Customer Reviews

The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question, Mama and Papa Bear attempt to answer the "big question." When Sister Bear asks, "What's God?" Papa Bear launches into a long, boring lecture about the universe; Mama tries to answer the question by showing Sister that God made everything, like clouds and trees and worms. But, when Sister continues to ask, "What about earthquakes, floods, fires, and tornadoes?" Mama is at a loss on how to respond.

So, she takes her family to the chapel in the woods where they attend a Sunday morning service (although, according to the storyline, they are not accustomed to doing so). The minister, instead of delivering a sermon that particular morning, allows members of the congregation to speak. Farmer Ben says, "I feel thankful to God for giving us such a beautiful land in which to live." Grizzly Gran then says, "I feel thankful to God for two wonderful cubs." Mama Bear takes a turn by saying, ". . . I'm glad we came this morning. It helps me think things through."

The story ends after the service, on the walk home, when Sister Bear asks, "Did God make questions?" Papa answers by saying, "Yes, sister, mostly questions."

The illustrations in the book are bright, colorful, whimsical pictures of the Berenstain Bear family and friends. Most illustrations cover a single page, but there are a few double-page spreads, as well as two pages that contain several small cameo-like illustrations on each page.

What I Like: This is not the usual type of Berenstain Bear book. They tend to stick to subjects that deal with family and personal values, like being honest, taking turns, and saying you're sorry. So, I was glad to see them write a book with a Christian perspective.

What I Dislike: But, having said that, I must also say I was disappointed with the way they tackled the subject. No one in the book really answers the question, "What's God?" When Mama is at a loss to explain things to Sister, she takes her to church, but she doesn't even ask the minister for help. Then, at the end of the story, where Papa says God made mostly questions, the implication is, of course, that we have plenty of questions about things but no answers. There is no mention of any Biblical reference for answers to any of Sister's questions.

Overall Rating: Okay.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review - 3 stars

This Book is one of my favorites out of the Berestain Bear Collection. The book deals with the question how did we come to be, who created us ? The writers give their view by taking the family to church and show what they learn. This book is a rare collection and it gives me great pleasure to know that my kids can read a book like this. Coming from a strong Christain home I can say this book hits a spot on our family book case.

I find it amusing that this book has gotten one star and five stars from people who identify as Christians. On one hand, the Berenstain bears go to "church," which Christian readers approve of, OTOH, there is no mention of Jesus or the Bible.

Sister asks the Big Question of Mama, which is "What is God?" Mama answers telling her that God is the creator of everything. Then Sister asks if God created bad things like stomach aches, hurricanes and germs that make people sick and Mama has no easy answer. Mama and Sister see the grandparent bears "going to Sunday meeting" in their Sunday meeting clothes. They join them. The preacher tells the assembled that today, the congregation is going to be the "preachers" and they should stand up when they have something that they want to say.

As a Quaker, I'm delighted to read this book to my kids since that's pretty much the experience of going to an unprogrammed Quaker meeting. The building that the bears go to has no cross visible, though it is obviously a church with stained glass windows. There are no obvious symbols of Christianity present. The bears get up and speak about their gratitude to God and their love for one another. The book isn't intended as a polemic to give a catechistic definition of God. It asks children to consider one of the deepest questions of all, what is God and if God created everything, why is there suffering? There is no doctrinaire answer, the book is a jumping off point for discussion between parent and child. Each person must answer the Big Question for him/herself and it would be absurd that this little paperback book of less than 20 pages is expected to give any reader definitive answers. That's the job of parents, not Jan and Stan Berenstain.

I am Christian and was greatly looking forward to getting this book for my daughter. When it arrived and I read it I was severely disapointed because it never answered the big question. The closest that it got was that God made everything. That was it. So, if your wanting to get this book to actually help answer that question for your children I wouldn't recomend it because it doesn't answer it.

This book is another hit to add with the Berenstain Bear Collection. I thank God that there are still books out there that still teach kids a lesson and entertains them at the same time. These books are truley a good way to get your kids motivatived to read, instead of watching TV. So I give this book and all the other Berenstain Bear books 5 Stars.

