The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (First Time Books(R)) by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (First Time Books(R))
Book Review: The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers
Summary: 4 Stars
My name is April. I live in Moosonee Ontario. I'm writing about The Berenstain Bears Learn about Strangers. Although there may not be that much strangers around where you live, I do believe your kids have the right to know about strangers. I just wanna say how I thought about the book. I thought it was great, it would probably be a great book to buy your kids. Even I liked the book. I felt like I learned a lot also. It's a pretty good example for those of yous that don't know what to tell your kids about strangers or just to scared to see their reaction. Then I recommend you read your kids this fabulous book. You can get it for only ( well my estimate is about $3.29). So that's all I have to write about this fantastic book.Book Review: One of the least paranoia inducing "stranger books"
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Book Review: Mainstream values in a tidy package
Summary: 5 Stars
The titles of the Berenstein Bears books areself-explanatory
-------Review of Format-------
The BerensteinBears books are a very nice length for bed-time stories. They average about 7 minutes for an adult to read out loud. Depending on the child, two to four Berenstein Bears books are sufficient to "settle" them for the night. They are written on a second grade level, although your child is likely to memorize them long before then. But that is OK, they will be able to read hard words that much sooner because they will have learned by association.
-------Review of Content-------
Parenting is a tough job. We seek to raise helpless, ego-centric infants into mature, capable, caring adults. The early elementary years are one of the most stressful times for families. It is scary for children because they are beginning to grasp how complicated the world really is. It is stressful for parents because we find it increasingly difficult to answer their questions in a way that satisfies both the parent and the child. The Berenstein Bear books deal with many of those tough parenting issues; issues like dealing with strangers, picking up messes, junk food, teasing, etc.
The Berenstein Bears books encapsulate mainstream North American cultural values in a tidy, easy-to-read package. It is pretty hard to be critical of The Berenstein Bears unless you feel sorely used by those mainstream values.
Potential criticisms are:
-The Berenstein's are an ultra-traditional nuclear family
-Poppa Bear is a dope
-Some people object to "talking animals" books
Responses:
-The issues are complex. Keeping the family dynamics simple allows the author to focus on the issues. Also, the traditional, nuclear family is still the mainstream, North American ideal, even if it is not always the reality.
-Simple personalities have been a standard literary tool for over two thousand years. It simplifies the bookkeeping. The reader (or listener) can explore four different ways of dealing with an issue.
-I am one of the people who does not like "talking animals" but I make an exception for the Berenstein bears. The Berenstein Bears are people masquerading as animals, not animals masquerading as people.
Book Review: Excellent Way to Open The Discussion...
Summary: 5 Stars
...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.