This is the Bear

A book and CD pack with added material, this ‘Listen and Join In’ set is good value, especially as the CD includes the three charming sequels to the near-perfect original and some added-on music and activities as well. The actually readings are, however, a bit of a mixed bag largely because almost all the readers drown the stories in a welter of overacting, completely missing the point that it is simplicity and understatement that makes them so special. But these are hard qualities to bring out in a reading and the readers’ enthusiasm for the short texts makes up for some of what is lost. JE