Do Not Wash This Bear by Sam Hay and Nick East
| Do Not Wash This Bear by Sam Hay and Nick East | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: Stinky stuffed toys and naughtiness abound in this funny, light-hearted tale. | |
| Buy? yes | Borrow? yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: June 2016 |
| Publisher: Egmont | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781405277150 | |
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Dad is not very good at washing. There are those of us who would shrug this off and feel happy that at least he gives it a go, but then I guess after a while shrunken T-shirts and dyed vests become a little tiresome! Anyway, one day dad decides that Bear has become a little bit stinky and needs to go in the wash, and although the child in the story shows dad the very clear label stating Do not wash this bear he decides to ignore the advice and throws him into the machine. Washing Bear turns out to be a very big mistake, since some combination of the bubbles and the spin setting drastically alter poor Bear's personality, and when he comes out he is a very decidedly naughty and troublesome Bear!
Bear washing is an issue close to my heart. I used to sit in front of the washing machine as a child to watch my bear going round and round, and I would then watch him pegged out on the line, hanging by his ears, waiting for him to be dry again. Poor old Bear. Thankfully my Bear remained his normal cheerful self after washing, but in this story the Bear goes a little crazy when he comes out of the machine. With everything from blowing raspberries to making a really big mess he is definitely a lot of trouble. When Mummy comes home she knows the moment she walks in what has happened (Mums are like that sometimes!) She is very cross with Dad who, she says, should have read the label which quite clearly reads Do not wash this bear! Mummy knows how to fix things, however, and out Bear goes, pegged to the washing line to dry when, fortunately, we find that he is back to his old self again!
This is a funny story that will entertain both small children and the grown ups around them who have to deal with washing labels on a daily basis. There's always pleasure in someone being a little bit naughty in a story - nothing too outrageous, but a little breaking of the rules can be a lot of fun to enjoy vicariously. I'm sure that lots of children will also feel quite strongly that Bears should not be washed, since they're often not quite the same when they come out again, whilst many mothers will agree that sometimes these Bears just get a bit too disgusting to put up with any more! It's easy to follow, and funny to read, and I liked the helpful stay at home dad and the wise all-knowing mum!
The illustrations work well with the text throughout, very clearly showing all the action and adding humourous touches. I like the visible stink rising from Bear's foot pre-wash! I also really liked that because the child in the story is wearing a large bear hat you can't tell if it's a boy or a girl, so the story works well for both. Bear is only cheekily naughty, not evil and malevolent, so it's all very lighthearted, and the end is tidily done with, of course, another stinky stuffed animal with its own washing label. Bright and cheerful, this is an enjoyable washing romp that's a lot of fun to read!
Further reading suggestion: For more washing delights you might like to try I Don't Want to Wash my Hands (Little Princess) by Tony Ross or How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth by Michelle Robinson and Kate Hindley.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Do Not Wash This Bear by Sam Hay and Nick East at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Do Not Wash This Bear by Sam Hay and Nick East at Amazon.com.
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