The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) [Hardcover]

Stan Berenstain (Author), Jan Berenstain (Author), Mike Berenstain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2010 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Berenstain Bears/Living Lights

I'll make a kite. Just wait and see, with the special talents that God gave me! Papa and the Bear cubs enter a kite flying contest with a homemade kite. They work hard and do their best, but with all the negative comments they hear from others, will their kite actually fly let alone win the contest?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005, Jan and Mike continue to create the delightful Bear adventures from their family home in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country. SPANISH BIO: Stan y Jan Berenstain presentaron el primer libro de los Osos Berenstain en 1962. Mike Berenstain crecio viendo a sus padres trabajar juntos, dibujando y escribiendo acerca de estos osos adorables. Finalmente, el empezo a dibujar y a escribir acerca de ellos tambien. Aunque Stan murio en el 2005, Jan y Mike continuan creando las encantadoras aventuras de estos osos desde su hogar en Pennsylvania, en un area que se parece mucho a la asoleada carretera sin pavimento sumergida en el pais de los osos.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310719372
• ISBN-13: 978-0310719373
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,230,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A book about using our talents and having faith, but not one of the best Berenstain Bear books, November 1, 2010

By 

Christine M. Irvin (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (Hardcover)

In The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best, written by Stan & Jan Berenstain, and illustrated by Mike Berenstain, Brother and Sister Bear want to enter the local kite flying contest. Problem is, they don't have a kite. Papa Bear tells them not to worry, he'll make them one using the special talents God gave him.

Papa Bear then proceeds to construct a kite for the cubs with some paper and sticks, using glue to hold it together. He paints the kite red and adds a tail to make it fly. Then the trio head off for the contest.

When they get there, they see that theirs is the only homemade kite. All the others are fancy, store-bought ones. Everyone makes fun of the Bear's kite, saying it will never fly. But, Papa has faith that it will, and it does. Not only does it fly, but when the winds blow hard and strong, all the other kites fall apart; the one Papa made holds together and wins the contest.

This Bible verse is given as a reference for the story: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plan will succeed." [Proverbs 16:3]

The text is written in rhyme, which is a departure from the usual Berenstain Bear book. The illustrations are typical of other books in the series, though, with bright, cartoon-like pictures throughout.

What I Like: This is a good story about using our talents, committing what we do to the Lord, and having faith we will prevail.

What I Dislike: Although I am a Berenstain Bear fan (as many of you know), this book doesn't stand out as one of the best ones in the series as the storyline is weak. If the Bear cubs wanted to enter a kite-flying contest, they should have planned ahead to do so. I don't think they should have waited until the day of the contest to have Papa make a kite for them. Also, Papa did all the work. He didn't have the cubs help him at all even though they were the ones that were supposed to be entering the contest.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Caution!! Read these reviews., October 14, 2010

By 

SMW (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (Hardcover)

I wish I had seen the customer review above. I ordered this book because I thought I was ordering the original 1992 version by Stan Berenstain. The cover is identical, the illustrations are identical, and most of the text is identical. However, this 2010 version (now by "Stan, Jan, & Mike Berenstain", but published after Stan's death) has added religion to the story. About 14 lines of text have been awkwardly added throughout the book......changing the meter and rhyme scheme, as well as attributing the red kite's win to "God's help". Very odd, particularly if you are expecting the original book. (This 2010 version shows a first publication date of 1992......but this was NOT around in 1992!)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good story, March 3, 2011

By 

Teddy Bear "Grant" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (Kindle Edition)

A nice, amusing story for young children. The illustrations are very cute--lots of interesting brightly colored kite flying scenes. Recommended.