The Very Noisy Bear Book Pathway. K.Deneen

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Listen to the Music by Marion Billet

Intended for ages 0-5 years,

Listen to the Music is engaging and entertaining

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt

Suitable for children of all ages.

This Jazz Man is set to the rhythm of 'This Old Man'

The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine

Intended for ages 8-12 aears.

The Story of the Orchestra illustrates in detail

the instruments of the orchestra

Violet's Music by Angela Johnson

A picturebook intended for young children.

Violet's Music tells the story of Violet's journey

to find like-minded friends.

FRIENDSHIPS

Growing up with a Bucket Full of Happiness

by Carol McCloud & Penny Weber

A chapter book intended for children 9+years.

Did you know you have an invisble bucket which is

filled with all of your good thoughts and feelings?

You are Friendly by Todd Snow & Melodee Strong

Intended for children 3+ years

You are Friendly gives young children concrete examples

of things they can do to be kind to others

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Suitable for children 6+ years

Each Kindness explores what kindness can do in the world

Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg

For children 3+ years.

Crazy Hair Day explores how people can feel

different/excluded and ways in which this can be rectified.

EXPERIMENTING

Everyone can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka

Intended for children 3+ years.

Everyone can Learn to Ride a Bicycle uses very few words

but expressive pictures to show what it's like to fall and get up again.

I Will Never NOT EVER Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

Suitable for children 4+ years.

I will Never NOT EVER Eat a Tomato is a clever story

that engages its audience with clever writing.

Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez

Suitable for Preschool aged children.

Sergio is a penguin who loves drinking water, bathing in water

and spraying water, but he can't swim.

Gentle encouragement is key to rectifying this fear.

If I Never Forever Endeavour by Holly Meade

Recommended for children 4-8 years old.

If I Never Forever Endeavour explores a young bird's concerns

aobut flying for the first time. What if they don't work?

RATIONALE

The 'theme' is the central meaning or significant message depicted through the ways that the setting, characteristation and plot reflect each other (McDonald, 2018).

Experimenting is one of the themes that has been represented in the story, The Very Noisy Bear. To experiment in this context is to try out a new idea or method in order to see what it is like and what effect it has (Collins English Dictionary, N.D).

Experimenting should most definitely be represented in children’s literature as it encourages children to spread their wings, try something new, or take up a new skill. Books which include the theme of experimenting are a great tool that educators can use to help talk about fears, or reluctance to try something new (What do we do all day, 2013).

The literary text that relates most to the theme of experimenting is contemporary realism. The conventions of contemporary realism include stories set in our contemporary world with recognisable settings and situations (McDonald, 2018). Experimenting is something that most people do, therefore realistic stories resemble their own lives and are relatable.

SYNOPSIS

Listen to the music by Marion Billet

Adults and children alike will enjoy these board books which are distinguished by the exceptional quality of the sounds that bring every picture to life. Aimed at very young children, this story is very engaging with its hands-on activity. Listen to the Music incorporates the theme of music into its pages through a button which triggers one of six sounds that introduces a character or object. ‘Let’s listen to elephant play the piano’ encourages the reader to press the button and hear the delicate sound of the piano.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Maya is a new student, she is different, her clothes are ripped and she plays with old fashioned toys. Chloe rejects Maya’s request to play with her time and time again and eventually Maya stops coming to school. A lesson about kindness is conveyed by a small stone being dropped into a bowl of water ‘this is what kindness does, each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world’. Chloe wishes she was kind to Maya and thinks how much better the world could be. This story engages the theme of friendship revealing how they can develop.

SYNOPSIS

Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg

Readers will feel for the main character, Stanley, in this story who mistakenly dresses up for crazy hair day when it is picture day at school. ‘This’ he said ‘is going to be a day I will never forget’. This story encompasses the theme of friendship as Stanley’s classmates engage in a collective decision to all have crazy hair for their photo which makes Stanley feel happy and comfortable.

I Will Never NOT EVER Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

Lola is a very fussy eater; her brother Charlie sometimes gets the very tough job of feeding her. This story incorporates the theme of experimenting in its pages by Charlie playing tricks on Lola to try different foods she normally wouldn’t eat. ‘I don’t ever eat carrots’ says Lola, ‘oh but these are orange twiglets from Jupiter’ says Charlie, encouraging Lola to try something different. Will Lola eat a tomato?