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3rd out of 167 books
—
195 voters
The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (The Berenstain Bears)
Illus. in full color. Three terrified little bears explore the inside of a mysterious old tree and go into, up, through, over, down, and out.
Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
September 12th 1978
by Random House Books for Young Readers
(first published 1978)
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I must have read "The Spooky Old Tree" to my kids a million times. My daughter and son are 12 years apart in age and I still remembered at least half the words to this book when my son was a toddler. I think I have it completely memorized. It's short enough to read out loud without losing your voice and it's fun to do it in a creepy, scary voice. This was my all-time favorite bedtime book.
More often than not, children's books present topics which are relatively gentle. Stan and Jan Berenstain, however, have never shied away from presenting problems in a way that the youngest readers can understand. While most of their books revolve around things like new babies and messy rooms, this husband and wife team also show kids the fun and danger of adventure. In this book, the three bear siblings set off to explore a spooky old tree armed with a stick, a light, and a rope. Inside, they f...more
One of my children's favorites this book is boxed away for their children someday. How many of us as children looked at an old tree in the dark shadows and imagined it was full of scary things. The Bernsteins address being scared of things we don't need to be scared of. Great story.
I always picked this book for my mom to read to me when I was 3 years old. I knew it so well that I would say the whole thing for her instead:o) I still enjoy reading it to my nieces and love the Berenstain Bears.
Jun 01, 2012
Joyce
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone who knows someone little
Shelves:
favorites
My favorite book to read to my kids and now my grandson...
This is one of the earlier Berenstain Bear books, and it shows. The bears are less stylized and cutesy than the bears in the newer books, and the story is halfway between an early reader and the newer, longer read-alouds they do now.
It's a cute little story about three cubs going out with a light, a stick, and a rope to explore. Of course, they lose all three items and run screaming home to mom - and with good reason, that spooky old tree is *really* spooky.
There are only a few words per page, w...more
It's a cute little story about three cubs going out with a light, a stick, and a rope to explore. Of course, they lose all three items and run screaming home to mom - and with good reason, that spooky old tree is *really* spooky.
There are only a few words per page, w...more
This is another one of those children's books that can be handed down from generation to generation and the kids will love it. Dare the bears go into the spooky old tree? Just enough words to keep very young children entertained without them wanting to wriggle away. Also a great opportunity for pantomime dramatics on the part of the person who is reading aloud! Just great, simple fun.
★★★★★The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Love it! My daughter and I love spooky old Halloween looking trees. So what are the cubs gonna do when they find it, go exploring what else. Armed with all the goods, a rope, a light and a stick, they set off. What do they find, the Great Sleeping Bear. This has got to be our favorite Bears book.
Love it! My daughter and I love spooky old Halloween looking trees. So what are the cubs gonna do when they find it, go exploring what else. Armed with all the goods, a rope, a light and a stick, they set off. What do they find, the Great Sleeping Bear. This has got to be our favorite Bears book.
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this was book I loved when I was a child. I bought it for my son to save for later. I think when it comes to children's books the more books you provide them with to see the more you encourage their own interests. This is one I had to puton his shelf for later, hopefully in a year or so he will read it. It is well written for a children's book with complex personalities.
Sep 12, 2011
Laura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Kids with an imagination
Recommended to Laura by:
My mom
I remember this book from so long ago when I was little. This used to be one of my favorite books, as was any with these fun little bears. I think this spooked me a little, but it was a while ago so I may be mistaken. I was only like two when I was read this the first time and I would beg my mom to read it to me more until I could read it myself.
When my cousin Miranda was about 2 or 3, she memorized this book. "Do they dare go up that creepy old stair? Yes, they dare!"
I'm not sure if it's just my memory of Miranda reciting this book or the book itself, but it's good for a delightful shiver for the younger set. For, of course, everything turns out all right in the end.
I'm not sure if it's just my memory of Miranda reciting this book or the book itself, but it's good for a delightful shiver for the younger set. For, of course, everything turns out all right in the end.
