The Berenstain Bears and the New Girl in Town

The Berenstain Bears

by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

When Brother Bear falls in love with Bonnie Brown, an old family feud threatens to spoil their romance.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Romance, Juvenile, Fiction, Chapter Books

101 pages, Library Binding

First published May 25, 1993

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

[Katja Labonté · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star. I was fairly sure this would be a silly, eyeroll type of read, but I didn’t expect to end the book with one thought—and I quote: “Well, that was stupid. And gross.”

I didn’t hate it to start with. The feud was interesting/amusing and although it was predicable, I enjoyed the Romeo & Juliet addition. I was bugged by Brother and Bonnie kissing so much—I mean, really, they’re elementary school kids!!—but it was done in such a ridiculous way I could only roll my eyes… until the ending. The two decide they’re “all kissed out” because of the play, and don’t want to be boyfriend/girlfriend any longer. The school has a party and one game is to shut Brother & Bonnie up in a dark cupboard so they kiss. Bonnie makes lots of slurpy kissing noises while Brother—and I quote again—“moaned as if he was having a great time.”

And then they step out and everyone cheers and Brother says how easy it is (and there ya go apparently they broken up now).

I’m sorry, but I’m downright disgusted. Is it really necessary for elementary school kids to have this type of content in their minds, let alone carry out this type of action?? And we wonder why our world is so sexualized and unwanted pregnancies + single parents + dysfunctional families are on the rise???

Call me Mama Bear, call me oversensitive, call me “legalistic” and “purity culture,” but I rest my case.

[J]

First book I ever won.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems to weird to see Brother Bear old enough to be interested in girls. But this book takes that crush, crosses it with Romeo and Juliet and STILL manages to come up sounding fresh and interesting. THIS book I liked, a lot.

What really made this book work for me was taking things so far beyond the basics. We not only get to experience Brother's own difficult feelings regarding his first love, but also what happens when parents put pressure on their kids about who they can and can't be close to. This is something I could really relate to as I grew up not allowed to interact with kids who had divorced parents (but here I am, not only divorce but remarried as an adult) which only goes to show that parents of all generations have found idiotic reasons to keep people apart. These perceived differences are so damaging to our children. I only hope that the lessons of this book carry through in the child readers who are enjoying this story now, into their adult years.

It's books like this that help make the difference.

[Karah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book confirmed that the Berenstain Bears are Southern bears. I knew they weren't city bears. It's clear they live in a rural area. But this book makes allusion to the US Civil War. Anyone with a faint grasp of 19th century American history will recognize the names.

All in all, it's still pleasurable.

[Ben Lyszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ggggg

Ggggv ttc. Ttc t t t. I. We t ttc t t t t mobile devices with a new one on my first love to be there by a great deal on this great book

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brother Bear and Bonnie Brown have had enough of kissing after the play.

[Thaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a children’s book I thought this was inappropriate cos wdym they kept kissing???? Dare I say this was HARAM.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous but cheesy Berenstein Bears retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Brother Bear experiences his first crush, which inadvertently revives an old family feud. Papa Bear always kids his son about it, until the feud resurfaces. The book is quite humorous at times : like blurting “Do I know the formula for WHAT? For a HEART?” as Brother and and the girl in question work on math homework. And then when asked a geometry-related question by a teacher Brother responds “a heart,” making everyone roar with laughter.

Clever if predictable (both storyline-wise and through a simple reading of the blurb). And Brother Bear turning red after after Bonnie kisses him is one of the oddest illustrations ever.

[edel · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was younger, I used to love this book. It was one of my favourites. Looking back on it now, it seems cheesy. But everything seems so much cooler when you're young, right? It was a nice little book about those "first loves".

[Cloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the pictures. It was a book for eight year olds and older. It was okay but I think I would like it when I get bigger.