Dressing Up For Our ‘Beary’ Favourite Stories

My daughter currently enjoys role-playing  fairy tales; Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Little Red Riding Hood are particular favourites. Of course Mum is involved in the role play and we will act out each of these stories numerous times throughout the day.

I was looking to create a simple mask with her that would invite her to role-play a wider variety of stories.  Bears, rabbits and foxes dominate the stories in our home so the choice of mask really wasn’t too difficult.

We also made these masks at one of our Cubbyhouse Tales session and they really were an absolute hit, helping the children to bring story book bears to life.

How fantastic do these bears look?

Do you want to make one too? They are really quite simple but effective.

You Will Need:

• A black and white mask template (We printed ours from Animal Jr.)

• Child friendly glue

• Craft fur (available at stores such as Spotlight)

• Cotton balls

• Button

• String/elastic

Our approach:

1. We found and printed a bear mask template from Animal Jnr. (or you could draw your own)
2. Cut the template (I did this for the children as I was working with toddlers)
3. I also prepared the craft fur by cutting it into small squares, making it easier for the children to manipulate
4. The children then covered the mask with fur by gluing the small squares to the template

5. We added cotton balls and a button for extra decoration to his nose and mouth

6. Add the elastic and you have yourself a very dashing bear.

The mask is perfect to wear while reading or role-playing our ‘beary’ favourite books:

• We’re Going on a Beat Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

• The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland

• The Very Itchy Bear by Nick Bland

• I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

• Kisses for Daddy by Frances Watts and David Legge

• Don’t Worry Douglas by David Melling

• Me and My Mum by Alison Ritchie and Alison Edgson

• Me and My Dad by Alison Ritchie and Alison Edgson

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears

• Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod and Freya Blackwood

• No Bears by Meg McKinley and Leila Rudge

• Paddington Bear by Michael Bond

• A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman

• Teddy and the Blue Butterfly by Gerry Lane

• The Berenstain Bears by Stan, Jan and Mike Berenstain

• Teddy Bear’s Picnic, by Jimmy Kennedy and by Bruce Whatley

Here are some other ‘bear’ books we haven’t read yet, and some that were suggested by My Little Bookcase readers on Facebook:

• Otto the Book Bear, by Katie Cleminson

• The Other Bears by Michael Thompson

• Neighbour Bear-Suzie Auzary-Luton & Anne Velghe

• Brave Bitsy and Bear by Angela McAllister and Tiphanie Beeke

• Anything for You by John Wallace

• Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough

• It’s The Bear by Jez Alborough

• Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

• Bear’s Birthday by Stella Blackstone

• Little Bear Books by Else Minarik

The Masks could also be used for singing these ‘beary’ fun songs:

• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

• I know a Hairy Bear

• Teddy Bear’s Picnic