When I get updates from goodreads in my inbox, I keep thinking, "I haven't read a book in ages." Then today I realized, "Wait, I read all the time. I should review the books I've been reading lately." :)
This is one of our favorites. We read it several times a day. I even have it memorized.
This is one of our favorites. We read it several times a day. I even have it memorized.
I like this book because it is engaging and can grab the student enough to draw math content from. In this book it connects with the content of division, and has repetition which allows the student to catch on. I would definately use this book to promote instruction in division.
It was a real pleasure to read this again today. This was one of my childhood favourites. I still remember getting it from the Scholastic bookstore, and getting a free glow in the dark ghost sticker with it. I liked this one because it had a great spooky vibe and illustrations. I love all the bits of the tree house such as the moving wall with the giant key. I would love a house like that!
I found this at my boyfriend's parents' house. He remembered reading it as a kid too, and loving that great...more
I found this at my boyfriend's parents' house. He remembered reading it as a kid too, and loving that great...more
Probably my favorite Berenstain Bears book. No nitwit father figure here, no awkwardly contrived "lesson"--just the kids and their childlike quest for fear and adventure and the comforting themes of home. A staple at our house since my adult children were toddlers.
One of those books where elements are repeated, making it ideal to read with pre-readers or kids just starting to read. It's a lot of fun.
The plot reminds me of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, making we wonder if that author had read this one as a youngster.
The plot reminds me of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, making we wonder if that author had read this one as a youngster.
I remember reading this and listening to the accompanying cassette tape when I was a kid. The audio version was so cool!! I wish u could find it now. The book is in sale again (for Halloween I think) and I snagged that while I could. Alex loves reading it.
In this book you follow the bears as they leave home and go on an adventure to the spooky old tree, then return home properly frightened. The sentences are simple but have nice repetion. This illustrations contain good depictions of the prepositions used.
This one came into heavy rotation over Halloween and has remained a pretty consistent choice for bedtime. The boys especially enjoy the part where the bears get the shivers. Much less irritating to the parents than most of the longer stories.
This one came into heay rotation over Halloween and has remained a pretty consistent choice for bedtime. The boys especially enjoy the part where the bears get the shivers. Much less irritating to the parents than most of the longer stories.
In trying to remember all the books I've ever read, I can't believe I forgot to include the first book I could read by myself. This was my favorite when I was a little girl, and probably has something to do with how much I like scary stories.
Why 5 stars? Because this is the book my family read to me to teach me to read. My mom and my aunt can still recite from it. I must have had it memorized more than anything but it was the first book I read. Very special to me.
My favorite Berenstain Bears book.
Who the hell is that third bear? Why is there such an elaborately built spooky tree so close to their house? Why is the giant bear monstrous? Really shoddy storytelling, Stan & Jan.
Who the hell is that third bear? Why is there such an elaborately built spooky tree so close to their house? Why is the giant bear monstrous? Really shoddy storytelling, Stan & Jan.
This is probobly the best Berenstain book out there! My kids loved this book. It has been to the "book doctor" so many times that is barely recognizable. It is on my list for my granddaughter, now.
This book is very much in the tradition of Bears in the Night, aimed at the very youngest readers. Three adventurous bears decide to go inside the spooky old tree to have a very scary adventure.
Wallace asks for it by name. It was one of my favorites when I was a child. I'm so glad to share it with him. Last time we read it he said all the "shivers" parts and giggled uncontrollably.
One of my favorite books as a child. It also became my son's favorite. So simple and sweet, yet completely magical. I always wanted to find my very own spooky, old tree.
This was an average book that had some great illustrations, but the storyline seemed very dull to me. I am one that thinks if you have seen one Berenstein Bears book, you have seen them all.
It is a wonderful book for a read aloud! You can change your voice to be spooky, and really get into character. This is one of my favorites from early childhood, and I still love it.
This may be my favorite book ever. I still make oblique references to it in everyday conversation, at least 26 years after my mom read it to me for the first time.
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Stan and Jan Berenstain (often called The Berenstains) were American writers and illustrators best known for creating the children's book series the Berenstain Bears. Their son Mike joined them as a creative team in the late 1980s.
More about Stan Berenstain...
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