingly empty basket in his paws. On illustrated facing card two we see him half-way or so up the mountain, but now his basket is brimming with cut flowers.
The bear had ulterior motives. He was not JUST going wherever to see stuff. He was also going to pick flowers. Presumably for his mother or caretaker who is never mentioned, only vividly pictured. Remember this is just card two and he's not even to the crux of his own gist. He collected all the flowers he wanted or needed before he reached the, um, you the rest. Which brings me to another point.
The book is repetitive. But how else to get a meme across these days? Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Regardless, of the bear's possibly secret plan to collect flowers, it is no dark secret. He appears happy and excited throughout the story, and sincere when he returns home and presents the basket to his relative. In this "scene" the entire snow-capped mountain is in the distance. Beckoning. Calling. Seducing and recruiting the bear once again for a jaunt up the mountainside.
So in the end, we see our oddly dressed bear (do bears wear plaid?)heading again up the mountain with only a few of the new batch of flowers I can only assume he is going to pick along the way. I hate to make assumptions, but that's where, on card seven, the book leaves us for all the page facing the drawing say is "Hooray!"
In sum, the plot is simple, there's just one single character -- outside of illustrations -- and the whole thing come to a quick, if incomplete, conclusion.
If you are going to read one book in your life, this may be it, but only if you die when you are four, which you have not, so read The God Problem by Howard Bloom instead.
>Max Friedenberg
*factoid: Akira Kurosawa contributed to the screenplay for "Tora Tora Tora".
I enjoy a book that has diagrams, illustrations and other visual aids to get the point across and Ms. Wells does not disappoint. She made each and every image herself, in bold colors and they are easy to understand even for a lay-man. In fact, the anthropomorphistic images are key, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Let's get into the text!
Ms. Wells takes charge of her subject matter right away. She doesn't bother with a preface, which I find refreshing in a philosophic metaphor such as this one (this review, not the book).
I counted quickly and discovered that this book was composed with 23 different words. Many of the words repeat themselves, but it's impossible to not reuse a word, no matter how large your lexicon. I mean, there are only so many synonyms for the word "book," right? It's a compelling argument for her technique. Hooray!
SPOILER ALERT!! Scroll down! Dive! Dive! Tora Tora Tora!
"Hooray" is in fact, the only text on the last "page" of this book. I put "'page'" in quotes because the more I handle this palm-sized tome, the more I realize that the weight of the stock itself begs another term. Oh yes, board or card. Now I remember I mentioned that before. But as I like to say, "if it weren't for repetition, we wouldn't exist."
Ok, I feel much more comfortable writing that "Hooray" is the final and only word on the last card of this book. But the "Hooray" is not the climax of the book, but rather it's denouement, so maybe this is not much of a spoiler after all.
The book has a funny way with tenses. At this point I'll sum the plot and explain the tense (past, present, future) issues:
The bear is a boy-bear -- an anthropomorphic and happy cub who goes "over a mountain." So Rosemary Wells begins the tale as a recollection. In a lovely diagram the cub appears to hug his mother before he leaves to go over the mountain. He gets to the top of the mountain and this is further illustrated clearly and with some whimsy as well.
At the page where he's depicted at the summit it's revealed that the bear's goal was "to see what he could see." But here's the the thing. The bear had not yet gone OVER the mountain. He was merely at the apex of said mountain. And sadly, this is where the book wanders and is somewhat unclear.
In fact I argue that the book should have been titled, "The Bear Went To The Top Of The Mountain." It's true that in the end, he traversed down the other side of the mountain but had he intended to arrive at the base of the other side of the mountain to "see what he could see?"
No.
On card five of this puzzling read, it turns out that the the only thing the bear could see (from the top, the top of this frustratingly timeless mountain!) was "the other side of the mountain."
Thusly, if all that he could see "was the other side of the mountain" then the bear had not yet "[gone] over the mountain. again, he could only "see what he could see" from the very top.
Is the author playing some cruel trick of illogic? The areas between card five and seven beg that question. It's best resolved by concluding that the bear was wrong. He thought he was going over the mountain to see what he could see, but when he got to the top some thing crucial happens with this increasingly complex protagonist.
