This month Max would like to take you on a back-to-school journey with some of her favorite characters—the Berenstain Bears!
Don’t you just love these lovable creatures?
These books, authored by the Berenstain family, feature anthropomorphic bears who cleverly teach readers important lessons about life.
This series, started in 1962 by Stan and Jan Berenstain and currently being written by son Mike, covers family values and other subjects that reflect spiritual themes.
Since many kids are starting back to school this month, Max encourages you to take the kids you know on a road trip or two with her favorite bear family. From learning to be thankful to understanding that forgetting to be mannerly has consequences, these books have provided Max and her brother with many valuable lessons.
In The Berenstain Bears Go to School, Sister is apprehensive about starting kindergarten, but the entire family work together to help allay her first-day fears.
In Report Card Trouble, Brother must face the reality of not making schoolwork a priority, and once again the family members help him see the error of his ways.
Both these books would be great additions to the bedside stacks you might want to accumulate before school starts.
Other back-to-school Berenstain books to consider include The Bully, Go to School, The Homework Hassle, Trouble at School, and Kindness Counts. Many of these books, especially those of the “Living Lights” editions, also include scripture verses.
I included The Berenstain Bears books in Max and Her Stacks because they had such a positive impact on Max and her brother, and Max really does possess stacks of these books!
For parents whose kids enjoy these bear adventures, Mike Berenstain’s Bedtime Devotional provides ninety short entries that include a scripture verse, reflections on the day’s events, and a prayer. From facing bullies on the playground and worrying about being good enough to play a sport to showing patience and kindness to classmates and teachers, these bedtime devotionals encourage kids to be Christ-like and courageous and loving.
According to C. S. Lewis, “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty.”
I agree! While Bedtime Devotionals might be geared toward early readers, I found it to speak directly to me. In the section on “Have Faith,” Berenstain references Proverbs 3:5, one of my favorite scriptures. The “Carry On, Cub” advice is great for everyone!
Before you close your eyes tonight, think a little bit about faith. Prayer is important. It is a way to talk with God. You can pray every day. You can pray at mealtime, bedtime, on the bus, in the kitchen, and at the playground. God is always listening and ready to help. Think about praying tomorrow. Not just at the “normal” times like at dinner and bedtime. But pray on your way to school and when you are helping with the dishes. God likes to hear from you!
Yes! No matter our ages, we can all apply this “Carry On” advice to our lives!
If you take a few road trips with this loveable bear family, I believe you and your own family will benefit.
To date there have been over 400 Berenstain Bears books written about everything from life lessons learned on family road trips to lift-the-flap books to help preschool kids get ready for school.
Because the road back to school is often rough and maybe even a little treacherous for some, exposing kids to moral values and teachings like those found in these bear books can help prepare them for a great school year.
“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”—Ephesians 6:13
“The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books.”—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.”—Robert Frost
“The best way to fight bad habits [is] with good habits.”—Jan and Stanley Berenstain
“Computers have their uses.
They’re great for work or play.
But it’s not a good idea
Just to stare at them all day.”—Jan Berenstain
Proverbs 16:3; Proverbs 1:5; Matthew 11:29; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
#maxandherstacks #berenstainbears #childrensbooks
