Another of our well read favourites, and having first been published in 1983, it has been read to all 3 of my children and to many classes of children.
**THE STORY**
Great opening line "Can I go to the moon?" asked Baby Bear. We like this because it is the kind of question children can ... Read review
This is an imaginative and magical picture book by award-winning author/illustrator Jill ... more
Murphy, creator of Peace at Last, A Quiet Night In and other stories featuring the Large family. Baby Bear wants to go to the moon and so searches around the h...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Lovely bedtime story Disadvantages: None
Another of our well read favourites, and having first been published in 1983, it has been read to all 3 of my children and to many classes of children.
**THE STORY**
Great opening line "Can I go to the moon?" asked Baby Bear. We like this because it is the kind of question children can ask when employing bath or bed delaying tactics and are looking out of their bedroom window.
Mrs Bear soon puts ... ...that he needs a bath first (typical mummy style) and that he would need a rocket.
The bath appears to be forgotten, and baby Bear finds a rocket under the stairs, which is a cardboard box, he finds a space helmet in the shape of a collander, and space boots, which are his wellingtons.
He packs all the things he needs for a trip to the moon- his teddy and some food, and takes off up the chimney...WHOOSH!! He really does ... more
Another of our well read favourites, and having first been published in 1983, it has been read to all 3 of my children and to many classes of children.
**THE STORY**
Great opening line "Can I go to the moon?" asked Baby Bear. We like this because it is the kind of question children can ask when employing bath or bed delaying tactics and are looking out of their bedroom window.
Mrs Bear soon puts a stop to these musings because she tells Baby Bear that he needs a bath first (typical mummy style) and that he would need a rocket.
The bath appears to be forgotten, and baby Bear finds a rocket under the stairs, which is a cardboard box, he finds a space helmet in the shape of a collander, and space boots, which are his wellingtons.
He packs all the things he needs for a trip to the moon- his teddy and some food, and takes off up the chimney...WHOOSH!! He really does fly up through the chimney and passes an owl who admires his rather smart rocket and joins Baby Bear on his journey.
they wave to people on an aeroplane, and after flying higher and higher and passing millions of stars, they land on the moon. How do they find the moon? After eating the food, they realise that there is nobody else there and that it is all a bit boring. Baby Bear decides that they should go back because his bath will be ready, so they fly down and down. Owl flies out of the rocket and then the rain starts, drippinmg through Baby Bear's helmet, and making him look thoroughly miserable, hunched up in his bax. Little miss wonders how the box doesn't get soggy and collapse, but that's not part of the story!
He eventually flies down through the chimney and lands on the floor with a BUMP! There is no soot on the carpet but Mrs Bear comments on the state of Baby Bear and states that he looks as though he has been up the chimney.
As he is being bathed, Baby Bear tells her that he has been up the chimney and that he visited the moon.
IOn true mummy fashion, she comments on him and his stories "whatever next?"
We know differently, because we saw him on the moon.
**THE ILLUSTRATIONS**
On each double spread, the writing is on the left hand side, leaving a full page to the left for the picture (this changes only once).
Where the text is, the background is white until the part of the story where Baby Bear leaves the house to go to the moon. Then the background becaomes black and the writing white, which gives a much better feeling of it being night time.
The illustrations are bright and cheerful and baby Bear looks jolly in his bright red dungarees and yellow wellingtons. The contrast between the dark possibly cold outside of the house is made obvious by the fact that the inside of the house looks really warm and cosy with lots of muted orange and yellow colours.
Because the facial expressions are obvious, children can talk about how the characters feel- whan Baby Bear is miserable, he really does look miserable.
**OTHER BITS OF INFORMATION**
My copy of the book is published by Macmillan Children's Books, 1983, ISBN 0-333-40438-6.
It can be bought from amazon, with prices starting from 99p for used and £4.99 for a new copy.
**OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR**
Jill Murphy has written and illustrated some great children's books, including:
Peace At Last All In One Piece The Worst Witch On The way Home Last Noo-Noo
**VERDICT**
As I said at the beginning, this is one of our favourites, along with some of the other Jill Murphy books.
The story and illustrations really appeal to children's imaginations, and I think the fact that Baby Bear shows real initiative in his role play, encourages children to do the same.
Whilst i think it's strange that Mrs bear talks about a bath and then disappears merely highlights the age I am. Children don't find it strange that Baby Bear is then allowed to go to the cupboard under the stairs to find his rocket. All of this time, though I am thinking the thought "where is Mrs Bear-it's bathtime".
Children also love the fact that he whooshes out of the chimney and again find this the most natural thing in the world to do. They don't doubt for one moment that he will go to the moon, and little miss enjoys the bit at the end when he is talking to his mum about his trip to the moon. She doesn't believe him, and little miss feels delighted that she knows something his mum doesn't know, because he HAS been to the moon.
I would read this story to children from an age when they enjoy a story and can understand the plot (such as it is). there is quite alot of writing on each page, but in my experience, children as young as 3 years old enjoy the story and can talk about what is happening and what they would do on the moon.
Lots of ways to encourage children to use their imaginations- where would they go? What would they take? Who would they take? How would they feel? The list is endless.
Lovely bedtime story, and one which I would recommend.
Advantages: Simple Story, Great Illustrations, Disadvantages: Children don't want it to stop.
...for him. Whatever Next introduces us to the Bear family again. Baby Bear is peering out of the window out into the dark night and asks to go to the moon. His mother says no because it is Bathtime. Does that deter Baby Bear? Of course not, he is a little bear who loves adventure. He finds himself a space rocket, then a hat and space boots and he heads off up the chimney in search of a trip to the moon. He goes and come back having had a bit of an ... ...to have a bath too.
