Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic delights tykes with bright colors, gentle rhymes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
This picture book begins with an illustration of a large brown bear and the question: "What do you see?" On the next page, there's a colorful bird and the answer: "I see a red bird looking at me." And what does the red bird see? Children need to turn the page to find out, finally ending in a classroom full of children -- who are also many different colors.
Is It Any Good?
The repetitive structure makes it a perfect read-aloud with very young children, who delight in guessing what animal comes next. First published in 1967, this book is beloved for its brightly colored art by Eric Carle and simple, rhyming text by Bill Martin Jr. The lines are easy to memorize, encouraging even toddlers to "read" along. Pre-readers can practice identifying color and animal words. And the simple structure provides plenty of opportunities for parents and children to talk about the animals and make up different storylines.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about colors. Let kids name the color on each page, and point out other colors you see -- the green eyes on the cat, for example, or the yellow duck's pink feet.
Ask your kid to identify realistic animals (such as the white dog) and more fanciful ones (the blue horse). Encourage kids to make their own animal art, using whatever colors they wish.
Get out the crayons and drawing paper and help your kid create in a book patterned on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, but featuring animals your kid wants to include.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Eric Carle
- Genre : Colors
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : September 15, 1996
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 5
- Number of pages : 26
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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