Customer Reviews

The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

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If you want to give your kids a taste of the basic Thanksgiving history, The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Jan and Mike Berenstain is a fun choice.

In this new title, the familiar Berenstain bear family delivers some hand made furniture to some friends on a farm. For payment, the family gives Papa some produce - and a fat turkey called Squanto (named, we learn, after the famous "Native Bear" who helped the Pilgrims plant their corn). Papa's mouth is already watering, imagining the turkey complimenting his Thanksgiving dinner, but Sister bear is horrified. Squanto is much too handsome to eat. Besides, she's "never met her Thanksgiving dinner before." She wants to keep Squanto as a pet, but Papa bear isn't convinced.

Trying to distract Sister's mind, Mama suggests Sister and Brother put on a Thanksgiving play for all the relatives. Mama volunteers to sew costumes if Sister will write the script. This does keep Sister's mind off Squanto, and soon Sister, Brother, and their cousins are putting on a fine Thanksgiving show offering the very basics about the Pilgrims and their desire to worship God freely, the Mayflower, and Squanto.

However, when Mama calls "Dinnertime!", Sister suddenly remembers Squanto. But she's relieved when Papa points out the window at the pen he's made for the family's new pet: the turkey Squanto. A fine salmon is the center of the family's Thanksgiving dinner and when prayers of thanksgiving to God go round, Sister adds, "And I am especially thankful for my wonderful new pet, Squanto to the turkey!" "AMEN!" everyone cries.

The last page of the book offers a few conversation-starting questions and project ideas about giving thanks and the Thanksgiving holiday.

What I Like: My four year old loves the Berenstain bear books, and this title is no exception. It's a fun reminder of the basics of why we celebrate Thanksgiving: to remember an important part of history and to thank God for all he gives us. The Christian content in this book is, in my opinion, just right. It is neither an afterthought, nor does it get in the way of the story or become preachy. I'm also pretty picky about books that show kids upset about eating animals; I want my children to have a what I consider a natural attitude about animals being designed for us to eat. However, I do not find this book provokes my preschooler to question eating meat.

What I Dislike: The questions and projects page could be better, but the story itself is a big hit in my household.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Kristina Seleshanko
Managing Editor
Christian Children's Book Review

I haven't met a Berenstain Bears book that I didn't like, and this makes a nice addition to your collection of kids books. I love the Christian values that are reinforced! Enjoy!

I'm just delighted at these new Berenstain Bears books from Living Lights. This one of course is about Thanksgiving and is full of such wonderful colors, pictures and we all love the Berenstain Bear characters. I like the story also. Sister doesn't want the turkey for Thanksgiving because she wants it as a pet. I can see my daughter doing the same thing. Also brother and sister put on a play for the family who comes for dinner about the pilgrims and how they wanted to be able to worship the way they wanted so they came to America.
I like these books because they are longer, but really hold the attention of children. So if you have a child/grandchild or young friend, this book is just prefect for Thanksgiving. You will be entertained and also learn something about this special holiday. I recommend this for everyone.

Thank you to Zonderkidz for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Great book! Nice quality. Illustrations are so cute. Better than i remember!

This is a grat book to start teaching your kids about giving thanks for what they have.

The history represented in this book is just plain false. The characterization of the "Native" characters is stereotypical at best, and in my opinion dips more than a toe into the "downright racist" pond. The Native characters wear headdresses and say "ME SQUANTO." And on the subject of Squanto...

The Thanksgiving turkey is named Squanto. No, really. Never mind that they don't actually end up eating the turkey (OH! HOW NICE! THEY LET HIM LIVE AS A PET! I won't go into the symbolism there...). I can't imagine what the authors were thinking when they made that decision, or what the editors were thinking when they let it by.

Please, please, please look elsewhere for a children's book on Thanksgiving or thankfulness.

If your children are young & haven't realized that the turkey on the table is the one & the same as that cute Tom The Turkey they saw at the farm Do Not get this book. Otherwise its cute I have ours tucked away until my girls are a little older.