BRN BRS'NEW BABY-PKG

Rating:
Summary: So disappointed!
Review: As a lover of Berenstain Bears books since I was a small child, I was horrified to read this book! All the other reviews capture all that is wrong with this book. We have relied on the Berenstain Bears to get through to our 5 year old for years, so I trusted that this book would help explain a new addition to our family. I could not have been more wrong! It turned into a discussion on all that was wrong with the book- Very confusing for a child. The Berenstains should SERIOUSLY consider rewriting this book as a service to their loyal fans. I must say, this book is atypical and the rest of the series is FABULOUS!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Offensive Book!
Review: I agree with the disappointed reviewer...and more so. This is easily the most offensive kids book in print today! There are so many things wrong with it, one doesn't know where to start.

1.) Presumably, the mother bear has been pregnant for some months (as anthropomorphic bears, maybe nine months?), yet this little boy bear hasn't somehow noticed his mother's growing stomach at all. He just notices that HE is now too big for his bed. Is the child stupid? This just is NOT possible. Even the dumbest child would be keenly aware of the changing shape of mommy.

2.) Apparently, pregnancy, labor and even delivery are the sole responsibility of women. The father bear and the son just somehow amble off into the woods "when the time comes." So...men are apparently useless and unwanted in such circumstances, and, birthing is strictly women's work. Hey, everyone can be offended. We're all winners!

3.) Also, for today's readers/families the gender-based division of labor is a bit much. Even on the morning of the blessed event, the mother makes breakfast and the two males head off to the woods with an axe to chop things down, and then use a variety of tools to make a bed "just in time."

4.) It also sends the puzzling message that it's okay to keep children in the dark about major life events...things they need to know about well in advance. Can you imagine not telling a child that a sibling was on the way, and just showing up with a baby one day? Huh? What universe is this book from?

Rating:
Summary: Not good for showing what happens when new baby arrives
Review: I was dissappointed in the book because I was looking for something to read to my 2 year old which would help her understand what things would be like when new baby gets home. It doesn't even scratch the surface of that topic. It mostly talks about the older child outgrowing his bed and getting a new one so that the new baby can have his old bed.

Rating:
Summary: Help for a new "big-sibling"
Review: Twenty-three years ago, my parents gave me this book to help medeal with the arrival of my baby brother. I read it over and overagain, and it really helped me see that I was the big sister and that new things were waiting for me. I think the other reviewer missed the point about Brother Bear outgrowing his bed and giving it to Sister Bear. The authors were illustrating the exciting changes that were in store for Brother Bear and reinforcing that growing up and changing is a good thing. I will definitly read this to my children when I have them.

Rating:
Summary: A very nice book
Review: We bought several books for my two-year old son to prepare him for our new baby. This book does a nice job talking about transitions, specifically growing up and needing a new, larger bed. My son identifies with that, and he likes the story (especially how Papa Bear uses tools to build the new bed). The new baby shows up at the very end of this story, so admittedly, that is not the main focus of this book. (The book might be better titled, "The Berenstain Bears' New Bed".) If you want a book that gives your child details on a new baby (what happens at the hospital, how to breastfeed, how to help take care of it, etc.), then you obviously need to buy a different book. But you probably want to get multiple books on the 'new baby' theme, and this one fits in nicely.

Rating:
Summary: A very nice book
Review: We bought several books for my two-year old son to prepare him for our new baby. This book does a nice job talking about transitions, specifically growing up and needing a new, larger bed. My son identifies with that, and he likes the story (especially how Papa Bear uses tools to build the new bed). The new baby shows up at the very end of this story, so admittedly, that is not the main focus of this book. (The book might be better titled, "The Berenstain Bears' New Bed".) If you want a book that gives your child details on a new baby (what happens at the hospital, how to breastfeed, how to help take care of it, etc.), then you obviously need to buy a different book. But you probably want to get multiple books on the 'new baby' theme, and this one fits in nicely.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best book for a sibling-to-be
Review: We were given this book for our son when I was pregnant with our second child. It's not one I would recommend to any other expectant family -- you can really tell it was written in the early 1970s, its description of the birth of a new baby is so strangely indirect (the pregnancy is discussed very little -- the focus of the story is mainly on building a new bed for the older sibling!) My son also found it upsetting that the son and father in the book go off for the day, and return home to find that, surprise, the baby has been born while they were gone -- he said, "Didn't the mommy go to the hospital? Didn't the daddy help her? Was she all by herself?" Not the best choice for your older sibling-to-be -- we recommend Joanna Cole's books I'm a Big Brother and I'm a Big Sister instead.