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The Berenstain Bears
The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need
SOFT COVER
Paperback
First published July 1, 1999
About the author
Stan Berenstain
977 books713 followersStan 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.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 12, 2012
What’s hilarious about this book is that, at certain moments, it seems to misunderstand its own moral. And that’s a shame, because it is a great lesson for children--that is, to appreciate what you have and to give to those less fortunate when you can--and there’s certainly an abundance of adults who could stand to learn it, too. All in all, this book might help children to grasp the concept and function of charity, but there's a few details that an observant reader will notice detract from the intended lesson.
When Mama Bear starts to feel that there’s too much clutter in the Bear family’s home, she connects that thought with her latent middle-class guilt. The solution is simple--donate the clutter. Recycle toys the children don't play with anymore, furniture they don’t want, clothes that don’t fit, and other such unnecessary items by giving them to those individuals who actually will use them. And that’s a great idea; everyone should aim to do that as much as they can, especially if they’re well-off financially.
But there’s some weirdness mixed in. Papa Bear wants go get rid of toys the children still enjoy and play with; the children fight back by pointing out Papa Bear’s collection of effectively "useless" fishing rods and magazines; Papa protests Mama’s collection of cookbooks and sewing scraps.
That’s just getting silly. A) The worst thing a parent can do when trying to instill a pro-charity sentiment in their children is try to pressure the child into giving up things they don’t want to. This one has personally affected me in the past; my Dad thinks of his stuff as priceless collectibles to be eternally cherished. My library of books and VHS tapes from my childhood, on the other hand, are worthless, silly, and immature. And where I will stand up for myself when he acts that way, my younger brother often won’t, and even I sometimes didn’t when I was younger. And that cost me a lot of childhood memories; my Dad gave a way a lot of stuff I wish I still had because I didn’t use to have the confidence to stand up to him. It’s only a relief that I didn’t lose my charitable nature.
B) Mamas things--old cookbooks and scraps of cloth--are not immediately useful, I'll admit. If she really does not ever plan to use the recipes in the cookbooks, sure, donate those. But the scraps? The book never mentions what becomes of them, so they are presumably either still lying around the house or in the trashcan. One of these is significantly more irresponsible than the other, but neither optimizes the items’ worth. My suggestions? Mama Bear loves to sow/knit/etcetera, and she’s on a charity kick. So why not make something out of the scraps? Blankets, maybe. Scrunchies. Napkins. Whatever. Keep what you like, donate the rest. Alternately, sell what you make and donate the proceeds. It gets rid of the clutter and accomplishes a good deed in one hit. And if Mama Bear doesn’t want to do it herself, there’s always the hope of finding someone else who is interested in doing that themselves.
But it makes up for those shortcomings in other ways; instead of simply dumping their old board games and whatnot at the “Old Bears Home”, they actually donate their time, too, endeavoring to help brighten up the residents’ day.
So it aims for a good moral--one of the best morals I’ve seen in a Berenstain Bears book, as a matter of fact. It gets a bit muddled now and then, but overall, it’s a nice little story with a positive intent and hopefully a positive effect in most cases.
When Mama Bear starts to feel that there’s too much clutter in the Bear family’s home, she connects that thought with her latent middle-class guilt. The solution is simple--donate the clutter. Recycle toys the children don't play with anymore, furniture they don’t want, clothes that don’t fit, and other such unnecessary items by giving them to those individuals who actually will use them. And that’s a great idea; everyone should aim to do that as much as they can, especially if they’re well-off financially.
But there’s some weirdness mixed in. Papa Bear wants go get rid of toys the children still enjoy and play with; the children fight back by pointing out Papa Bear’s collection of effectively "useless" fishing rods and magazines; Papa protests Mama’s collection of cookbooks and sewing scraps.
That’s just getting silly. A) The worst thing a parent can do when trying to instill a pro-charity sentiment in their children is try to pressure the child into giving up things they don’t want to. This one has personally affected me in the past; my Dad thinks of his stuff as priceless collectibles to be eternally cherished. My library of books and VHS tapes from my childhood, on the other hand, are worthless, silly, and immature. And where I will stand up for myself when he acts that way, my younger brother often won’t, and even I sometimes didn’t when I was younger. And that cost me a lot of childhood memories; my Dad gave a way a lot of stuff I wish I still had because I didn’t use to have the confidence to stand up to him. It’s only a relief that I didn’t lose my charitable nature.
B) Mamas things--old cookbooks and scraps of cloth--are not immediately useful, I'll admit. If she really does not ever plan to use the recipes in the cookbooks, sure, donate those. But the scraps? The book never mentions what becomes of them, so they are presumably either still lying around the house or in the trashcan. One of these is significantly more irresponsible than the other, but neither optimizes the items’ worth. My suggestions? Mama Bear loves to sow/knit/etcetera, and she’s on a charity kick. So why not make something out of the scraps? Blankets, maybe. Scrunchies. Napkins. Whatever. Keep what you like, donate the rest. Alternately, sell what you make and donate the proceeds. It gets rid of the clutter and accomplishes a good deed in one hit. And if Mama Bear doesn’t want to do it herself, there’s always the hope of finding someone else who is interested in doing that themselves.
