The Berenstain Bears: Bear Country Blessings Book Review

The Berenstain Bears Teach Children About Important Christian Values in a New Three-in-One Collection of Classic Tales 

 

My review: I have been very impressed with the latest releases from The Berenstain Bears.  I always have loved these stories, but with the Christian emphasis I see a whole new world of learning and growing for young children.  My son is completely enchanted with Brother and Sister Bear.  He requests me to read these books every night.  This book offers 3 stories in 1 volume.  In "God Bless Our Home" the Bear family had to work together to solve a problem of too little space in their home.  Kids will learn that working together helps create family unity.  In "All Things Bright and Beautiful" Brother and Sister take a nature walk with their Sunday School teacher and learn all about God's beautiful world while singing the hymn.  "Get Involved" is a story about serving others and how it not only blesses the receiver, but the giver as well.  All stories come with a Question and Activity pages with ideas for further learning.


The Berenstain Bears begin 2013 with a new compilation of important lessons for young fans. Three of the most popular stories from the Bear family will be available in the new three-in-one read, THE BERENSTAIN BEARS BEAR COUNTRY BLESSINGS (Zonderkidz; $7.99; January 2013).

Each story in BEAR COUNTRY BLESSINGS teaches young readers Christian values, like appreciating their home, giving back to the community, and appreciating all of God’s wonderful creations. 

In God Bless Our Home, the Bear family is wondering if it is time to move from their tree house. But rather than relocating, they work together to plan and remodel their beloved tree house, making it more comfortable to accommodate the addition of Honey Bear. Papa Bear digs a basement and adds a garage, making their beloved home that much more spacious and warm. This sweet story offers readers new meaning to the phrase “Home Sweet Home.”

The Bear siblings discover God’s many creatures in All Things Bright and Beautiful. As Brother and Sister Bear embark on a nature walk during Sunday school, they encounter amazing animals like turtles, bunnies, squirrels, and even a woodchuck! In addition, they pass Farmer Ben’s garden, which is sprouting a wealth of yummy fruits and vegetables.  With this charming story, readers marvel in God’s wonderful creatures.

Last, but not least, a storm hits the Bears’ town in The Berenstain Bears Get Involved. The cubs and their parents rush to the aid of friends and family who live along the river when its waters rise to dangerous levels. Inspired by what they learned as members of the charitable Cub Club at the Chapel in the Woods, Brother and Sister Bear—with the help of the whole Bear Country community—gather with sandbags and shovels to stop the water’s destruction. Another mission accomplished by the Bear Family!

Children won’t be able to put down this fun trio of tales that demonstrate how they too can become blessings to others—just like the Berenstain Bears.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Since the late 80s, he has been very much involved as a writer and illustrator with his family’s creation, the Berenstain Bears. He continued to work with his mother, Jan, creating new books, up until her death this year. The antics and activities of Mike’s three children have inspired many Berenstain Bears books over the years. Though Stan and Jan passed away in 2005 and 2012, respectively, Mike continues to create the delightful Bear adventures from a studio in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country. www.berenstainbears.com

Zonderkidz™, a division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it produces bestselling and award-winning Bibles, books, board books, graphic novels, audio, video and digital products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 16 and the people who love them, from family members to educators. Zonderkidz is the publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader’s Version) Bible translation, the third-grade reading level edition of the NIV that is ideal for children and those who speak English as a second language. Visit Zonderkidz on the Internet at www.zonderkidz.com.