He Bear, She Bear (Bright & Early Books

The Berenstain Bears Bright & Early

by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

We'll jump and dig and build and fly
There's nothing that we cannot try.
We can do all these things, you see,
Whether we are he or she!

A young he bear and she bear discover they can do anything and be anything they want to--regardless of gender--in this empowering and fun, fast paced Bright & Early Board Book!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile, Kids, School

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

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 Berenstain joined them as a creative team in the late 1980s.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fully expected to hate this book based on the title. It did go into gender, but then it basically said that any bear he or she can do any job pretty much. He’s could do any job and She’s could do any job. That won me over right there. It does go about simplifying gender. I think most people are now aware that there is a 3rd option. There is intersexed, transgendered and gender non binary. But, back in the 70s people didn’t think of that as an option so it’s good to see how things have changed.

The art is so warm, inviting and cozy with these books. Kids can’t resist them. They are like book candy. The kids gave this 4 stars. I agree and was charmed by this book somehow.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It did do a decent job of showing little girls that they could grow up and take on so-called 'traditionally male jobs.'

However, the book largely failed on the other side of the story. There were very few examples showing boys how they could grow up to take on so-called 'traditionally female' roles.

The glaring omission also teaches a message to children, one that starkly contrasts with the message of equality that the book purports to convey, and one that 'cancels out' ideas of equality that might have otherwise been learned through this book..

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the message, but the meter was not great, and the words didn't flow very well for reading aloud.

[Alison Diem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this to my kid this weekend, and I give them credit- they were trying to break gender stereotypes related to employment and careers.

However, the focus on gender binarism was uncomfortable for me, as it is not something that I agree with. If you believe that gender is NOT binary, this is probably not the book for you.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's face it, you write a book about gender and it'll make someone really angry. I think this book did a good job of just saying both genders can do almost every job (but dads are hes and moms are she).

[Jordan Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Bear She Bear gives the brother and sister bears a chance to see all the things in life that they could someday be. They look at each other and notice that “we are he and she.” This is the basis of the rest of the story. They go around town and see all the different jobs that the townspeople have. These jobs range from painter to construction worker. They also see different activities that happen around town as well. These activities include playing in a band or jumping on the trampoline. The brother and sister bears are so curious to see all the jobs and activities they can participate in. The only shocking thing to me is that these young children are running through town all by themselves without their parents. Thankfully the townspeople are prevalent. All along the story there are rhyme patterns that make it fun to read. These rhyme patterns are also some early learning and literacy techniques that get the children interested in the book. Something that can be taught from this book is the idea that children can grow up to be anything they want to be. It is important to teach children to set their goals high and to teach them to strive for them. We feel like this book does a great job of introducing different options children can pursue as a career. This book doesn’t discriminate as to what the boy should do as a career or what the girl should do as a career or activities for that matter. It is important to teach children that it doesn’t matter whether you are a boy or girl the same types of careers and activities can be achieved.

[Hope Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that expresses to kids that yes we are all either boys or girls BUT girls and boys can do all the same things. I think instilling this idea into children is very important because biases can be created early, and once created they are hard to break. Teaching children that boys and girls are equal are very important.

[Lauren Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Bear, She Bear uses the infamous Berenstain Bears to talk about the controversial issue of gender roles. This book is clearly ahead of its time (written in 1974). The book explains that a male or female can be whatever they want to be and are not restricted to a particular job just because of their gender. A great book for kids!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. It basically summed up the differences in what men and women are. Men can be dads and women can be moms. Beyond that, men and women can do anything they want. They had a ton of jobs they went through which are usually dominated by one gender and put the opposite gender as the workers. I was pretty pleased overall with it.

[Angieleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of the Berenstain Bears since the early 80s (completely dating myself here), and enjoy reading the different books in the vast Series, however I would have liked this book better if it didn't perpetuate perceived gender roles.

My nephew giggled over the rhyming text and overall enjoyed my reading this to him.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite, and still loved. Great illustration of full equality without the nastiness or drama that so often happens.