But it makes up for those shortcomings in other ways; instead of simply dumping their old board games and whatnot at the “Old Bears Home”, they actually donate their time, too, endeavoring to help brighten up the residents’ day.
So it aims for a good moral--one of the best morals I’ve seen in a Berenstain Bears book, as a matter of fact. It gets a bit muddled now and then, but overall, it’s a nice little story with a positive intent and hopefully a positive effect in most cases.
May 6, 2023
Excellent! Even adults would enjoy this book about too much stuff!
September 10, 2020
This story is about a family of bears that had a whole lot of stuff. Harboring all these things made mama bear feel compelled to give it to those in need. At first, everyone is reluctant to let go of their things but by the end, they are happy they did. It shows the journey of the bears going to those in need and giving their items to them, and then feeling happy that they did.
I think this book is wonderful! It teaches all about having a giving heart which I don't think is talked about nearly enough. The bears go to places like children's hospitals and nursing homes and it gives children a good idea of where they can go to serve.
I would use this to teach service. I would explain how some have very little, and some have a lot. So much so, that they have things they do not need sitting around and never being touched. I would encourage them to help those in need. And, even if they cannot give things, they can give time. The bears in the book spend time with those in the nursing home.
I think this book is wonderful! It teaches all about having a giving heart which I don't think is talked about nearly enough. The bears go to places like children's hospitals and nursing homes and it gives children a good idea of where they can go to serve.
I would use this to teach service. I would explain how some have very little, and some have a lot. So much so, that they have things they do not need sitting around and never being touched. I would encourage them to help those in need. And, even if they cannot give things, they can give time. The bears in the book spend time with those in the nursing home.
October 13, 2017
I just love the Berenstain Bear's stories! They are all full of love and imagination with a great intake of moral character to teach children everywhere! I highly recommend these wonderful books to everyone, everywhere because you can never go wrong with a lovely family of bears!
"The Berenstain Bears: Think of Those in Need" is a wonderful tale about giving back to those around who might be less fortunate than you. I have found that this is a hard moral trait to teach small children, but I believe that this children's story did a beautiful job at it.
If you find yourself having a hard time of explaining giving back to your small children, I highly recommend this book.
"The Berenstain Bears: Think of Those in Need" is a wonderful tale about giving back to those around who might be less fortunate than you. I have found that this is a hard moral trait to teach small children, but I believe that this children's story did a beautiful job at it.
If you find yourself having a hard time of explaining giving back to your small children, I highly recommend this book.
November 25, 2019
My Review: Each year I try to find some books, especially during the holiday season, to prompt Munchkin and myself to think of others. The Berenstain Bears are always a reliable source for kindness. During the crazy holiday season, when the house really seems to be over flowing with stuff, this was a great book to read. It was nice to see that it wasn't about getting back money for the items the Bears were done with but about giving it to those in need or those who could really use the items.
March 28, 2021
A basic standard Berenstain Bears book. Not something you'd want to read over and over. But a way to have a conversation. In this book it's really on having too much stuff. And maybe figuring out what to do with some of it. Papa Bear isn't all that foolish in this one, which is a plus. And they do a whole bunch of different things with the stuff, but in the end they are still themselves. 3.5 of 5.
December 6, 2021
We love the Berenstain Bears and my last child, Marcos, is currently going through his Berenstain Bears phase. This is another great one. Like most of us, the Berenstain Bears realize that they have way too much stuff and need to purge. So they do a thorough cleaning of the house and take their leftover goodies to an old folks home and a children's hospital. A great book for the holiday season.
October 22, 2020
Good story that illustrates how much stuff a family can accumulate. The family blessed the elderly with their games, cheered up children in the hospital, and delivered household goods to charity. The family enjoyed themselves while playing games with the elderly and joined in song at the charity.
April 8, 2022
This book stimulates my desire to give. I can donate many books and DVDs to others. Now it is just a matter of selecting the mode of donation. But I am too imperfect. I choose to wait until after my delivery arrives.
October 12, 2017
Used it to talk about kindness and compassion in my classroom. It helped give ideas of what do donate and why someone goes through their things they no longer use.
April 2, 2020
Good book to teach your kids to share.
February 27, 2022
The Berenstain Bears books were my favorite when I was little and I love that they touch on important subjects like this one, thinking of those in need.
March 16, 2025
A very heartwarming story about the Berenstein Bears giving to those in need and cleaning stuff out of their tree house.
July 1, 2025
This is a nice children's book.
January 1, 2026
El mensaje esta bonito y las ilustraciones también. A mi hijo no le llamó tanto la atención.
May 5, 2018
Here's a book that hit me just at the right time. As we consider moving, I'm well aware that we have TOO MUCH STUFF. This is something that will likely strike a chord with many big bears and a few little ones as well.
