Bear Goes to Town ¦ Willy the Champ

The little bear who can draw himself out of tricky situations was first encountered in Browne's Bear Hunt. The tale of his trip to town has more sinister shades. Bear rescues lots of his fellow animals from what could be a prison? a camp? As always, there is more in the pictures than is said in the words: that's the reading lesson for children, and we need them to help us read. Read it with nines to elevens, who understand the televisual impact of Browne's stories.

Willy the Champ is the shy, non-macho type who becomes a hero without really trying. Again, the story's in the pictures and in what's not said. See the echoes of A Walk in the Park: young readers will. I had nines and tens talking till after the bell had gone about friends, gangs, belonging and being left out. Try it.