To fully understand the bear's transformation of his world-view, we must return to the illustrations. On the facing page of the first card of the book there is a forebodingly empty basket in his paws. On illustrated facing card two we see him half-way or so up the mountain, but now his basket is brimming with cut flowers.
The bear had ulterior motives. He was not JUST going wherever to see stuff. He was also going to pick flowers. Presumably for his mother or caretaker who is never mentioned, only vividly pictured. Remember this is just card two and he's not even to the crux of his own gist. He collected all the flowers he wanted or needed before he reached the, um, you the rest. Which brings me to another point.
The book is repetitive. But how else to get a meme across these days? Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Regardless, of the bear's possibly secret plan to collect flowers, it is no dark secret. He appears happy and excited throughout the story, and sincere when he returns home and presents the basket to his relative. In this "scene" the entire snow-capped mountain is in the distance. Beckoning. Calling. Seducing and recruiting the bear once again for a jaunt up the mountainside.
So in the end, we see our oddly dressed bear (do bears wear plaid?)heading again up the mountain with only a few of the new batch of flowers I can only assume he is going to pick along the way. I hate to make assumptions, but that's where, on card seven, the book leaves us for all the page facing the drawing say is "Hooray!"
In sum, the plot is simple, there's just one single character -- outside of illustrations -- and the whole thing come to a quick, if incomplete, conclusion.
If you are going to read one book in your life, this may be it, but only if you die when you are four, which you have not, so read The God Problem by Howard Bloom instead.
>Max Friedenberg
*factoid: Akira Kurosawa contributed to the screenplay for "Tora Tora Tora".
April 23, 2018
Morgan's Review (7yo) - I liked that the went sideways on the mountain and that he slide on the mountain.
Aunt Robbin's Review- This was a very simplistic book. The majority of the book was repetitive and Morgan liked that because it made it fun like a song. I loved the illustrations they were very pretty.
Aunt Robbin's Review- This was a very simplistic book. The majority of the book was repetitive and Morgan liked that because it made it fun like a song. I loved the illustrations they were very pretty.
June 15, 2017
well it's the lyrics with super simple pictures, so not all that exciting. you might as well just sing the song and make up your hand motions and it'd be more exciting than the book
August 24, 2018
This is a very short board book with the lyrics to the well-known folk song.
September 11, 2018
A simple repetitive book about a bear going over the mountain to the other side. simple. baby and up
October 12, 2008
Title: The Bear Went Over The Mountain
Author: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Scholastic, 16 p, 1998
Format: Board Book
Intended Audience: For infants or children in Preschool
Description: The Bear Went Over The Mountain is part of the Bunny Reads Back series where the author, Rosemary Wells, presents familiar children’s songs and rhymes with her own unique style of ink and watercolor illustrations.
Personal Review: The Bear Went Over The Mountain is a familiar children’s song that Wells vividly brings to life in a new way with her own style of watercolor illustrations. These illustrations really help guide the preschooler to learn to read and also memorize the songs. Although the book is fairly short, I found myself singing the song as I read along, turning the pages. The overall fundamental concept behind Wells’ Bunny Reads Back series is the presentation of traditional children’s songs and rhymes in an easy and memorable style in a colorful board book format. This format is designed to encourage the young reader to learn to read and in a short time be able to sing the familiar songs back to their parents. The story is simple but promotes page turning and curiosity in the young reader to see what happens next in the story. A general interest in the story and pictures is important and Wells does a wonderful job of creating a story that is driven by colorful pictures. I would recommend this series to parents that enjoy singing their children to sleep at bedtime.
Citation of two critical sources: Carolyn Phelan’s Booklist review of The Bear Went Over The Mountain was effective in that it clearly states the objective of Wells’ board book: to promote the joy of reading through the memorizing of a familiar children’s song. It also mentions an underlying concept of this story; a child’s cheerful independence and affection for his mother and also dealing with separation issues that would especially resonate with children readers that will soon begin preschool. It also states that if parents appreciate this entry in the series, that they would also look to read and enjoy the others.
