The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies [Paperback]

Stan Berenstain (Author), Jan Berenstain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 1988 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Brother and Sister Bear want everything in sight, and they throw tantrums when they don't get what they want. Wisely Mama and Papa deal with this childhood malady by teaching the cubs about the family budget and the importance of appreciating all that they have already.  

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Brother and Sister Bear want everything in sight, and they throw tantrums when they don't get what they want. Wisely Mama and Papa deal with this childhood malady by teaching the cubs about the family budget and the importance of appreciating all that they have already.  


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 22, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394805666
• ISBN-13: 978-0394805665
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Social Skills
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Berenstain, Stan
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Berenstain, Jan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent math and budget book for all kids!, December 28, 2005

By 

c2 (Dublin, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (Paperback)

Again, Brother and Sister are in a fix and this time, they've got the galloping greedy gimmies. They want everything is sight when they go to the store and throw tantrums whenever mama and papa protest. One thing particularly interesting here is at one point, mama says no and then papa interrupts her and give the cubs what they were whining for. He just taught them to not pay any attention to their mother and that they can have anything they want or do what they please. How many adults can see themselves in that picture? However, mama is patient and tells papa that they are to blame for the cubs' greedy behavior and he finally sees the error of his ways. When grandma and grandpa come over, they offer a plan which is to have the cubs decide what they want before going to the store. I heartily disagree with the other reviewers which indicate that the child will get something each time they go to the store. That's not what they're teaching here in this book at all. What the Berenstain's are saying is to get the kids to think about what they actually need and buy that if they are allowed an item and nothing else. Not only does this get rid of the gimmies, but it also teaches them how to manage their money and not just grab everything they see off the shelf. In our house, we take it a step further and look for the best price on the item and if it is too expensive, we leave that store without the item and go to another one that is close by and purchase the item if we are going there anyway. Great lesson plan in spending here in this book, don't pass it by!

As a marketing manager, I found this book to be stellar in teaching management for kids. If there's no boundaries set in even the smallest things like the grocery store, then there will be mayhem on a much larger scale as well. It's up to the parents to instill the rules beforehand and this book definitely comes up with a fair plan. We don't have any trouble with the gimmies in this house after reading, and reading, and reading.... this book. It solves the problem instantly and has a very lasting effect.

Highly recommend!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stops those meltdowns cold!, January 21, 2002

By 

Leslie K. Eckard (Westminster, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (Paperback)

I would like to express my gratitude to the Berenstains for giving me the perfect antidote to my children's rampant greediness in stores. When my oldest daughter was three she began to be very demanding in stores. If I gave in I felt like a wimp and if I didn't she would disolve into tears (or worse). One day I picked up this book and it taught us both some valuable lessons. I learned to let her know beforehand if she can pick out a little something, and she learned just how unattractive tantrums look to outsiders and why it is wrong to demand everything in sight. Now if she starts to get whiney in a store I just tell her in a nice way to watch out--she's getting the gimmies, and she knows exactly what I mean. It sounds a lot kinder, too, than, "You're a greedy brat." I look forward to reading it to her younger sister who is just about to enter that stage!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Get The Gimmies, November 1, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (Paperback)

Does your child want everything in sight and cries and throws a fit if he or she doesn't get what they want? If so, this is the book for you to read to your child. It also teaches you, the adult, a way to take care of the "galloping gimmies."
It all starts when Sister bear and Brother bear go to the store with their parents. Sister and Brother want everything in sight and throw fits. This is so embarrassing to mama and papa bear so they kept buying things when their cubs throw fits. Big mistake! Now Brother and Sister were spoiled brats and Mama and Papa had to think of a way to solve this problem. That's when Granny and Gramps come over and tell a story about Papa bear when he was younger. Turns out he had the Gimmes too and they had figured out a way to solve it.
I think this story is great for youngsters and adults. It teaches children how to compromise with their parents and teaches the parents ways to stop their children from wanting everything and throwing fits. It also is full of fun just like all books by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Also if your looking for other books like this one, that teaches valuable lessons, you might want to check out some of the other books by these two marvelous writers.