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Grizzly Dad
Everyone knows that sometimes dads can be grumpy and grouchy and grizzly. . . .
Dad woke up in a grizzly mood. All morning he groaned and grizzled and grumped. And then he went back to bed! But when I pulled back the covers to see how he was, it wasn’t Dad in bed at all . . . it was a GREAT BIG GRIZZLY BEAR! I should have been frightened but the grumpy look on his face reminded me of someone. . . .
This is the story of how one little boy looks after a very grizzly bear for the day. He brushes his fur (and his smelly teeth!), lets him forage in the fridge, and then they zoom into town in a bright red sports car for the best day out
ever! At home they have honey sandwiches and a big bear hug, and when Mum gets home, everything is back to normal. Or is it?
Dad woke up in a grizzly mood. All morning he groaned and grizzled and grumped. And then he went back to bed! But when I pulled back the covers to see how he was, it wasn’t Dad in bed at all . . . it was a GREAT BIG GRIZZLY BEAR! I should have been frightened but the grumpy look on his face reminded me of someone. . . .
This is the story of how one little boy looks after a very grizzly bear for the day. He brushes his fur (and his smelly teeth!), lets him forage in the fridge, and then they zoom into town in a bright red sports car for the best day out
ever! At home they have honey sandwiches and a big bear hug, and when Mum gets home, everything is back to normal. Or is it?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 8, 2020
I really liked this story, and found it very funny! Dad wakes up in a 'grrrrizzly' mood so goes back to bed. When his son goes to wake him up, he sees that his Dad has turned into a grizzly bear! The reader then sees the son trying to make his dad presentable by brushing his hair and teeth etc. We then follow the pair of them on mini-adventures, such as going for a drive, going to the cinema, hanging around in trees. When Mum gets home though and is shocked by the mess the two of them have made, Dad suddenly turns back into human dad.
Reading the illustrations is really important for this book, as we can see that dad actually woke up initially with the bottom half of a bear and the top half of a human. Likewise, at the end of the story when he turns back into human dad, he still has bear legs and a tail. Moreover, children need to read the pictures to fully understand the story - e.g. seeing that the reason going to the cinema with bear dad is so good is because everyone else is too scared to go and sit with a bear.
There are some fantastic words displayed in big, bold capital letters, drawing the readers eye to them. E.g. vrrroom, great big grizzly bear, grrrumped.
I would read this to a EYSF or KS1 class for reading for pleasure in free time.
Reading the illustrations is really important for this book, as we can see that dad actually woke up initially with the bottom half of a bear and the top half of a human. Likewise, at the end of the story when he turns back into human dad, he still has bear legs and a tail. Moreover, children need to read the pictures to fully understand the story - e.g. seeing that the reason going to the cinema with bear dad is so good is because everyone else is too scared to go and sit with a bear.
There are some fantastic words displayed in big, bold capital letters, drawing the readers eye to them. E.g. vrrroom, great big grizzly bear, grrrumped.
I would read this to a EYSF or KS1 class for reading for pleasure in free time.
January 14, 2020
Message learned: Dads (and moms) can wake up grumpy sometimes!
The premise was simple and cute - dad wakes up grumpy and grizzly to the point where he becomes a grizzly bear! It was fun to read and compare to days that Dad has been grizzly-like himself.
It's a good one to teach empathy with, as well. Given enough space and the right responses, those bad mood funks can go away. I'm not making light of depression, only comparing to my son who gets into these downhill funks where everything is bad and just gets worse! We've learned that talking it out and then having some time alone is enough of a "reset" for him that he can get back to a better state. The grizzly dad had to find his own "reset" in the story.
Good and fun book to read to the kids.
The premise was simple and cute - dad wakes up grumpy and grizzly to the point where he becomes a grizzly bear! It was fun to read and compare to days that Dad has been grizzly-like himself.
It's a good one to teach empathy with, as well. Given enough space and the right responses, those bad mood funks can go away. I'm not making light of depression, only comparing to my son who gets into these downhill funks where everything is bad and just gets worse! We've learned that talking it out and then having some time alone is enough of a "reset" for him that he can get back to a better state. The grizzly dad had to find his own "reset" in the story.
Good and fun book to read to the kids.
