Customer Reviews

The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Like most of the Berenstain Bear books, the main subject is a matter that worries children or parents. In this case, the stay-at-home mama gets a job, classically over the objections of Papa. The children, excuse me, cubs, express their concerns about this major change and mama tells them how she hopes to cope. Cope they do, and Mama is very happy with her decision to open a quilting shop.

The amusing part is that Mama gets a lot of quilting done as she prepares to open her shop! How does she do it? Most of us find it tough to parent two children and sew, let alone finish a half dozen quilts at the same time as we clean up a shop and organise a business.

The small flaws of this book, as with the rest of the Berenstain Bears books, don't discourage my daughters, and don't detract from the main thrust of the discussion. That is the point of this series, after all.

The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job is but another great book from the Berenstain Bears series. In the beginning, the cubs are a tad apprehensive about the idea of their mama leaving them to start a career as a quilt-maker. But, with a little time and thinking, the two realize they are not losing their mama when she ventures into the career world after all. This book is great and has a wonderful message, as do all the books in the series. The illustrations are wonderfully done as well. I would recommend this book to anybody with children.

The Berestain Bears are frightened when Mama starts a job and is away from home, but they soon find out that it's okay for Mama to be away and they calm down. This is good for youngsters upset about new jobs, parents away or anything like that.

Unlike one of the previous readers, I am thrilled to know that Mama Bear has been able to start her own business as a quiltmaker as well as rear her children and maintain her home with Papa Bear. Because Mama is using her skills and talents as a quiltmaker, she is able to work for herself, create her own hours and still be there for the cubs; which UNTIL they are grown and on their own, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT job she could have. If she had become a "brain surgeon", she would definitely have to put her family on the backburner for patients and others. Mama is a true hero, an example of a woman who knows how to prioritize her life, and still be independent. Family first, career later. Way to go, Mama!!!!

Happily, my mother kept all my old Berenstain Bears books from my childhood. I've been sharing them with my son, and he loves them. However, this is the only title which I got rid of. The main reason- Mama's job is just for extra/fun/spending money. In our home, and many homes in the U.S., Mama's job is an absolute necessity. This one is badly in need of an update (look at the publishing date).

Purchased this to get our seven year old ready for mom to return to work. Just like others in this series, this one is good for bedtime reading. The Berenstain Bears are our family's favorite and several appear each year for birthdays and holiday gifts.

Mama Bear has decided she wants to open her own quilt shop because she loves to make quilts. Plus, she is very creative and tailors each quilt to fit the person. (Brother has an airplane quilt.) This book teaches little ones that you can achieve what you love to do. Just like Mama Bear.

This book is a true classic. Everything about it raises the standard for all other works of literature.

I've read quite a few of the Berenstain Bear books and have enjoyed most of them. Papa is not a complete idiot in this book -- although one of his favorite hobbies is said to be "napping."

To me, _Mama's New Job_ hits a new low.

Papa is having a furniture yard sale when Mama hangs out her homemade quilts to air. People coming to the furniture sale become excited about the quilts and ask to buy them as well. This leads to Mama thinking she should go into business for herself.

Despite her knowing Papa's objections to her taking on a major endeavor, she goes behind his back, puts down money on a fixer-upper store and announces to the family she's starting a new business. It seems major financial and time decisions are okay for Mama to decide on her own.

Mama says that supper might be a little late -- but it wasn't. She didn't come home until dark and Papa not only took care of dinner, but also gives her a warm foot bath. Yes, a very kind thing to do, but we see Mama being rewarded for her unexpectedly coming later than she had promised.

The store is a success after many weeks of hard work, but even after the store is set up and running, we see Papa and the kids coming in the middle of the night to pick her up in the car so they can go out and eat fast food together. The final moral of the story is that extra money comes in handy too.

I can't stress how repulsed I am by this whole story. This is not a story of Mama having an equal opportunity to work -- it is a story of her pursuing her own dreams at the expense of her family. If Mama continues this behavior, Papa will soon get fed up and then we can all read to our kids _The Berenstain Bears Get Divorced_.

These books are awful. Why should kids read books about boring everyday happenings? The books have no plot and tend to just end with nothing happening. They cover boring topics like nail-biting and Mama's new job. They are full of sterotypes. Why couldn't Mama be a brain surgeon instead of a quilt-maker? Kids should read exciting books by creative, whimsical authors. Even Pokemon books are better than these stupid books.