Finding fun and short books for your new reader can be tricky. We've come up with a list of 20 Berenstain Bear books to get your little one excited about reading this summer. The best part? These Random House Publishing books for ages 4 through 8 have been recommended by teachers! This means your kindergarten, first, or second graders will not only enjoy reading, but they will also gain the skills teachers need their incoming students to have.
1. Berenstain Bears Take Turns
Is sibling rivalry hitting hard? Are there constant "that's mine" battles in your household? This 24-page book may teach your preschooler how to take turns and share their toys.
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2. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food
If you want children to eat healthily, this might be a good place to start. Children from 3 to 6 years old will learn all about nutrition in this easy-to-read short story.
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3. Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Chores
Impatient parents: are you tired of asking your young child to clean up after themselves? This funny and engaging story will help kids realize what happens when no one does any chores. Your child may find some internal motivation to help feed the dog after this read.
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4. The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
Stan & Jan Berenstain know your beloved children sometimes need reminders on how to behave. Mama Bear gets her family in line with this picture book. There are even 50 stickers inside!
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5. A Bear Country Alphabet Coloring Book
Sometimes we need a break from reading. This activity book will bring your child on a Berenstain Bear adventure. Children can work on coloring in the lines as they explore the alphabet.
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6. The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room
It's time to clean house with Jan & Stan Berenstain! The bear cubs learn how to stay organized with this helpful tree house story.
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7. The Big Book of Berenstain Bears Beginner Books
Random House Mini-Storybooks puts all the best of the Berenstain Bears together in one catalog of books. The book list includes: The Bike Lesson, The Bears' Picnic, The Bears' Vacation, Bears in the Night, and additional titles such as The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree, and The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone.
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The Berenstain Bears' Financial Book Series
The subsequent books (8, 9, and 10) teach children about the importance of money.
8. The Berenstain Bears' Dollars and Sense
Today's hard-pressed parents might not have time to think of easy ways to explain the concept of money. Papa bear uses this opportunity to ensure all members of the tree house are financially responsible.
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9. The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money
In this educational book, the bear cubs leave their tree house to start a business. Young children will learn how to become entrepreneurs as the book characters set up lemonade stands and start other businesses.
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10. The Berenstain Bears' Piggy Bank Blessings
A happy house exists when people live within their means. Michael Berenstain coauthors this book to teach children how to save the money they earn.
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11. The Berenstain Bears Go on Vacation
Heading to the beach this summer? Prepare your children for your family's next adventure with this sunny book. The silliness is coauthored with Mike Berenstain.
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12. The Berenstain Bear Scouts
Head out on a camping trip with Papa Bear and the cubs. Learn about the "do's and don'ts" of camping in this summertime read. The exciting pictures will take your child on a wild adventure through nature.
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13. The Berenstain Bears Learn About Heaven
Has your family suffered a loss that is hard to describe? This book may help parents explain what happens to family and pets in the afterlife. Mike Berenstain uses pictures and loving words to gently open the hard discussion about death.
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14. The Berenstain Bears Patience, Please
Mike Berenstain uses the magic of gardening to show children how patiently waiting leads to big rewards. Not only will children learn about patience, but they will also see what it takes to build a garden and plant food.
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15. The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies
Need a parenting book to help with compromise? Stan & Jan Berenstain teach self-discipline as the bears go through the grocery store. Children will realize that saying "Gimmie!" can have the opposite effect.
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16. The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Fun House
Does your young reader like to push buttons? This electronic riddle book allows children to explore new sounds with the push of a button. Although it is set for Halloween time, this touch and listen book is fun at any time of the year.
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17. The Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game
Are your kids constantly blaming each other? When a window breaks in the tree house, the bears learn how to own up to their mistakes.
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18. The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster
Stan & Jan Berenstain normalize and work through jealousy when Brother Bear is gifted a new bike for his birthday. Sister Bear learns what to do when she doesn't get what she wants.
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19. The Berenstain Bears: On Vacation! Favorite Book to Color
Pack your crayons and this book to color for your next family vacation. Teachers know that learning to color in the lines helps children develop their penmanship skills.
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20. The Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin'!
Teachers recommend the longer sentences in this book as the content meets the reading standards for children aged 5 to 8 years. Read on to see if Papa Bear's fishing gear is better than the cub's homemade poles.
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21. The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day
Stan & Jan Berenstain decide it's time for the bears to leave the mountains and move into a tree house. If your family is planning on moving soon, this short story may help explain the process of such a large change.
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