The Best Berenstain Bears Books to Tackle Common Growing-Up Challenges
by Iva-Marie Palmer
Since their first Berenstain Bears book was released in 1962, Stan and Jan Berenstain have been through a lot with Mama, Papa, Brother, and Sister Bear. From parties and vacations to doctor and dentist visits to dealing with bad habits and fraught social situations, the Bear family has handled many an issue familiar to families today. These storybooks may be slim, but they are perfect for starting broader conversations around common issues that little kids and their families face every day. Here are some of our favorite, most relatable Berenstain Bears books.
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New-Sibling Anxiety
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The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby
Available from:It’s hard to imagine the Berenstain Bears without Sister Bear, but in fact, she didn’t arrive on the scene until this book from 1974. It proved the perfect opportunity to raise Brother Bear’s concerns over what would happen with a new baby in the mix and continues to be a go-to for families welcoming new little ones.
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Popularity Pressures
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The Berenstain Bears and the In-Crowd
Available from:Queenie McBear is new at school and she’s the coolest. Sister Bear wants to be just like her. But she soon finds out that being her Sister Bear self is a far better way to make a new friend. This Berenstain Bears tale is a great one to begin talking to children about the pressures they may feel to change in order to fit in.
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Screen Time Allure
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The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV
Available from:Though this book debuted in 1984, when kids’ screen time took the form of afterschool TV shows and Saturday morning cartoons — not endless streaming options, tablets, phones, and video games — it’s still quite relevant. When Papa, Brother, and Sister Bear can’t pull their eyes away from the tube to see all the wonderful things going on around them, Mama Bear has to stage an outdoors intervention to remind them there’s a world beyond the screen.
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Jealousy Jumbles
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The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster
Available from:If you’ve witnessed your kids whining over what someone else has, it’s only natural. But if you want to keep envy from rearing its ugly head too often, there’s a great lesson to learn when Brother Bear gets a new bike and Sister Bear is deeply distressed. Try this story to teach kids about how to overcome their jealous thoughts.
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Too Much Teasing
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The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing
Available from:Sure, a little teasing is to be expected, especially between siblings. But at times things get out of hand, and it never hurts to teach that even funny things can go a little too far. In this story, Brother Bear is having a little too much fun at Sister Bear’s expense until he becomes the target of teasing himself.
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Party Overload
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The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday
Available from:Birthday blowouts for the kid set should be all fun and games but they also can be overwhelming. As Sister Bear celebrates her big day, she finds that the festivities might be a bit too much. Her family steps in to support her and explain what’s most important about honoring the big day. This one’s a great reminder for kids (and parents) who feel inundated with the pressure to party.
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Mastering Manners
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The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
Available from:Though they may seem simple, manners can be hard to impart because sometimes the rules strike kids as silly. Until, that is, they see what life is like when everyone is breaking them. In this Berenstain Bears volume, Mama Bear has to be the enforcer of etiquette when Papa and the cubs are forgetting to be considerate.
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Fibbing Fallout
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The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
Available from:Many a child has tried to get out of trouble by crafting a tall tale once in a while, but those little lies start to add up and can actually present a great opportunity to talk about the importance of telling the truth. Use Mama Bear’s handling of Brother Bear’s fib when he breaks a lamp while she’s shopping to start an honest conversation.
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Can’t-Get-a-Toy Tantrums
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The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies
Available from:Brother and Sister Bear aren’t acting their best when they can’t have every item they desire, and their parents have to teach them the value of self-control and compromise. It’s a good lesson for kids battling temptation at every turn.
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First-Day-of-School Fears
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The Berenstain Bears Go to School
Even the most confident of kids (or cubs) might find that starting school is a milestone rife with worries: Who will I talk to? What will I do all day? Sister Bear is no different from thousands of readers contemplating the same questions, all of which are answered in a way that will ease young minds about to expand.
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Bullying Behavior
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The Berenstain Bears and the Bully
Available from:When Sister Bear is getting picked on at school, she doesn’t know where to turn. How will she stick up for herself? The Bear family’s handling of the dilemma offers a friendly place to start talking about bullies. However, if your child is dealing with a similar situation, you’ll likely need to call on resources beyond this book.
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Letting Go of What You Don’t Need
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The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need
Available from:A trip to the attic shows the Bears that they might have an overabundance of stuff. When they think about paring down, they realize that there are plenty of people their plenty of things might help. This story is an ideal introduction to teaching kids how to let go of their things in the service of someone in need.
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Friendship Frustrations
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The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends
Available from:Friendship is one of the most worthwhile endeavors but it’s not always easy. Lest kids have a friend issue and think about throwing in the towel, remind them that friendship often must endure ups and downs. In this book, Sister Bear has to find a way to deal with a new friend who can be a bit bossy.
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Try-Out Trepidation
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The Berenstain Bears Go Out for the Team
Available from:Whether it’s for a school play or the basketball team, tryouts and auditions can be tough to get through. (Plus, parents nervous on kids’ behalves don’t exactly make things simpler!) When Brother and Sister Bear go out for the baseball team, their nerves are at an all-time high. This Berenstain Bears book will teach kids about healthy competition and how to channel their jitters in a positive way.
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Tackling a Few Challenges at Once
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Be Your Best Bear!: Life Lessons from the Berenstain Bears
Available from:A must-have for fans of the Berenstain Bears series and families with a few different issues to tackle, this new collection bundles together six stories that present valuable lessons about responsibilities and growing up, including several listed above.
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