The story is simple and easy to understand. Murray tends to have a short attention span at the moment, but for this book he will sit and also take part. Often when I know I am going to read this book, I get out a box a colander and wellie boots just like Baby Bear so that the children can "find" these things and pretend to be like baby bear. The book can easily be used as role play with lots of fun going on. Murray loves following ...
Groovee 25.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Whatever Next! - Jill Murphy
Advantages: Great blend of writing and picture. Disadvantages: Let's read it again, Mummy!
Our copy of Jill Murphy's 'Whatever Next' sits with a few score other books on the bookcase in Megan and Edward's bedroom, or more often on the floor!
The book appears dog-eared. The corners are curled upwards, and starting to come apart. There are a few folds where there shouldn't be. Unlike some of the more pristeen offerings that stay safely on the bookshelves, this one has all the marks of a children's favourite which has been read time and ... ...I was somewhat disappointed to discover that Jill Murphy and that other Jill Murphy are not one and the same person. Because from what I've read, I really believed that they could be. Nevertheless, them that's called Jill Murphy sure do come up with refreshing and captivating writing full of originality and the odd twist.
Perhaps the best feature of 'Whatever Next' is the interweaving of the written word and illustration, so that both forms are ...
wilfredcat 12.07.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Whatever Next! - Jill Murphy
Advantages: Great Story, Great Illustrations, Jill Murphy Disadvantages: None
...reply "You and your stories, whatever next?"
Our copy of this book is softback and measures 10x8 inches. Published in 1995 by Macmillan Children's Books. Cover price £4.99
I bought this book in WH Smith but it is widely available and was even featured on BBC's Tweenies.
ISBN 0 333 63622
Highly recommended to all children under 6. ...
Plastic-Lounge 23.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Whatever Next! - Jill Murphy
Advantages: Nice story and Illustrations Disadvantages: None
...saying 'You and your stories. Whatever next?'
~Illustrations~
Jill Murphy also dose the well drawn illustrations, the drawings are both colourful and detailed, from the warmth and light of the Bears house to the beautiful night sky. The drawings also seem to be full of different objects and people and children seem to really enjoy the drawings.
~Author~
Born and brought up in London & she has been writing stories from an early age. She left school ... ...school and Croydon art school, and it was less than 2 years later that she had finished her book 'The Worst Witch' but publishers kept turning it down for many years until it finally got published.
Jill Murphy is a talented writer who has received a number of awards including: Kate Greenaway medal, for her first picture book Peace at last, plus A piece of cake & 5 minutes peace both received Best babies book and were short listed for best children's ...
Joe_D_L 25.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Whatever Next! - Jill Murphy
Would you read it again?
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Advantages: Superb story for children, Beautiful illustrations, great bedtime story Disadvantages: None
to what can be done with this story.
This is a beautifully illustrated book too with wonderful black and white drawings and full colour pictures, the children will love to tell the story before they can even read!
This book was commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and the author has won many prizes for her children's books and illustrations.
Also by JillMurphy
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Worst Witch.
WhateverNext!
On the Way Home.
A Quiet Night In.
The Last Noo- Noo.
Paperback
RRP £4.99
Amazon £4.99 (used and new from £1.75)
Ebay Auctions from 99p (new)
ISBN 0-333-63198-6
First published in 1980 by Macmillan Children's books
This revised edition published 1995
I recommend this book to anyone who has small children, or works with children.
Suitable from birth till about 6yrs old.
My own daughter is learning ...
Advantages: Brilliant Warm Illustrations & Fun Text Disadvantages: None
falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow, unfortunately for Mr Bear she snores loudly too!
This story takes you through all the problems Mr Bear encounters trying to get to sleep. Such as the ticking of the living room clock TICK TOCK, the leaky kitchen tap DRIP DRIP etc etc...with his saying "Oh NO, I can't stand THIS!"
When he finally returns to bed and Mrs Bear has stopped snoring he sighs "Peace at Last" that is until the alarm clock starts ringing to start another day! He is brought a nice cup of tea by Mrs Bear though!
We have the miniature board book edition with a cover price of £3.99. It is available in all bookshops and with internet retailers such as Amazon too.
I love JillMurphy'd books, we also have 5 Minutes Peace, The Last Noo-Noo and WhateverNext in our collection.
Thoroughly recommended to all ...
Advantages: Short ,entertaining ,lovely pictures! Disadvantages: None .
What's this then? Could it be true? Surely not?
Have we a moonlighter in our midst?
The one and only "JillMurphy "of Ciao fame writing childrens books?
No, probably not, unless you want to come on down and claim your brilliance further!
JillMurphy has indeed, written many titles including
The Last Noo Noo
The Worst Witch
Five Minutes Peace
WhateverNext
A Quiet Night In
All in One Piece
On the Way Home
Peace At last.
So here is a bit about Peace at Last.
****************************************************
One day I was wandering around a boot sale, just a little while back looking for books for my new offspring " Jensen".
When I stumbled upon this lovely gem.
Peace At Last! By JillMurphy.
********************************
At first glance, it has a chocolate brown border with a gorgeous illustration of two ...
The moon and back before bathtime? Whatever next! Join Baby Bear as he finds a rocket, makes friends with an owl and has a picnic on the moon! A beautiful story of innocence and imagination, full of Jill Murphy's characteristic warmth and humour, this is the second Bear family adventure following the bestselling "Peace at Last".
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