Review: This is the Bear and the Picnic Lunch

This is the Bear and the Picnic Lunch

Written by Sarah Hayes

Illustrated by Helen Craig

Publication Date: 2003
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
ISBN: 0-7445-9811-7

Summary/Back cover:
This is the boy who packed a lunch of sandwiches, crisps and an apple to crunch. This is the bear who guarded the box while the boy went to find his shoes and socks.

While the boy and the bear prepare for a picnic, the dog runs off with the lunch!

Review:
This book was originally published in 1986 so it’s having a decent run to still be in publication 20-30 years later. The back cover summary is a good indicator of the rhyming-style content of the story.

In addition to the main story the characters engage in dialogue by way of speech bubbles. The teddy bear is rather cute with his proud declaration “I’m a guard bear!” and then later when he exclaims “I’m hungry!” and “This is boring!” while he waits for the boy to return.

Although it is never mentioned in the story you can see through the illustrations that it has begun raining outside which contributes to the ending whereby the boy, the dog and the bear decide to picnic inside. It is a good story for teaching children (and reminding parents) to make the most of situations rather than get overcome when things don’t work out as planned.

My rating: 3 out of 5

Review written by team_s