The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day

Author/Illustrator: Stan & Jan Berenstain

About the Author:

http://www.berenstainbears.com/

Stan and Jan Berenstain met in an art school in Philadelphia. They became good friends and when World War II began Stan went into the Army. After 3 years he returned and they married shortly after. They introduced their first Berenstain Bears book in 1962 and this book, New Baby, came in 1974 where Smal Bear becomes Brother Bear. They had two children, Leo and Michael, and Michael has become a writer/illustrator on his own and decided to join his parents in the 1980s. They Berenstain Bears books became a popular tv series as well. The Berenstain Bears are also on display in many children's museum exhibits including a permanent one at the Stong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Unfortunately, Stan passed away in November, 2005 at age 82. However, Jan and her son Mike, continue to write and illustrat Berenstain Bears books in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They consider this a beautiful region that looks like Berenstain Bear Country.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: K-2
Theme: New Adventures/Beginnings

Synopsis:

This book is about the Bear family moving from their cave to their new tree house in Bear Country.  It talks about how it is getting harder for Mama Bear to grow vegetables on the mountainside and the trees Papa Bear needed were starting to diminish in number and it was time to move.  Brother Bear was nervous they would have to leave all his things behind but they packed them up to bring with them.  He was upset he could not bring his friends but his parents assured him that he would make new friends and he would still be able to keep in touch with his old friends.  Sure enough when they arrive at their new home, their neighbors arrived with gifts to welcome them.

Pre Reading Activity:

Activity:

Have each student share with the class if they have ever moved to a different house.  If so, have them share what it was like for them.

Post Reading Activity:

Activity:
After reading the story, have students write in their journals what they would make sure would be packed to take to a new house if they ever had to move!  They can also talk about what it would be like if they had to change schools and be the new kid in school!

Reflection:

I think this is a great book to use because it has students think of what they would need/want to bring when they move into a new house.  They would also be able to share what they would have to leave behind and how they could keep in touch with friends they already have.  They could also branch out and say what they think it would be like if they were the new kid in school.