This is not necessarily a Christian book, don't expect that- but also realize that the Bears are americans, which, are still typically a version of Christian. (though, this book seems more Quaker, than anything)

It is a children's book intended to lead kids into thought on personal spiritual formation. It is to get them thinking.

This is not a book of answers, that is left to the reader to come up with.

Kids get thrown too many answers all the time with out forming enough questions. Churches are typically not good at teaching children (or adults for that matter) to think. Thus the need for such a book as this.

This book deals with the subject of religion in a way that is thoughtful and constructive. It is not overly aggressive or obnoxious in preaching religion but it does provide a useful context for discussing religious issues with kids. Its title is "The Big Question"--the book is about questions and how we deal with them. I think it is a nice addition to the Berenstain Bears library and it's interesting to see the authors trying to deal with more complex subjects like this--not an easy task. I think they handled it very well.

I grew up with the Berenstain Bears, reading them and having them read to me both as a connection with the outside world and a symbol of morality. While I enjoyed their handling of bullying, Racism, and School Problems, I find myself not that satisfied with this interpretation of 'what is out there'.

I'm a Humanist. Unlike the Richard Dawkinses out there, I don't believe in the eradication of Religion entirely, but in tolerating it as an alternative and mostly good view. Like The Bears themselves and their Grandparents in this book, my less immediate Family were and still are deeply faithful Methodists, and like the bears they were more in favour of using Religion as a connection between different people rather than a seperation between different faiths.

Richard Dawkins and some similarly-minded reviewers on this very page fall into the trap of believing that Religion is only one thing, and in their idea it is a force that makes people kill other people for a holy wars. Yet look into the stories of Buddhism and the traditions of Judeaism, spend one morning in a methodist Church and an afternoon in a Mosque, and you can see that the Average true believer couldn't care less who doesn't worship the way they do - all that matters to them Religion-Wise is Pleasing God, and the biggest rule of all Religions is: 'Do Unto Others as you would have them Do Unto You'.

Thus, I find a few problems with this book. Firstly, when Sister asks Papa, our symbol of the Patriarchal side of the outside world, he begins to give us the alternative, scientific ideas - that the Universe was born in a Big Bang, that stars each have a place, etc. - but this is rudely dismissed as a 'BORING LECTURE'. Mama, the symbolisation of the Kinder, 'Matriarchal' society, immediatley scoops Sister away and explains that it's all part of 'God's Plan' - but in doing so presumes to the Readers that this is solid, unarguable fact.

These are the only objections I have. The parts in the Church are better because they show children the good side of Religion, but it should also be varied as to other religions - Like Professor Actual Factual in 'Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore)' showing us different kinds of Pollution around Bear Country, Mama could have taken the family to other Religious places in town, or even next door to the Panda family, who might be Buddhists.

All I'm saying is that though I deeply respect all of the Berenstain family, it might be wise to revise their introduction to Religion. Children, when books are read to them, are 'Clean Slates' - their ideas are new and only vaguely affected by outside influence. Unlike TV & Gaming machines, a Book can give them an informed opinion of a subject - so we have to be careful not to give them one view, but let them choose from several.

Thanks for reading, and all my Love to the Bear Family.

-A.N.

In this edition to the Berenstain Book series, the Bear Family tackles the big question: "What's God?". It's a question that all children and even many adults ask. Unfortunately, adults often ignore that question or choose to ignore where it leads them. Fortunately, children are still full of wonder and aren't quite so illogical when it comes to such things. I was happy to see that the Bear family helped Sister Bear learn about God by taking her to a place where she was sure to find an answer: church. Children know there is a God and it's good to know that the Berenstains know that, too.

I'm tired of people complaining about how the world is not open to their views. Those people are completely closed to the Christian view. This book is great and it does not shove anything down your throught. I enjoyed it and can't wait to share it.

THANK YOU STAN BERENSTAIN for being open minded.