The book is told in a way that's maybe a little preachy, especially with the phrase "those in need" because it gives the idea that people who have little want your junk. I don't say that to be harsh, but because this happened to me.
When the children were young, we lived in the country. My then husband was a pastor, and we had very very little money. So what happened is well-meaning people would take stuff they didn't need anymore and drop it off at the parsonage for us to use. The problem came when word got out, so then whenever there was a rummage sale or someone died, people would then bring EVERYTHING that hadn't sold, and leave it on our porch when we weren't home. During the summer this became hundred of pounds of wanted stuff - most of which was broken, stained, or not usable.
I really really wish that this book had addressed a simple point - NO ONE WANTS YOUR TRASH. If it's broken or stained, poor people don't want another fixer upper. Please just throw away stuff like this. Especially puzzles that don't have all the pieces, or games that are missing parts. Really, it's not useful.
ASK before bringing stuff. Hospitals frequently don't want used toys. And most toy drives don't want them either.
DO take things to thrift stores and organizations like Goodwill.
This is a great book to show a child the importance of culling out stuff. But it needs to be updated on what to do with that stuff. I love how they spend time with the people at the nursing home. I love how generous they are. This is a good book. But when you read it with your child, take it to the next level. Sort your stuff, and find it a new home (responsibly).
The book is told in a way that's maybe a little preachy, especially with the phrase "those in need" because it gives the idea that people who have little want your junk. I don't say that to be harsh, but because this happened to me.
When the children were young, we lived in the country. My then husband was a pastor, and we had very very little money. So what happened is well-meaning people would take stuff they didn't need anymore and drop it off at the parsonage for us to use. The problem came when word got out, so then whenever there was a rummage sale or someone died, people would then bring EVERYTHING that hadn't sold, and leave it on our porch when we weren't home. During the summer this became hundred of pounds of wanted stuff - most of which was broken, stained, or not usable.
I really really wish that this book had addressed a simple point - NO ONE WANTS YOUR TRASH. If it's broken or stained, poor people don't want another fixer upper. Please just throw away stuff like this. Especially puzzles that don't have all the pieces, or games that are missing parts. Really, it's not useful.
ASK before bringing stuff. Hospitals frequently don't want used toys. And most toy drives don't want them either.
DO take things to thrift stores and organizations like Goodwill.
This is a great book to show a child the importance of culling out stuff. But it needs to be updated on what to do with that stuff. I love how they spend time with the people at the nursing home. I love how generous they are. This is a good book. But when you read it with your child, take it to the next level. Sort your stuff, and find it a new home (responsibly).
November 18, 2016
The only other Berenstain Bear book that I just really wanted to rate and review is this one, because I believe it is one of the most perfect books to read to children of any age during Christmas time or the holidays. Mama Bear begins to look around the treehouse and realizes that their family just owns such an enormous amount of material things...things that they don't even need and things that they don't ever use. The family first thought that they could just have a yard sale and make money off of their old items, but Mama Bear had a different idea in mind. The Bear family cleaned out their house and then the story follows them as they go from a nursing home, to a hospital, and then to a charity store dropping off and distributing their goods to those who were less fortunate than them to have so many material things. I definitely want to read this to my future students, and ask them for responses about the story and why it holds such a high importance, and how they could apply the actions of the Bear family to their own life.
September 23, 2009
Wonderful book to model compassion and sharing made doubly good by the fact that the Bear family gives not only donations of materials but also of their time and energy to improve the lives of other bears around them.
As a pagan parent, I appreciate how accessible this book is for non-Christian children. While the book does mention Christmas (when the Bears stop to sing carols outside a thrift store), it models compassion, charity, and community spirit outside of any religious systems.
Great message, gently given, about helping others around you and valuing time spent together above material possessions.
As a pagan parent, I appreciate how accessible this book is for non-Christian children. While the book does mention Christmas (when the Bears stop to sing carols outside a thrift store), it models compassion, charity, and community spirit outside of any religious systems.
Great message, gently given, about helping others around you and valuing time spent together above material possessions.
January 30, 2009
I think this story is as much for me as it is for our girls. It talks about how we have way too much stuff and how we should give to those in need. Our lives have so many blessings and we need to help others where we can; we should not be in such a materialistic race to acquire more and more things, but instead should look to share our blessings.
September 6, 2015
I think this book really teaches a lesson about being appreciative of what you own. I believe it showed children how to give to others who may be less fortunate, but give whole heartedly. Not only did it show how to give but it gave different ways of how giving could help someone in need.
May 23, 2016
Bizarro message for a well intentioned book... We have too much stuff, everyone has varied ideas of value about that stuff, we should donate all that stuff, then contemplate what new stuff we can get now that we have room for more stuff?
September 13, 2016
My son couldn't get over the fact that Papa Bear was shown undressed in the tub. Really unnecessary and detracted from us otherwise enjoying the book.
July 3, 2012
The Berenstain Bears books are always wonderful with great underlying lessons of character and morals in a fun way. Great for young readers.
July 13, 2016
Would have been a perfect universal book without all of the Christmas references.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews