The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings

The Berenstain Bears

by Jan Berenstain

Illustrated in full color. Mama Bear is tired of hearing how many Bearbie
dolls Lizzy Bruin has and how many Game Bear video games Cousin Freddy just
got. During a thunderstorm, Mama gets her cubs to realize that love and a good
home are much more valuable than material possessions.

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

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

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]

This Berenstain Bears book is from 1995. I don’t know where the series changed, but somewhere after the height of the 80s they changed their approach to the stories and got more serious. From the start in the 60s the bears were about fun and silliness. They were zany and there was buffoonery going on. They might have had a moral or something serious amidst all the fun, but it was always about fun. Papa almost always made a fool out of himself. That’s where it changed. When Papa stopped being foolish, the series lost its sense of fun.

I actually like the message in this book. It’s very Oprah Winfrey. Be grateful for what you have. They realize they are grateful for their family. It’s a great idea and wonderful to have that in the world. It feels heavy though, like Jan and Stan are trying to hammer the point instead of let the fun be a way to take it in. This is a serious book. The lighthearted fun is not there. Mama and Papa are old and they don’t have fun anymore. I think that’s the problem with these later books in the Berenstain Bear books, they lost their sense of fun.

The kids did enjoy the book. We have been having lots of rain lately, so we read this on a night it was storming and it went with the book well. Afterward, we did talk about what we are grateful of for a few minutes. Both kids love the Berenstain Bears. So the book is nice.

[Paul Large]

I believe that the Berenstain Bears are becoming an under-rated read because most children have not heard of these books. I believe that these books not only are a great read, but they give important moral and value lessons that children need to have. This book, in particular, has a great lesson that is in the book as mamma bear helps her kids understand that material possessions are not as important as family. I think that every child should read all the books of the Berenstain Bears because it will help shape their world in a great way. I would recommend this book to any parent or teacher that is trying to instill values in the children. Stan Berenstain does a great job explaining the situations in this book, and also in this book, there are great illustrations that just bring the book together and help make the book more captivating.

[Tracy Poff]

The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings tells how Brother and Sister Bear come to realize that they have plenty of blessings in life, if only they look for them.

The story opens with Brother and Sister visiting friends, and when they return (just in time, as it begins to rain) they eagerly begin talking about the new toys their friends have. This is, apparently, a regular result of such visits, and Mama is fed up with it. "I've heard quite enough," she says, "about what you don't have." She encourages them to appreciate the things they do have, instead.

...

(The full review is posted on my blog.)

[Dolly]

We've read many Berenstain Bears books and I love that they are fun and teach good, moral lessons. The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish - perfect to engage young children. And the characters are all familiar and have fairly predictable foibles.

This story is a cautionary tale against materialism and tells us that we should be grateful for the blessings we have and not yearn to "keep up with the Joneses." I preach this sermon to our girls constantly and I hope that they are taking it to heart. We really enjoyed reading this story together.

[Rachel Thomas]

title: The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings (picture)
Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain
Publisher: Random House Incorporated
Date of Publication: 1995
Summary: This book was very cute. Brother and sister bear are constantly complaining and saying their friends have more toys than them. A storm hits and their mother tells them to count their blessings. They learn to appreciate what they have. This book taught a good lesson.

[Ayana Mishelle]

This is a great book for teaching gratitude. I use gratitude list with my grandchildren when they start tattling. I say okay tell me what you are grateful for first it works also when children are whinning.this would be a great way to introduce gratitude to children and to talk to them about not bullying each other instead of saying don't bully teach them to be grateful for each other

[Stef]

The word "Blessings" makes me cringe a little, as I have zero interest in and disappointment in regard to the religious-themed Berenstain Bear books. But the message here is not religious: It's just being grateful for and appreciating what you already have, which makes for happier people overall. The final line of the story doesn't make sense to me. Tee hee @ "Bearbie dolls."

[Katt Hansen]

Neither my daughter or I liked this book very much though we couldn't quite put our finger on why. The premise is simple - everyone is starting to envy what others have and they don't, but a simple explanation by Mama Bear to count blessings fixes all that. While the story is sweet and the illustrations very nice, it came off as a little bit preachy, which was too bad.

[Joy]

Small bears get big eyes
when they take off and roam,
and sometimes forget
all the good stuff at home.

Brother and Sister complain about the things that their friends have that they don't and Mama and Papa tell them to count their blessings during a thunderstorm.

[T Crockett]

Has a nice mix of insight into how parents think (and kids act), non-moralizing story telling (the whole explanation around thunder and lightning) and then a nice message about appreciating what you already have. 4yr old enjoyed it

[Rosa Cline]

Berenstain Bears have always been a favorite of mine and this book helps me like them even more. This book helps Mama bear make the cubs realize it's not important what other cubs have or that you don't have the same toys. What matters in the end is having a home and a family that loves you.

[Miri]

When Brother and Sister come home complaining about all the things their friends have that they don't, Mama and Papa teach them about counting their blessing and being grateful for all the things they do have.

[Sarah]

Sister and Brother learn the lesson to count their blessings instead of complaining.

Metaphor: a storm of complaints comes with a real rain storm- the Bears get cozy and safe while they count their blessings of family, safety, and comfort.

[Christy]

Collin loves the Berenstain Bears and this was another great one.

[Slayton]

I made an 80 on the AR Test

[Amanda]

A good one about being grateful.

[Katelyn Warner]

* Long text; for more advanced, focused readers
* Independent reading
* They become thankful for what they have after the power goes out

[Shelly Koressel]

This is a good book to make you think and appreciate the things you have, instead of always getting what you want. Good to reflect and count your blessings. Good for Preschool up to 2nd grade level

[Brittany Lockard]

Good story to read around thanksgiving that talks about counting your blessings and being thankful for what you have.

[Jaime]

We love all berenstain bear books!

[BookeryBliss]

The Berenstain Bears books are always wonderful with great underlying lessons of character and morals in a fun way. Great for young readers.

[Lisa]

Picture Book 15
I love how this teaches kids to be thankful for all what they have!

[Ashlyn Barker-Salyer]

I love the Berenstain Bears series! This book helps children focus on what they DO have, not what they want or don't have. I would recommend this book to friends!

[Steve]

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

[Katie Casey]

I love this bear family and how beautifully they teach great lessons! This one is a great one on how to be happy and content even if you don't get the latest new fad toy.

[Anne]

I love the positive message in this book. My son and I have started counting our blessing before we go to sleep at night. It really makes you think about what you have and be grateful.

[Jess Heimbaugh]

Loved how a thunderstorm could make these four bears thankful... Lots to learn from their heart attitudes!

[Sarah]

Mama teaches the cubs to count their blessings and not their toys.

[Rachel]

This was a really cute book, it really reminded me how much gratitude can change situations, and that it's always a good idea to count your blessings.

[Slow Man]

I was attracted by the cover because it was so well drawn. Then the book has a message. A good message for the young and the old as well. Give a go.