The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings [Paperback]

Stan Berenstain (Author), Jan Berenstain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 1995 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: First Time Books(R)

Illustrated in full color. Mama Bear is tired of hearing how many Bearbie dolls Lizzy Bruin has and how many Game Bear video games Cousin Freddy just got. During a thunderstorm, Mama gets her cubs to realize that love and a good home are much more valuable than material possessions.  

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Illustrated in full color. Mama Bear is tired of hearing how many Bearbie dolls Lizzy Bruin has and how many Game Bear video games Cousin Freddy just got. During a thunderstorm, Mama gets her cubs to realize that love and a good home are much more valuable than material possessions.

About the Author

Stan and Jan Berenstain were both born in 1923 in Philadelphia.  They didn't know each other as children, but met later at school, at the Philadelphia College of Art.  They liked each other right away, and found out that the both enjoyed the same kinds of books, plays, music and art.  During World War II, Stan was a medical assistant in the Army, and Jan worked in an airplane factory.  When the war was over, they got married and began to work together as artists and writers, primarily drawing cartoons for popular magazines.  After having their two sons Leo and Michael, the Berenstains decided to write some funny children's books that their children and other children could read and enjoy.  Their first published children's book was called The Big Honey Hunt .  It was about a family of bears, who later became known as the "Berenstain Bears".  

Over 50 children's books later, Stan and Jan still plan all of their books together -- both write the stories, and both write the pictures.  They live outside of Philadelphia in the country.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (October 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067987707X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679877073
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Berenstain, Stan
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Berenstain, Jan
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Popular Characters > Book Characters > Berenstain Bears

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book, like all the other Berenstain B. books, is GREAT!, January 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings (Paperback)

Although I am already 10, I think that the Berenstain Bear Books are very good and fun to read. Also, they have a great value or moral to the story. The book reminds me of the problems and solutions to daily life. It is ann extremely good book. In the Berenstain Bears count their blessings, Sister and Brother Bear learn not to be selfish.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings, December 7, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings (Paperback)

This book just happens to be one of the many books in the Berenstain Bears collection. Each book is writen in which to teach children. This book teaches children that they should appreciate what they have, and that they're not less fortunate like many others. This book, along with the rest of the Berenstain collection is marvelous. The authors, Stan and Jan Berenstain, put every responsibility, and lesson each parent wants their child to know, into fun and wonderful stories.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Book - a review of "The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings", February 17, 2006

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings (First Time Books(R)) (Library Binding)

I am totally baffled as to why this Berenstain series is called "First Time Books". Nothing could be further from the truth. The vocabulary is sophisticated (words like 'Killer Koyote', 'Avenger', 'Equestrienne') and there are way too many words per page to make this appropriate even for a first grader. [In fact, at least one of the kid's reviews here was written by a 10 year old!]

Note: Take a look at the page offered in Amazon's "Search inside this book" feature to judge for yourself.

And while I like the moral of this book, I find that it suffers from a reversal of heart at the end. In this case, after having made the point (very well I thought) that children *should* be thankful for what they have; the story suddenly reverses course and has Mama and Papa caving in and planning to buy the desired toys anyway. What gives?

To me this counters the good message of being thankful, with the supposition that if they `just wait' children will eventually get what they desire.

from the book:

So while Papa set the table and Mama started supper,
Sister went upstairs to play with her Bearbie doll, and
Brother tried to reach the next level on one of his video
games.

"You know, my dear," said Papa. "There are birthdays and
Christmas coming. Do you have any ideas for the cubs?"

"I thought perhaps a Just Married Bearbie for Sister and
a couple of video games for Brother might be nice," Mama
said. "What do you think?"

"I think we should count our blessings too," said Papa.

I don't know what other children make of this mixed message, but mine were happy that the cubs were going to get what they wanted.

Four Stars. [B-] The book starts off very well. It *does* convey the message that we should be thankful for what we have and not want new things all the time just because our friends get/have them. But in my opinion, you will have to have a discussion about the ending to make sure that message sticks.