Brown Bear, Brown Bear, We See You’re Turning 50!

A family favorite across generations, Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle's classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is celebrating its 50th year delighting readers. The bright, colorful illustrations and rhythmic repetition of the text draw in young listeners, often followed by refrains of "Read it again!"

Brown Bear, Brown Bear is available in multiple formats.

Originally published in 1967, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was Carle's first time illustrating a children's picture book, and it started a new career for him. Hear the illustrator explain how it all came about in this video, which also includes him reading the book aloud:

After the creators found success with their first collaboration, they joined forces to add several other titles to the Bear family of books. The bouncy, familiar question-and-answer format of Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? invites children to make the sounds of zoo animals along with the zookeeper. This is a wonderful way for caregivers and children to interact while reading together. Having young children make animal sounds is a great way to build their early literacy skills too.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear is available in multiple formats.

The next addition to the Bear titles was Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Featuring an array of endangered animals soaring, charging, swinging and more, it will inspire the next generation of readers to be environmentally aware.

Panda Bear, Panda Bear is available in multiple formats.

The final addition to the family, Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?, follows Baby Bear on a trek past a variety of North American animals, from a mountain goat to a rattlesnake, until Baby Bear and Mama Bear see each other again. The well-known rhythm of the late Bill Martin's language and Eric Carle's lively art naturally draw in little listeners who already love the other Bear books.

Baby Bear, Baby Bear is available in multiple formats.