by Jared Garrett

Created on: March 26, 2009   Last Updated: September 19, 2009

"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" is more than just a visual masterpiece from Eric Carle. Bill Martin Jr. penned the text of this very simple book. What not enough people know is that Bill Martin Jr. died in 2004, but by then he was considered one of the greatest writers of children's books of all time.

By the time of his death, Bill Martin Jr. had been writing kids' books for nearly sixty years. Yes, that's 60 years! His first book, "The Little Squeegy Bug: The Story of the Firefly" was published in 1945. His books have been featured in libraries the world over, since they have been published in several languages. Classics by Bill Martin Jr. populate shelves in homes across the globe.

Have you heard of "Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom"? How about "Barn Dance"? These beloved stories are products of the wonderful Bill Martin Jr.

Although "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" is forty years old, it is still a popular book. In fact, it is at the top of Publisher's Weekly Bestseller list! Why all the hype? Why the sudden fame?

It might have something to do with the First Lady, Michelle Obama. She read this beloved classic to a group of children at Mary's Center in Washington, D.C.

With all of that being said, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" has good reason to be beloved. While there is no rhyme, there is certainly rhythm to the responses to the question every other page asks. "I see a red bird looking at me." "I see a blue horse looking at me."

The sequence as we follow one colorful animal's perspective to another is entertaining and captivating, obviously made more so by Eric Carle's distinctive illustrations. With vivid colors and interesting shapes making up the bodies of the animals we are looking at, children's imaginations are lit up and activated.

Sure, who has ever seen a blue horse? And if you look at the components of each shape for an extra second, you begin to take the animal apart. These interesting facets of the illustrations help keep children engaged in the book.

The pay-off at the end of the book is a neat twist, making chilren stop and think, then usually giggle or make a comment. How interesting it is to have been able to see what animals are looking at until we come to a group of kids staring at a goldfish!

With Bill Martin Jr's simple yet engaging language and Eric Carle's colorful and sometimes geometric animals, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" is often the book kids take to their parents. And parents have trouble getting tired of this visually arresting book. All in all, it is no wonder this book is seeing solid sales and an even greater resurgence of interest.

If your kids haven't read it, you should check it out from your local library.

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