Michael Rosen's words and Helen Oxenbury's illustrations combine in We're Going on a Bear Hunt to make a classic story, one that in this house we would end up reading every night, if I didn't occasionally put my foot down. I've seen Rosen himself reading it aloud – he almost sings it, and gets through it in around 4min 30sec. If I need to, I can read our copy pretty damn quick as well – I'd say under five minutes too, on a night when overtiredness meltdown is looming. So I was curious to see how the production based on the book was going to stretch to 55 minutes.

It turns out with plenty of songs and props and audience participation. Aimed at children over three, it's recently arrived in the West End for the summer; we went along with our nearly three-year-old on Saturday, and she loved it.

At one point, as the river was crossed ("We can't go over it, we can't go under it, oh no! we've got to go through it"), we were sprayed with water pistols. Later, during the snowstorm ("Hoooo wooo! Hoooo woooo!"), snow fell from the ceiling of the Lyric theatre, while messing around with mud led to shrieks of glee from most of the children in our vicinity. And getting the entire theatre roaring the picture book's refrain – "We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day! We're not scared" – was a sight to behold.

The talented musician playing the family dog kept things upbeat and flowing with sound effects and songs, and the characters on their bear hunt – dad, daughter, son, baby – were as energetic and exuberant as they needed to be to hold the attention of a theatre full of children.

But, wisely I think, the play doesn't stick exactly to the book. There's one less child on the stage, and Oxenbury's assertion that the oldest character in the book is the older brother, rather than the father, is sensibly ignored. I was surprised to learn that's what she intended: "Everyone thinks the eldest one is the father; in fact he's the older brother. I modelled them on my own children. I didn't want adults around because they tend to stilt the imagination." And although I would have liked to have seen the bear again, at the end of the production, as you do in the book, sadly shuffling back to his cave, this bear was a much jollier version, and probably judiciously so.

It's an odd experience, going to the theatre with a small child: there are occasional moments of humour for the adults in this adaptation, but that's not what it's about. I wasn't sure our daughter would last the hour, but she was transfixed throughout, and we have been talking about it ever since. I just asked her, and she tells me she "liked the bear best but I think I really liked the snowstorm best".

Well then. I think another theatre trip might be in order. I've no idea where to go next, to be honest, and would love some advice. What are the shows for kids you and yours have loved, and where next for a nearly three-year-old?