The Berenstain Bears: Trouble With Friends, by Stan and Jan Berenstain was one of my favorite books growing up! Who doesn't love the Berenstain Bears; I think I had them all (that were published at the time). This one was one of my favorites, probably because I was a bossy little girl myself, much like Sister and Lizzie Bruin in this book. In this book, Sister Bear is sad because Brother Bear is always off playing with Cousin Fred, and his other friends, leaving Sister Bear to play by herself. Then one day, she sees a moving van down the road. A new girl cub was moving in... Lizzie Bruin. Lizzie and Sister became the best of friends right away. Then Sister went over to Lizzie's to play school. Both Lizzie and Sister thought they should be the teacher. They got in an argument and Sister left. Later on, Lizzie came by and Sister and Lizzie made up. This is a cute story about childhood friends, who may not always get along, but learn that they should compromise with one another to keep each other happy.
About the Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain started drawing together when they met in Miss Sweeny's drawing class on the first day of art school at Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now called The University of the Arts) in 1941. Stan went into the Army in WWII, and shortly after his return home, Stan and Jan married. They raised two sons, Mike and Leo. In 1962 then introduced the Bear Family in The Big Honey Hunt. Since 1962, they have created over 300 Berenstain Bear books. In 2005, at the age of 82, Stan died, but Jan and her son Mike continue to write Berenstain Bear books.
Genre: fiction, character education.
Theme/Skill: Character Education: How to be a good friend. Compromise with your friends so that you can both be happy. Take turns, and do what others want also (within reason).
Age Level: 2yrs-7yrs.
Pre-reading activity: Students should talk about the importance of being a good friend. What makes a good friend? What makes you think someone is not a good friend? Class discussion.
Post-reading activity: Students should write something they like to do with their best friend and they should draw a picture of themselves with their best friend playing together.
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