Customer Reviews

The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

We bought this book along with The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream and The Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game. just before Christmas. I wrote Amazon reviews for those books, so please check them out.

I'm sorry to say this title is not up to par with the best of the Berenstain Bears series (I've listed several of our favorites below).

The story follows both young bears' habit of visiting friends and returning home with a laundry list of "I wants" that drives Mama Bear crazy. However, the book strangely ends with Mama and Papa Bear talking about spoiling their kids with more toys so the parents can "count their blessings."

A powerful rainstorm and subsequent power outage are used to illustrate the blessings of home and family. That's a good start but the book leaves out much. The story doesn't mention anyone less fortunate than the Berenstain Bears family, which leaves a hole in the moral of the story. I had hoped to use the book to launch a discussion with my young sons about counting your blessings, especially during the holidays, as well as to share some of our good fortune with others. Sadly, the book didn't provide much of a springboard.

That said, our sons, ages 6 and 4, enjoy many of the Berenstain Bears books (we own more than 10 titles now) and find it easy to relate to the young bears in the series. I like to mix these stories into our rotation of bedtime books to reinforce good manners and behaviors.

While I recommend the Berenstain books listed below, we've run into a new problem: the characters don't evolve. My sons are asking why brother and sister bear didn't learn from the last book. The good news is that my sons remember the lessons; the bad news is that the Berenstain bears don't.

I also recommend these Berenstain books:

The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Chores

The Berenstain Bears Help Around the House

The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners

The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers

The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV

Sister and Brother Bear gripe and complain that all their friends have new toys and new things. Mamma gets sick of their whining and basically tells them to be grateful for what they DO have instead of what they DON'T.

A storm comes and soon the Bear family finds themselves together and the cubs find out that family and each other is more important than things and being grateful for what they have is wiser than being covetous.

I think that this book was good. i thought that this book was good becauseit was mabey helping poeple count there blessings.I think that you should read this book if you want to read a little kid book.It is a good book.

I purchased this book for my 4 and 6 year old boys. They really like it, they have even stared saying they want to get rid of toys they don't play with (haven't followed through, but it was spoken!) Anyway, I really like this book, with the exception of the ending. During the story, Mama Bear thinks they have way too much stuff and they decide to get rid of things they don't use, or that are broken. At the end, after donating used stuff and time, (by the way it takes palce near Christmas time), they drive past stores decorated for Christmas and then it goes something like this...they felt so good about what they had done that they didn't even notice all the new...(insert allt he thing they just ogt rid of)...except out of the corner of their eyes. I just tried to expalin to my boys that it is alright to look at things, but it doesn't mean we need them.

My daugther has several of the Berenstain Bear books and she loves reading them. They have a positive message for children while keeping their attention. Even though she reads at a higher level, she still loves these books.

The story is good with a great moral. I read to my five year old with him squirming out of his seat. Why? I was defining way too many words for him that he lost interest and was not able to appreciate the story. I say this is appropriate for a starting age of at least 6 or 7, if not greater.

My four year old son has started collecting these books, and it's been a real treasure to read them to him because they bring back memories from my own childhood. He loves the stories just as much as I do. We especially love reading the little poems on the first page of each book! Each book teaches a different lesson. I love using them as examples of what not to do and also as positive reinforcement for my children.