Michael Rosen’s “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” reveals powerful lessons about resilience, job hunting, and storytelling’s role in shaping our lives.
When I was little, my Mum would read me stories. Not just any stories – she’s an early years specialist, she is specific and targeted, and she knows how to bring a children’s book to life. She doesn’t just read them; she performs them. Our house was filled with what I now realise were some of the best children’s literature that has been written. My Mum doesn’t just know what makes them great – she understands why. She understands why the words matter, why the rhythm and repetition work, and why these stories deserve every ounce of energy when read aloud to a child.
Michael Rosen’s “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” was one such book. As a child, it was all about the actions for me. Splish-splashing through rivers, squelch-squelching through mud, and tiptoeing into the bear’s cave were the highlights of the reading. Like most kids, I eventually grew out of it. Then, years later, I became a parent.
When my kids were young, I remembered how much my Mum loved that book and the care she put into reading it, so I followed her lead. I gave it energy. I did the actions (realising quickly how much it takes to find that energy as a tired parent). They enjoyed it, joining in with smiles and laughter. But I didn’t fully understand why the story mattered so much.
A Simple Story with Hidden Depths
Recently, I resigned from a company that wasn’t the right match for me. It was the right decision, but it left me searching for my next step sooner than expected. I’m confident in my skills and know there’s a job out there that will feel purposeful and rewarding in a company that will fit me well. The timing isn’t perfect, and I’m juggling other responsibilities, but that’s life.
As the games industry undergoes a period of readjustment, I know I’m not alone. Individuals and the exceptional projects they create are also navigating the same challenges and transformations.
“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” returned to me somewhere along this journey. It hit me, embarrassingly late, just how profound this “simple” children’s story really is.
Michael Rosen didn’t just write a book about adventure. He wrote a story about resilience, adaptability, the impermanence of mistakes, and the importance of a safe space to regroup. It’s a lesson wrapped in repetition and rhythm, so accessible that generations of children act it out without realising they’re learning it.
A Bear Hunt for Everyone
Job hunting is much like a bear hunt—whether you’re the seeker or the recruiter, it’s a trek full of highs, lows, and swishy-swashy moments.
For job seekers, the journey involves wading through endless job boards, trudging through sticky interviews, and braving the cold splash of rejections. Then, when you think you’re done, the perfect role appears, and suddenly the real adventure begins.
For recruiters, it’s no different. They sift through countless CVs, navigate the muddy waters of interviews, and battle the uncertainty of candidates ghosting or expectations misaligning. Finding “the one” can feel like spotting a bear in a dark forest—rare and a little nerve-wracking.
The good news is the job market is ripe for adventure. The games industry itself is bursting with opportunities, and for those willing to venture further afield, sectors tangential to games are crying out for the hard-fought skills this industry honed so well as it matures. Whether hunting in familiar forests or exploring new terrain, the right opportunity is out there—you’ve just got to keep going.
Learning from the Best
I am grateful for Michael Rosen and so many other writers with such insight—for what they’ve done for me, my kids, and millions of others. Great children’s authors do more than entertain—they prepare us for life’s challenges long before we understand them.
But it’s not just the authors. It’s the educators like my Mum who put in the time and care to make those lessons stick before we even realise we’re learning them.
When everything we are is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, it’s worth telling ourselves good ones. Sometimes, that story is as simple as “We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re not scared”.
For this post, instead of the best practice “call to action”, I just want to say thanks, Mum.
