The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's

The Berenstain Bears

by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

Brother and Sister worry about spending a week at Gran and Gramp's house. By the end of the visit they've learned a lot from their lively grandparents--and the older bears have discovered how wonderful it is to "be" grandparents.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Animals, Classics, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1986

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]

This brings back good memories of spending a week at my grandparents house. Those were good times. This book is so spot on in how you are scared of your parents leaving and then how wonderful of time with you with your grandparents. I loved this book.

The kids are too young to experience this, but my niece said she wants to stay a week with the grandparents. It would be fun. The nephew does not want to be away from mom. They liked this book too.

These 80s books are the best.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is that perfect book to help your child to prepare for that week (or weekend, or even just overnight trip) to someone else's house. The emotions here are so read - Sister Bear not liking Grandma's cookies for example - even though they're good - but because they're not her mother's cookies. The child is encouraged to discover that different can be good - and learning new things can be pretty fun. Definitely a fun read!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and the tv show was so good! The 90s and 80s had sone of the BEST cartoons.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew "old people" knew about so many fun things? Sister and Brother get to visit their Gran and Gramps when their Mom and Dad go on a second honeymoon.

It's really more of a "grandparent" book than a "grandma" book.

[angrykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved grandma bear. i think that everyone loved grandma bear though. i mean, how could you not....she was grandma, and she was a bear....

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one I read when I was a kid, so of course I tend to like these best; they're so familiar. The art is also more arresting than in newer ones: There's like a collage thing going on, like the artist actually cared enough to make each page visually appealing. (This coming on the heels of reading "Go Out to Eat," which was just literally just one flat, lifeless illustration after another of the Bear family just sitting at a table, eating. Gosh, I'm being way too harsh on certain BERENSTAIN BEAR BOOKS!) It's interesting to remember how old the grandparents and even the parents seemed when I was a kid, when they're probably just in the fifties and thirties, respectively—i.e., still super young. The cubs and their grandparents do a bunch of cute, fun things together, and it's a comforting read.

[Ealthafer · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I read this book I was trying to find something in the book that stuck out to me that I would want to introduce my students to but was having kind of a hard time. Until about the middle of the story. I found a really neat craft that I liked a lot. The author describes step-by-step directions on how to make a miniture sail ship and put it in a bottle but the steps are numbered they follow multiple pictures.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It just so happens that Gran has been after me to let you spend a week with her and Gramps. And this will be the perfect opportunity."

As one who has been in Mama Bear's position, I gotta say I don't like being asked to send my child away for a week. Maybe someday, in a few years. I realize the Berenstein Bears teach morals or help "cubs" deal with something new, but I'm not fond of this one. It does however show kids the unusual activities they might enjoy that aren't at home.

[betanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story addresses children's fear of being away from parents for a long period, even when it's with other family.

My boy had requested a Berenstein Bears book a few times in the past few weeks and they are some of the longest stories he is interested in sitting through right now.

As a parent, I like that the bears can have natural feelings for kids without being called bad or naughty. I also like the positive interaction between grandparents and grandkids.

[Leslie McWilliams Marcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally had to edit & flip through most of the last half to save my four-year-old daughter from scaring the s* out of her. Then I went looking for Mercer Mayer books. I remembered I read almost all of the MM books to my kids long before Berenstain Bears, to the same effect, but got sucked in by the G-word... just too abstract & developmentally impossible. My bad. I knew it wasn't gonna work. Doy.

[Sonya Huser · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Mama and Papa Bear take their second honeymoon, their cubs are forced to spend a week with their grandparents. At first Brother and Sister feel really put out, but after all the fun things they do that week, they can't wait for Mama and Papa to take a third honeymoon and leave them behind again!

[Shacoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 5th Berenstain Bears book that I have read. This one was pretty funny and cute. I love how the grandparents taught the kids that you learn something new every day and old age is not such a terrible thing. I love that the kids actually had fun with the grandparents. I love that the grandparents were shown to still be very full of life.

[Brooke]

This book is about the Berenstain bear cubs visiting grandparents and all the many wonderful things they learn. When reading this book again I was reminded of all the fun I had visiting my grandparents farm as a child.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice book to read to children, especially before they are going to spend time with relatives. Sometimes staying with relatives, even ones they know well, can be scary for children. And the Berenstain Bears are a favorite for our girls.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

My six year old loves this series, picked up a stack of them at the library this week, and has requested that we have a bit of a Berenstain Bears marathon with them. I like the positive message these books have.

[Andrea Thomas, Greenville · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book to read to children who are anxious about separating or spending time away from their parents. The bear cubs learn new and interesting things when they spend a week at their grandma's house.

[↜ƈɦǟռ☂ɛℓℓɛ↝ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's by Stan Berenstain
We liked this one, and have read it many times. Since my daughter started spending weeks, with Gramma, there has always been worries, but this one helps. And just like the cubs, she does all kinds of different things, there.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although children love the Berenstain Bears I was not a bog fan of the book. The book was tacky and did not have any rich meaning to the story or good illustrations. This book is one I might consider only having in my classroom library.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, The Bernstein Bears... a childhood obsession!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to read these with my parents all the bloody time! Most of them were so loved that they had all fallen apart.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent but it may be a bit to wordy for some youngins.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Lila's first book from my mom!

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite of the Berenstain Bear books. I lost my grandparents at a very young age so I imagined that this is what it was like to spend a week with my Granny.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book.

[Amar Pai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hackneyed pablum

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great niece Sabrina picked this one out on our visit in May 2014.

Nice lesson about being away from Mom and Dad.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading the Berenstain Bears books to my children. Each and every one of them sends a positive message.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to love staying at my grandmas. Great story!

[Gabrielle Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the first time I spent a whole week with my grandparent's, it was fun!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama and Papa Bear go on vacation and leave the cubs with their grandparents.