June 10, 2019
The depiction of the mom really bothered me on this one. She was in the background on one page running from the dishwasher/washing machine to an ironing board, and on another page she was under the stairs rocking a baby, working on her computer, and entertaining a toddler. She was expected to clean things up while the dad was being grumpy, lazy, and took his child on a "day out" leaving the house a huge mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2020
This is an entertaining read, perfect for children in years 1 and 2. It reminded me slightly of Little Red Riding Hood, as dad turned into a bear overnight and was found by the boy lying in his dad's bed! However, the 'grizzly dad' took the boy on all sorts of adventures around town and they had a great time. This was an interesting take on using a bear to represent dad's grumpiness and I think it worked quite well, it would definitely make it enjoyable for young children.
October 11, 2019
Sweet book, good use of onomatopoeia
October 29, 2019
What a funny book. It is kind of shorter, but would work well for slightly older kids too.
July 18, 2021
Kids thought it was funny. I didn’t like how it normalizes that parents can be beastly.
October 17, 2023
My daughter has made my husband read this book a countless times but today she has asked me to read the book and it’s so funny and relatable how the mum comes back to a messy home.
November 20, 2014
Read this in 5 minutes ... smiling the whole time! Eye-catching yet whimsical illustrations would make this an excellent (low-tech) tutorial on adult moods, for the as-yet-still-mystified 5-8-year-old. Who knows, a weary dad might even use this as a teachable moment and, thus, garner a "Great Dad", from his child!
July 21, 2014
My 4-year-old liked finding things on the pages that could put dad in a grumpy mood (in the bedroom the kids are fighting on top of dad, the cat is scratching on dad's head, the alarm clock is ringing, the dog is biting dad's glasses, etc).
April 28, 2016
Age: Preschool - 2nd grade
Dad's grumbling and growling turn him into a real grizzly bear. Unsure of what to do, his son helps him around the house and out to play together. A lovely portrayal of bonding with dad, encouraging hanging out and having fun.
Dad's grumbling and growling turn him into a real grizzly bear. Unsure of what to do, his son helps him around the house and out to play together. A lovely portrayal of bonding with dad, encouraging hanging out and having fun.
April 13, 2013
This book is great to talk about how dad's can be a little grumpy at times. The little boy spends times with his dad while he was a bear because of his anger. Once they were having fun and gave a great big bear hug dad come back to himself. Great book.
March 15, 2016
Cute story of imagination. A boy talks about his father waking up like a grizzly and looking like a bear. One morning when he goes to wake his father, he finds a grizzly bear in the bed. They spend the day together, but by the end of it dad turns back into his old self.
March 18, 2016
Cute story of imagination. A boy talks about his father waking up like a grizzly and looking like a bear. One morning when he goes to wake his father, he finds a grizzly bear in the bed. They spend the day together, but by the end of it dad turns back into his old self.
July 29, 2009
Trying this one with toddlers
Preschoolers enjoyed
good pictures
cute humor - emphasize the animal qualities
Preschoolers enjoyed
good pictures
cute humor - emphasize the animal qualities
September 2, 2009
A cute book about a dad that turns into a grizzly bear that his kids have a blast with. But when mom comes home they need to clean up the house.
September 3, 2009
cute book for father's day - Dad's in a bad mood and turns into a grizzly bear.
September 6, 2009
One morning Dad wakes up in such a bad mood that he turns into a bear.
www.hcpl.net
This is a cute story that could work for storytime.
www.hcpl.net
This is a cute story that could work for storytime.
December 10, 2009
"dads, bears"
March 17, 2010
Fun story of a dad who wakes up in a bearish mood. Art is just average, but story is fun!
Good for Father's Day.
Good for Father's Day.
March 25, 2010
There's quite a bit to talk about storytelling-wise with a group of preschoolers - lots of playing with colors and shadows and transformations, plenty of action - and it's a funny story.
August 12, 2011
My boys really liked this story. Their dad is sort of like a grizzly dad.
December 9, 2012
Very similar to the recently released movie "Brave."
June 13, 2013
Cute story... and parallel to our house sometimes! lol! ;-)
May 21, 2014
A fun fantasy of a son spending "guy" time with his dad whom he imagines has turned into a grizzly bear.
April 1, 2014
I got a double read request on this one. That says it all.
March 5, 2015
As a children's story, it's alright. But where it really excels is as a real life cautionary tale to the hundreds of thousands of us moms out there partnered with grizzly dads.
July 14, 2012
Cute ending
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews