The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Influence

The Berenstain Bears

by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain, Mike Berenstain

Sister Bear and her new friend, Miranda, make a lot of bad decisions—riding down Dead Bear's Hill, eating Ben's apples, running through Mizz McGrizz's tulips. When Mama Bear finds out about these things, she wants Sister to stop playing with their new neighbor. But is it really all Miranda's fault?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Friendship

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Karah · Rating 4 out of 5]

No blame game in this story. Sister gets a fascinating new friend named Miranda Moss. On the first day, they initiate raucous memories. More rollicky than most Berenstain Bears' books.

This makes a sweet bedtime story for an infant.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just saw how wonderful it is to have a story that is not only a classic but is also being revamped to inspire upcoming generations? These novels have always been inspirational and motivating to always do the right thing by others around you.

I remember loving The Berenstain Bears when I was younger, and now I can share the story line with my children while also reaching deep into my own childhood! I cannot express how thankful I am to the authors of these books, for not only am I making new memories with my own children but I am also sharing memories of my past.

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

L (age 5) is very into the Berenstain Bears at the moment and has been picking out one or two every time we go to the library lately. Although they bring up some childhood nostalgia for me they aren't my favorite now (and weren't then, honestly). I don't love the illustrations, and they sometimes veer from instructive to preachy. This one wasn't bad, though. It's a good lesson on how other people perceive you and more than one person can be at fault.

[Stef]

I suppose I would be tempted to be a bad influence too if, like Miranda Moss (a.k.a, Queenie McBear lite), I was forced to dress exactly like my mom, right down to (up to?) the headband. Sister and Miranda unintentionally cause mischief having a fun day (on Dead Bear's Hill), but they set things right with the people they upset and then stayed friends. Nothing too exciting, but not overly moralistic either.

[Tammra Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book. It has any valuable lessons throughout the book. It also would make a great read aloud for a classroom. It also really teaches children that it is okay to make a mistake but you must make it right after you realized you make the mistake.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cubs will be cubs. Friendships are tough. Luckily, no one was seriously injured while Sister Bear rode her trike with her new friend/neighbor, Miranda. It was strange how the story included a cement truck pouring wet cement because it was Bear Country, which has mostly dirt roads.

[Karah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything stays sweet in Bear Country. Sister makes a new friend who persuades her towards mischief. Everything gets rectified at the end.

[Chris Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super hard for my son to understand the nuisances of this book.

[Sheeba Virani · Rating 5 out of 5]

All children argue and fight among themselves. Sometimes they feel sad, angry and hurt. They make new friends and also indulge in inappropriate behaviors without realizing what they are doing. This book depicts what happens when children become careless and fight with each other. The consequences of such behavior and its effect on parents is well depicted in this book.

Extension
When teaching children about responsible behavior this is a good book to read in the class. After reading the book the teacher can have a group discussion and ask children to point out all the inappropriate behaviors that Brother and Sister engage in. The teacher can write these out on a chart and further talk about the solutions in the book. Also this book could be read while making class rules in the beginning of the year especially while discussing the rule of 'being responsible.'

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister Bear and a new cub, Miranda, get into a lot of trouble when they take off on Sister's tricycle through Bear Country. They trample flowers, steal apples, and deface some newly poured concrete.

Mama Bear and Miranda's mom get calls from the neighbors and both decide their daughter's new friend is a bad influence! The girls admit that both of them are at fault, and they go around the neighborhood in the afternoon and help make reparations.

Read with Logan in Austin, September 2012.

[Rosanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid, I LOVED Berenstain Bear books. I can go through the list and tell you exactly which ones we had, because I read them a million times. As an adult, I'm so happy that Zack loves them. They are entertaining and have a good moral with every story. But man are they long! I would probably shy away from them if not for remembering how much I used to love them. So bring on The Bears and a longer bedtime routine!

[↜ƈɦǟռ☂ɛℓℓɛ↝ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Influence by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Sister Bear is at it again, in this one she gets in a fight with her best friend and decides to get a new one. And sometimes bears tend to show off a bit, to get another bear to like them. Showing off can only lead to trouble, and they sure found it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good book for students who become a friend with somebody for the wrong reasons. It's a good lesson about "friends aren't friends with they make you do things you don't want to do." It also has a good lesson about fixing things that were done wrong. It's a good "morals" book.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

sister bear is having a bad day and meeting her new neighbor accidentally makes it worse. the girls get into a lot of trouble but end up correcting it at the end of the book. my daughter enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to others.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berenstain's did a really good job at writing this book to help children see that sometimes friends can be 'bad' for them. But also when they get into trouble that 'both' children is at fault not just the one making the suggestions of what to do. Really appreciated this book.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Bear did not make good choices in this book. She learned not to do the things that are bad and to choose good friends.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love all berenstain bear books!

[Miri · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Sister gets into a fight with her best friend Lizzie, she makes a new friend named Miranda. Together the two of them cause lots of trouble, who is the real bad influence?

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister Bear has a new bff--only she's a bad bff. Soon they're stealing apples and riding their bike into wet cement. What will their respective parents say? Read and find out!

[Vaishali · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always found the Berenstain Bears unintelligent and bland; alas... the spicy title of this book didn't change that perception either :)

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of lessons to be learned every time I visit the Berenstain Bears ^_^