[N.E. Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yesterdays gender progress is todays gender normative.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world that is trying to inundate my children with gender ambiguity or fluidity I grabbed this because I liked that it was about he and she. Two options. The options we use in my family with my children. I like that mother and father are things they mention to aspire to be as well as many different job options. It subtly points out that specific jobs shouldn't be only for he or she but that they should all be options. My son liked the jackhammers :)

[Karah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It advocates for collaboration between the sexes. He Bear, She Bear points to the belief that men and women can perform the same tasks with skill and enthusiasm.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a beginning reader, this work struggles some when it comes to providing children with repeat vocabulary and sight words. This is aimed at readers with a very good grasp at vocabulary and, truthfully, seemed more interested in expressing the idea of gender equality than encouraging emerging reading. In many ways it is successful in showing children how they can grow up to tackle any kind of job, though seems more successful in showing young girls how they can tackle traditional male roles. There are few examples of men in traditional female roles in this work. One minor issue occurs in the introduction with discussion of traditional family roles: men are fathers and women are mothers. This is not necessarily representative of all families and for a small book touting gender equality, seems to be a glaring omission. Despite this, though, most children will enjoy it. Recommended.

[Eric Wurm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dramatic coming-of age story details the sexual encounters of teen bears who are confused and hormonally frustrated. Having noticed an intense desire to mash their genitalia together, they seek the help of a Catholic priest who is only too willing to offer "ASSistance". The now bowlegged and tearful bears waddle home with a vow of silence having been threatened with damnation. Only as adults do they finally have the courage to sue the opprobrious church, who send the offending clergyman to Haiti before he has a chance to be charged. The bears learn a valuable lesson: if you want to know about human sexuality, watch George Carlin on Youtube or go to Planned Parenthood.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this as a beginning reader book, not a board book. Natalie wanted to read it, until I would get about two pages in. Then she lost interest every time. But, as a book for an early reader, I think its great. Lots of sight words, helpful illustrations to work with the harder words. Repetition of the same words a couple times for either confidence or practice. The gender equality theme worked, too.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the best Berenstain Bear book, but one of my daughter's favorites when she was 4. Now she is almost 15, but I made her and her 9 year-old brother listen to the book today in memory of Jan Berenstain's passing. I have many wonderful memories of reading the Berenstain Bear books over and over again. Thanks Jan, for all the wonderful times you brought my children at bedtime. You will be missed.

[Luz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Great pictures, bright colors funny characters, Teaches the kids that they can do anything they put their mine to. Boys and girls can be anything they want to be. My babies love this book so that sometimes I have to read it 3 or 4 times a day.




Extension:
Bring parents with different jobs; like doctor, construction worker, or any other .
Also pictures of different people doing different jobs.

[Abby Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book! I loved this show, and I read this book when I little. This book is about boys and girls and teaches that you can do anything you put your mind to whether you’re a girl or a boy. This is a great lesson for younger kids. I would use this book in my classroom when teaching my kids about this concept and use it to make sure they know they have potential and someone believes in them!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for beginning readers. It has a Dr. Seuss like rhythm to it with rhyming narrative and some repetitive verses. It strongly emphasizes that anyone, regardless of gender, can aspire to any number of careers. The illustrations are classic Berenstain Bears and it's great for young readers.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the good, short, and not too moralizing Berenstain books, with a nice strong rhythym. Of course its underpinning message is that other than 'mother' and 'father' there's no job that is gender segregated, but it would be a fun read with children who are just tuning into the difference between gender pronouns (and gender divisions).
My son liked it.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berenstains offer up a plethora of careers and ideas for children to do when they grow up. They jobs range from construction to parenting to knitting to flying. There is nothing you cannot do whether you are a he or a she.

2015 Storytime Theme: Community Helpers

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I kept from when I was younger, I read it to my kids a lot, and I really love it. It has an uplifting story line giving your young ones the message that they can do anything they want when they are older.

[Ashley Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was a great book for young kids. I liked that it taught that it didn't matter whether you were a girl or boy, that you could be anything that you wanted to be with hard work and a dream.

[Robert J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for introducing young children that they can be whatever they want to be whether they "are he or she." Sadly Stan and Jan Berenstain are no longer with us but their wonderful children's books remain.

[Loralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute little board book that emphasizes how young kids can work toward any goal regardless of gender! Both he bears and she bears can build bridges, paint houses, ride broncos, be astronauts, etc!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Lots of details in the pictures. I think I've just read it one too many times. :-)

[Angela Barakat]

I read this with both my children.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love all the Berenstain Bears books, and they don't realize there are important lessons in each story.