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Bear Goes Shopping: A Guessing-game Story
The reader is asked to guess, by looking at a variety of pictures, what Bear will buy on his shopping trips. Foldout pages reveal the correct answers.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
16 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1986
10 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Ziefert
684 books56 followersHarriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.
For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.
"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.
For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.
"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2026
On the left page, the child is asked to choose which of 3 or 4 items shown answers the question posed. The right page is folded over and the child must lift the flap to find the answer underneath.
The child must select which item Bear will purchase in a particular store. Adorable illustrations.
The watercolor illustrations are by Arnold Lobel. The rotund little bear and the cheerful scenes will amuse small children as they work their way through the book, which is suitable for ages 1-3.
The child must select which item Bear will purchase in a particular store. Adorable illustrations.
The watercolor illustrations are by Arnold Lobel. The rotund little bear and the cheerful scenes will amuse small children as they work their way through the book, which is suitable for ages 1-3.
May 22, 2009
the "Bear" stories by Harriet Ziefert have been a big hit with Ella. I think she like opening up the flaps after she has "guessed" what Bear is going to do/buy, etc. We've checked them out from the library, but I may need to buy these. She asked where the other bear books went when we were reading this one and asked me to get it back from the library.
April 25, 2012
I really enjoyed these series of books by Harriet Ziefert. :)
May 24, 2018
As with the other books in the series, the team of Ziefert and Lobel brings another guessing game book but this time perfect for shopping themes and community story times. Classic!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews