Storytelling Books for Kids with Bears
Fun Books Contain Amusing Stories and Classroom Game
Oct 30, 2009
Librarians and teachers looking to read great books for kids for storytelling sessions should check out the following easy-to-read picture books about animals, forests, cowboys, and ninjas that will keep young children laughing and foster an early love of storytelling books.
Big Bear Hug
Once upon a time, there lived a big black bear so full of love and goodwill he couldn’t help but give everyone in his woodland home a bear hug – much to the distress of the rabbits, skunks, beavers, and snakes on the receiving end of his affection. Yet when the bear saw a woodchopper about to cut down one of his beloved trees, suddenly the bear didn’t feel so full of goodwill anymore…
Will the big black bear lose his loveable nature and attack the woodchopper? Or will his normally friendly personality be enough to save the tree?
Author/artist Nicholas Oldland delivers a fun and often silly fairy tale with this picture book that gives new meaning to the term “tree hugger.” The sparse (but enjoyable) text coupled with Oldland’s cartoony illustrations make this book a great choice for teachers and librarians to read aloud to kids – although the book’s small size may require kids to sit closer to the storyteller or the storyteller to use an overhead projector.
The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear
The popular Japanese game of “rock, paper, scissors” is re-imagined in this picture book about three friends – a ninja, cowboy, and bear. Although the trio usually get along, when they argue over whose skills are the best, they decide to compete in a series of contests – from rock piling to raspberry gathering to rabbit catching – to determine the superior member.
Yet with each contest, it becomes clear that the bear’s strength, cowboy’s speed, and ninja’s stealth all make them superior in certain competitions, but not in all. Can they accept their differences and save their friendship?
Ending with instructions on how to play “Ninja, Cowboy, Bear” (a variation on “rock, paper, scissors” that requires players to pose as a ninja, cowboy, or bear), this first children’s book of author David Bruins and artist Hilary Leung offers a fun, fast read that is enhanced by Leung’s appealing illustrations that look almost like animation storyboards. A good choice for group storytelling – especially if storytellers want to end their storytelling sessions with classroom games.
More Great Storytelling Books for Kids
Sharing picture books with kids can provide a fast, easy form of entertainment that encourages child literacy. Find more fun books to read aloud at Review of Lemony Snicket’s The Lump of Coal, Dinosaur Picture Books for Kids, and Peter Yarrow Talks About His Books for Kids.
Bruins, David and Hilary Leung. The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear. Toronto: Kids Can Press. 2009. ISBN: 978-1-55453-486-9
Oldland, Nicholas. Big Bear Hug. Toronto: Kids Can Press. 2009. ISBN: 978-1-55453-464-7
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