The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (First Time Books(R)) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jan Berenstain (Author) "Brother and Sister Bear, who lived with their mama and papa in the big tree house down a sunny dirt road deep in bear Country,..." (more)
Key Phrases: Brother Bear

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 The familiar Berenstain bear family may help to make a scary subject easier to bear. Brother discourages extrovert Sister from greeting every stranger she meets. Papa tells his children the rules for safe conduct among strangers. After Sister sees the headlines about missing cubs, she over-reacts, seeing every stranger as a threat. This is conveyed by a full-page spread: the top half shows reality, the bottom half shows Sister's scary version. Mama explains the concept of the bad apples in every barrel, literally. A funny looking apple is fine on the inside, but a perfect looking apple is bad on the inside. Finally, the attraction of a toy almost causes usually cautious Brother to go for a ride with a stranger. Sister isn't tattling when she tells her parents, she's just concerned for Brother's safety. The bears' rules are listed on the last page, including one about the privacy of a bear's body, a topic not discussed in the text. A good book to start awareness in young children. Elise Wendel, Orchard Road School, Skillman, N.J.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

When Papa Bear tells the cubs why they should never talk to strangers, Sister begins to view all strangers as evil until Mama brings some common sense to the problem. A good book to start awareness in young children."--School Library Journal.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (August 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394873343
• ISBN-13: 978-0394873343
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,908 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the least paranoia inducing "stranger books", June 26, 2000

By	Catherine Hallberg "(Kate)" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have gotten rid of most "don't talk to strangers" books because they are mostly fear inducing. I want my children to use common sense, and this version emphasises that. Sister (gotta love the names :-) ) fears everyone when first told that not all strangers are trustworthy. Mama comes to the rescue with some much needed common sense and moderation. The book concludes with a plausible example of Brother maybe trusting a stranger too much.

A good starting point for working with young, very trusting children, on appropriate interpersonal interactions, and may help prevent the child from fearing even the grocery store clerk.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning About Strangers, January 6, 2004

By	Micole Roy (Sugar Land, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a good book. My 5 year old son enjoyed the story, and the lessons that I wanted to convey about strangers (what is a stranger, stranger rules, etc.) were covered very well. The story shows how one can become too afraid as well as how one can be lured into leaving with a stranger. Children learn to be careful without being paranoid. Children also learn that "telling" is not the same as being a "tattletell".

We have enjoyed all 8 books that we purchased from this collection.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Way to Open The Discussion..., December 30, 1999

By	J. Gifford (Gainesville, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

...about the danger of strangers. I have read this book to all three of my children, and they have definitely learned the value of caution. A nice feature is that the book shows, in a non-scary, friendly way, how scary the subject of strangers can be to children, but how talking it over can help allay those fears. The book also shows how a child's excitement over a stranger showing a common interest or offering goodies to the child can override the child's basic caution. I highly recommend this book for the collection of anyone who wishes to keep their child(ren) safe.