I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the Australian version of this car advertisement on television a couple of weeks ago. It uses (I wonder if they asked for permission) the famous children's book We're going on a Bear hunt as the sound track.
About the ad: A couple notices something moving in the bushes and wonder if it's Bear. The couple and their friends take off in their Grand Cherokee SUVs to go find Bear. As "We're Going On a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen plays in the background, the vehicles traverse rivers and rocky trails. Finally, they spot Bear. Bear, it turns out, is their chocolate-coloured Newfoundland dog. (in the US version)
The end of the Australian advertisement is different and it infuriated me - the bear at the end is not a furry dog - is a koala! Koalas are not bears.
The voice over from the young child says: "Look at Bear!" and we see the image in their rear view mirror.
- Did they ask permission?
- Will Michael Rosen receive a royalty fee?
- Did they ask Michael Rosen if they could change the text? "We're going to see a big one" the real text says "We're going to catch a big one".
- Children do not buy cars - why did they choose this song/text?
- This car commerical comes from the US and yet this is an iconic British book - confusing? And it has been "tweaked" for an Australian audience - again confusing?
- This book was first published in 1989 I wonder how it came to the attention of the advertising agency - perhaps someone has been reading this book to their young child - I do hope so.
- If you want to share some books about koalas with your students take a look at this post by my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything.
We're going on a Bear Hunt won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 1989. In 1989 it was an Honour Book in the Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards. The book also won the School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and it was highly commended for the 1989 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Here is my popup version of this famous book. Sadly it is out of print.
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