Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?

First of all, I have to chuckle about the people worrying about political correctness. C'mon, folks, a little book isn't going to teach your kids about parental roles, between your influence and the fact that the world IS politically correct, they will get it soon enough! Secondly, some households have stay-at-home moms (we work, too, trust me!) and out of home dads, like ours! I had a professional career once too, and now I have a job that's just as important...and my husband is very involved with the kids, even though he works long hours to make our situation work. Sorry if Daddy coming home from work to see Mommy and son offends anyone! Good grief... I feel like I have apologize for loving this book that so closely mirrors my life - and gives my son great joy because he can relate so closely to it! That being said, I will climb off my soapbox and praise this sweet little book. My son was captivated from 18 months on. The way it flows, its sweetness and silliness...And the last page always chokes me up. My little daughter has now discovered it, and we read it every night. She loves the part where Daddy comes home and Mommy is pushing Jessie Bear is in the tree swing - that's pretty much the scene at our house every night in our front yard! It's a great, simple little book - I highly recommend it!

We checked this book out from the library, and have renewed it four times. My 2.5 year old simply cannot get enough of Jesse Bear. We even made our own "Jesse Bear" and clothes out of felt, and he likes to play with it as we read the story. It's true that Mama Bear is the primary caretaker, while Papa Bear is the bread-winner who puts his feet up when he gets home - unlike his wife who is actively involved in the illustrations for the entire book. So what? If you as a parent are worried about gender-inequality, what a perfect time to discuss gender roles! "Do you see how excited Jesse Bear is when Papa comes home from work? You know, in some families the Mama works too...." Since when does a book have to be politically correct in order to be worth reading or owning? I feel it is more important to expose children to the variety of life options in childrens' books, and use them as a stepping stone towards a discussion, than to avoid books based on the political correctness of the day. If you're mature enough to handle 'old fashioned' gender roles, this book is sure to bring delight to your child and yourself. I am anxious to turn in the library book and replace it with a permanent copy for ourselves. I see Jesse Bear being a part of our lives for a looooooooooong time...

At first, I wasn't too sure about this book when we received it as a gift, but now, my little one at 3 just loves it. I have to read it over, and over, and over, and he still wants to take it to bed. It's a very cute little story about what a little bear wears all day, but also what he does during his day. My little one particularly likes the "ants in my pants" part, but it is a very entertaining book and quite cute. Definitely a must for bedtime.

I enjoy reading this book to my children and they enjoy having it read to them. The story line is one that my son can relate to because it's all about Jesse Bear's day and what he wears for each activity. The rhymes are cute and have a rythm that make this book easy to read. The pictures are bright and cheery. If you have a toddler around, this book is a good one to buy.

If it's past bedtime, my 10 year can pull out Jesse Bear and lure me into reading with him a little bit longer. We've been reading this for 9 years and I still love it. The illustrations are lovely. The cadence of the book is fun! I almost sing the words and the final few pages have created a ritual of "three kisses' and "hugs" and a tranquil feeling from the last page. What a beautiful place to live. It's a great gift book for younger kids, new moms or just to have for a special 10 minute reading period with your kids. Great last book before bedtime book!!!Lena