Making Music (Part 2) - A Teddy Bear Picnic!

Our musical week continues with a classic...

The Book - Teddy Bears' Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy



Can you believe my sisters and I were deprived this treasure as children? Written in 1907, I didn't encounter the song/book until a few years ago at a friend's birthday party.

If you go down in the woods today you're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down in the woods today you'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.

In this edition, Alexandra Day (of Good Dog, Carl fame) brings the story to life with charming full-color illustrations of frolicking little teddy bears. My favorite picture shows little bear-heads peeking from bushes and around trees as they try to sneak to the picnic. At the end of the day a troop of sleepy teddy bears head home to bed.

The book is actually a song, and therefore meant to be sung. If (like me) you are completely unfamiliar with the tune, YouTube comes to the rescue. There is a totally cheesy but useful video here that will teach you the melody.

The Activity - A Teddy Bear Picnic, of course!

My sister is in town this week, so we invited her two boys and their teddy bears to join us for our very own teddy bear picnic.


The cousins dined on teddy bear shaped PB&J sandwiches, teddy grahams, carrots, and grapes. (The teddy bears said they were already stuffed and declined to eat.)


One cousin received a bologna and cheese alternative. Glutin-free and just as cute!


I read the story while they munched and afterward my sister and I enjoyed the blue skies and fresh breeze while the kids ran around with their teddy bears. What a lovely way to celebrate the end of summer!