Last night, I was remindÂed of our family’s love of The BerenÂstain Bears books. (HapÂpy Sigh.) Before I go any furÂther in my homage, please underÂstand — I’m not claimÂing these books are stelÂlar litÂerÂaÂture. I’m just sayÂing that we read a lot of BerenÂstain Bear books at our house once upon a time, and we loved, loved, loved them. And the we includes me. AbsoluteÂly. Yes, I know they are forÂmuÂlaÂic, preachy, and moralÂisÂtic. ObviÂousÂly, they flaunt flaÂgrant genÂder stereoÂtypes. And norÂmalÂly, I steered clear of such books for my young impresÂsionÂable readers…but goodÂness, we loved those BerenÂstain Bears!
My daughter’s piano teacher remindÂed us of them — she, too, adored the books. We’ve been reorÂgaÂnizÂing closÂets and rooms lateÂly and she comÂmentÂed how much The BerenÂstain Bears and the Messy Room informed her own (now adult) need for orgaÂniÂzaÂtion and tidiÂness. InstantÂly, we all rememÂbered how wonÂderÂful the pegÂboard Papa Bear made was, and how satÂisÂfyÂing and inspirÂing the neatÂly labeled and stacked boxÂes full of BrothÂer and SisÂter Bear’s treaÂsures were.
We conÂtinÂued our love fest, rememÂberÂing togethÂer othÂer imporÂtant books in the series — the mileÂstones and tranÂsiÂtions books, the anxÂiÂety-addressÂing books, the healthy habits series, and the behavÂior modÂiÂfiÂcaÂtion titles — we loved them all! The list of titles is long. (I was amazed how long.) We didn’t have nearÂly as many as there are, but we had a lot — purÂchased for pitÂtance at garage sales, inherÂitÂed from oldÂer friends, resÂcued from the trash bin at the library…. And I must’ve passed them on, because in the recent reshufÂfling of the bookÂshelves not a BerenÂstain Bear book was to be found.
But the lessons remain: kindÂness and gratÂiÂtude are imporÂtant, too much junk food or TV is just too much, takÂing the time to do things right yields betÂter results, and new sitÂuÂaÂtions are less dauntÂing when we know someÂthing of what to expect. We nevÂer watched the TV shows or bought any of the merÂchanÂdise etc., but I’d say BerenÂstain Bears were a sigÂnifÂiÂcant part of our kidÂdos’ childÂhood. And I am not ashamed.
Are there books you read with kids (or have read with them) that you’re just a little…shy about admitÂting to? Books you found in the check-out lane at the groÂcery store, in a bin of dreck at the library, or for week after week in your kid’s backÂpack? You know the ones I’m talkÂing about.
Now, how many of those did you secretÂly love? How many did your kids adore? Did you have a ____________ stage in your household’s readÂing? ‘Fess up! I’ve led the way — WE LOVE (present tense!) THE BERENSTAIN BEARS!
A huge conÂgratÂuÂlaÂtions to you, Melanie, on your upcomÂing novÂel from CanÂdlewick! Now famÂiÂlies will be readÂing YOUR book and lovÂing it!
Thank you, David!!!