The Berenstain Bears and the Female Fullback

The Berenstain Bears

by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

When Bertha Broom signs up for the football team and is turned down by the coach, a heated political issue ensues and important questions about sexual stereotyping are raised in Bear Country.

Genres: Childrens, Sports, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Fiction

102 pages, Hardcover

First published November 23, 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

[Trevor Bouma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. It was a fun book to read about how a girl wants to join the football team at Bear Country School. Just to give you a hint, not everybody is happy about it. But, They all learn some lessons that's for sure.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new girl student comes to school, and wants to try out for the football team. The coach won't let her try out. The cheerleaders go on strike, and the go to the football practices, and harangue the coach and players. Berth finally gets the opportunity to try out for the team, and the coach learns how good she is, and gives her Too-talls position on the team. At the same time Brother is running for class president against a girl. They tie, and brother feels he has enough to do, and he breaks the ties, by giving in to his opponent'

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's great that kids' books are tackling issues of gender-equality early on, although no doubt as times and views change some will call this book backwards. However, I believe in looking at books in light of when they are written, and when I read this as a kid, it definitely made me go "well, why can't girls do the same things as boys?"

I also like the fact that this is a kids' book with the word "chauvinist" in it.

[Kaitlin Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this feminist take on the Berenstain Bears more than most. The female trying out for football, the ensuing anger, and people going too far on both sides. Eventually she's allowed to try out and smashes the opposition. Too Tall has a surprising moment of kindness.

[Lucy]

It bothered me how many times this book described the boys as chauvinistic ;I avoided saying this to my 9year old not something I really want to explain just yet.Read this book to him at bedtime.

[Rene · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sexist

Nothing good about men was shown\told
I just think that men should have a little more ups instead of downs.

[Melissa -Crazy Lucky Book Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Whether you're a girl or a boy,
everyone deserves a chance,
to prove to their peers,
you don't know someone at first glance."

When a young female cub wants to join the school football team, the mean coach tells her to get lost. This divides the cubs between boys and girls and Brother bear feels caught in the middle. Brother believes girls can play football, but if he voices his opinions he knows his friends will not approve. I think this is a good book to introduce to kids that it doesn't matter what gender you are, you could participate in any activity you want. I don't think this book is dated cause we still want to teach equality to kids. Gender equality is still a major lesson and there are still some areas that are not gender equal. I really like how Brother wants to appease everyone but without denying Bertha should have a chance to play football. It shows he isn't wishy-washy in his thinking. Good book overall.

[Sophia Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bertha Brown wanted to play football with the boys, but the boys say no. The coach does not think she should be allowed on the team either. Papa even thinks it's a crazy idea! In this book, and many of their others, co-authors Stan and Jan Berenstain wanted to portray things they went through as children and things/topics parents would face. the illustrations are all in black in white, which could perhaps represent the fact that this book was not created recently but still holds value today. This book can be used to teach children acceptance of other genders in "new" areas (i.e. girls playing football, boys in the kitchen). This book would also be appropriate for introducing longer more complex chapter books into the classroom.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my 4-year-old, who loves the Berenstain Bears. Fun!

[Jerome Otte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun addition to the series, mainly having to do with sexual stereotypes.