Blair Christolon’s School Library Journal review of The Bear Went Over The Mountain was also effective as it begins by explaining the basic concept behind the board book series; learning to read by turning the pages and looking at the pictures. It also mentions the young reader will be able to memorize the familiar songs.
Author: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Scholastic, 16 p, 1998
Format: Board Book
Intended Audience: For infants or children in Preschool
Description: The Bear Went Over The Mountain is part of the Bunny Reads Back series where the author, Rosemary Wells, presents familiar children’s songs and rhymes with her own unique style of ink and watercolor illustrations.
Personal Review: The Bear Went Over The Mountain is a familiar children’s song that Wells vividly brings to life in a new way with her own style of watercolor illustrations. These illustrations really help guide the preschooler to learn to read and also memorize the songs. Although the book is fairly short, I found myself singing the song as I read along, turning the pages. The overall fundamental concept behind Wells’ Bunny Reads Back series is the presentation of traditional children’s songs and rhymes in an easy and memorable style in a colorful board book format. This format is designed to encourage the young reader to learn to read and in a short time be able to sing the familiar songs back to their parents. The story is simple but promotes page turning and curiosity in the young reader to see what happens next in the story. A general interest in the story and pictures is important and Wells does a wonderful job of creating a story that is driven by colorful pictures. I would recommend this series to parents that enjoy singing their children to sleep at bedtime.
Citation of two critical sources: Carolyn Phelan’s Booklist review of The Bear Went Over The Mountain was effective in that it clearly states the objective of Wells’ board book: to promote the joy of reading through the memorizing of a familiar children’s song. It also mentions an underlying concept of this story; a child’s cheerful independence and affection for his mother and also dealing with separation issues that would especially resonate with children readers that will soon begin preschool. It also states that if parents appreciate this entry in the series, that they would also look to read and enjoy the others.
Blair Christolon’s School Library Journal review of The Bear Went Over The Mountain was also effective as it begins by explaining the basic concept behind the board book series; learning to read by turning the pages and looking at the pictures. It also mentions the young reader will be able to memorize the familiar songs.
May 14, 2008
Comments on the Story:
I do not really think that this book actually offered too much to the original song. I liked that little bear went adventuring away from his mom and then came back at the end of the night. But, overall, I was not that impressed with any additions this book made to the song. The story remained the same.
Recommended Uses for the Book:
This is a good book for small toddlers. Toddlers approaching three may be very bored with this book. But, the advantage to this book is that the child can hold the book and turn the pages while the parent can sing the book which is useful. Also, in a library setting, this book could be used if the bear went over the mountain was going to be sung. By using this book in that situation, there would be illustrations to go along with the song. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that there are other children’s books designed to give a fuller story to the original song, The Bear Goes over the Mountain, and I might look at those books before choosing this particularly one since I did not find it that interesting.
I do not really think that this book actually offered too much to the original song. I liked that little bear went adventuring away from his mom and then came back at the end of the night. But, overall, I was not that impressed with any additions this book made to the song. The story remained the same.
Recommended Uses for the Book:
This is a good book for small toddlers. Toddlers approaching three may be very bored with this book. But, the advantage to this book is that the child can hold the book and turn the pages while the parent can sing the book which is useful. Also, in a library setting, this book could be used if the bear went over the mountain was going to be sung. By using this book in that situation, there would be illustrations to go along with the song. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that there are other children’s books designed to give a fuller story to the original song, The Bear Goes over the Mountain, and I might look at those books before choosing this particularly one since I did not find it that interesting.
November 1, 2009
I got this as part of a set from the hospital when Natalie was born. I didn't really like this one though. It had the words to "The Bear Went Over the Mountain," but it didn't do anything new or cute with them or the illustrations.
April 30, 2010
You can always depend on Rosemary Wells for her lovely illustrations - child friendly and approachable...this is a lovely one of the familiar song...I do wish she had a bigger version to share with groups...
November 20, 2010
This can be used in sequencing. It also has a great moral side.
February 6, 2012
My 20 month old was not overly entertained by it. I think it's cute.
April 18, 2016
A fun board book version of the classic song.
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March 9, 2017Tally -- 3
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews