The Berenstain Bears' New Baby

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: Responsibility

Synopsis:

This book is about Brother Bear outgrowing his bed and needing a new one.  He outgrows it just in time because Sister Bear is on her way and will be needing Brother Bear's bed to sleep in.  It shows how Father Bear takes wood and makes a new bed while Mother Bear is at home preparing for the arrival of Sister Bear and making sure the house is taken care of.  It shows different roles each play and when Brother Bear says he is excited to be a big brother, there will be responsibilities that lie ahead!

 

 

Pre Reading Activity:

Activity:

Have each student share what they think the word responsibility means and write it on the board.

Post Reading Activity:

Activity:
After reading the story, have students write in their journals what respsonsibilites they will take on around the house or what responsibilities they already have.  Also have them write down what responsibilities they have at school.

Reflection:

I think this is a great book to use because it has students think of what Brother Bear might have to start doing to help his parents because they have a new baby.  It also lets the students learn the meaning of the word responsibility and how they can be responsible at home and at school.