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The Berenstain Bears
The Berenstain Bears' New Baby
This classic Berenstain Bears story is a perfect way to help a child get ready for a new sibling!听
Come for a visit in Bear Country with this timeless classic from Stan and Jan Berenstain. Join Papa, Mama, and Brother as they welcome Sister into the family and adjust to life with a new baby.
Come for a visit in Bear Country with this timeless classic from Stan and Jan Berenstain. Join Papa, Mama, and Brother as they welcome Sister into the family and adjust to life with a new baby.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1974
138 people are currently reading
2,447 people want to read
About the author
Stan Berenstain
832听books672听followersStan and (often called The Berenstains) were American writers and illustrators best known for creating the children's book series the Berenstain Bears. Their son Mike Berenstain joined them as a creative team in the late 1980s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
September 3, 2018
I believe this is one of the very first of the Berenstain Bears family. This is Sister Bears introduction and yes it is a weird introduction. This is where they made this the series we know today. It is one of the first. We have Bear town and the treehouse and all we know.
As far as my memory goes, from the child's perspective this book is what it feels like for the oldest child. One day Mama is there and then all the sudden there is a baby. Usually she is gone for a few days and family is around, but it kind of works like that for a kid. I know the writers are making the whole birthing thing a non-issue, but I feel like they were focusing on the older child and the experience of all the sudden have a new sibling in the house. It is strange.
So, despite the weirdness of Mama having a baby so quickly and seemingly easily during the day, I thought it was a good book. I felt there was a spark of something in this story, like a seed that was planted that became the rest of these books. I could almost see it and I felt it. Something special. They handled a new baby weirdly and despite that, I think there is still some truth in the story.
The kids love the Bears and they gave this story 5 stars. I don't think the whole birthing thing was a problem for the kids at all. Like I said, I think the point was the introduction of sister bear.
As far as my memory goes, from the child's perspective this book is what it feels like for the oldest child. One day Mama is there and then all the sudden there is a baby. Usually she is gone for a few days and family is around, but it kind of works like that for a kid. I know the writers are making the whole birthing thing a non-issue, but I feel like they were focusing on the older child and the experience of all the sudden have a new sibling in the house. It is strange.
So, despite the weirdness of Mama having a baby so quickly and seemingly easily during the day, I thought it was a good book. I felt there was a spark of something in this story, like a seed that was planted that became the rest of these books. I could almost see it and I felt it. Something special. They handled a new baby weirdly and despite that, I think there is still some truth in the story.
The kids love the Bears and they gave this story 5 stars. I don't think the whole birthing thing was a problem for the kids at all. Like I said, I think the point was the introduction of sister bear.
September 2, 2022
This was such a fun and colourful read. It's about a bear who has outgrown his little bed and he goes out to make a new bed with his father. He wonders what would happen to his old bed, to which his father replies that they will have a new baby in the house and it will be used for the new baby.
When the small bear gets home with his father, he meets his new sister and now he is a big brother. I loved this book, the story was a little too short but I know it is a series and I will continue reading about this bear family. I also loved the bright colours and pictures.
5 stars
When the small bear gets home with his father, he meets his new sister and now he is a big brother. I loved this book, the story was a little too short but I know it is a series and I will continue reading about this bear family. I also loved the bright colours and pictures.
5 stars
November 19, 2018
This is another one my mom got me from a book fair. I liked the Berenstain Bears and had quite a few in the series. I was always really fascinated with the mom鈥檚 outfit. The blue and those polka dots!
December 26, 2019
I got this book as a gift since it's about a boy who is getting a little sister like my brother got me. Sweet and who doesn't love the Berenstain Bears!?
April 23, 2018
2009: This is a cute book in itself and I enjoyed it when I was a child, but it gives a pretty bad portrayal of how new babies actually come and what life with them is like.
2018: My son is growing out of his toddler bed, and I remembered this book and had to get it from the library. It's much better as a "my bed is too small" book than it is as a "we're having a baby" book.
2018: My son is growing out of his toddler bed, and I remembered this book and had to get it from the library. It's much better as a "my bed is too small" book than it is as a "we're having a baby" book.
December 16, 2014
So funny, to see what was "allowed" and "not allowed" over time. For example, this book was clearly published earlier, so there is a one page explanation that Mama Bear's belly was growing. Years later, when THE BIRDS AND THE BEES came out, Sister Bear goes to the OB with Mama to see the baby bear in her belly.
April 13, 2024
One of the few "coping with a new sibling" books that was on our okay-list when our younger children were born. No trauma, no biting the baby, just Papa Bear and Small Bear, a.k.a Brother, going out together to build a bigger bed--because when he gets home, New Baby Sister will be in the little bed.
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October 9, 2024Mama Bear has the baby on her own and even moves the new bed before the fellas get back. Whoa.
October 13, 2018
If you have a little one and another one on the way, this may be an excellent book to pick up. The Berenstain鈥檚 do a fantastic job of having Papa and Mama Bear talk Brother through the process of a baby on the way and not just pointing out the adjustments that he will have to make but also the new responsibilities and pride he can take in being an older brother. They talk about how he can help and try to explain to him, as best you can to a young cub, why the changes are happening. The trip back to bear country to see the newest edition will give young kiddos a bit of a heads up and might help them adjust a tad bit to having a new brother or sister, especially if they have been an only child up to this point. I again highly recommend The New Baby and the Berenstain Bears series as a whole.
October 5, 2012
For those of you adding a second child, this book is a really good book to help child one grasp the concept. We read this book every few days once we were 9 months along with our second, and our 2 year old made a lot of connections from the book when her sister was born. Wish they would have handled the actual birth somehow as Mama is back in the same outfit and assuming she carried Brother's bed into the nursery while Papa was absent during the birthing process. Oh well. Still a good read for the kids.
August 26, 2016
If you are trying to find a book to help with the addition of a new baby in your home, this isn't one I would suggest. But it is a fun story to read otherwise (as long as you don't over analyze it) and my son really enjoys it.
August 11, 2010
Of all the things I've said or done to get my 3 year old ready for a baby brother, this book has done the most to help him understand things. I love when books do more than just tell a story.
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November 8, 2018Berenstain Bears are one of the best children's series that exist!
September 1, 2008
Small Bear (soon to be renamed as Brother Bear) wakes up one day and finds out his bed is too small for him!
So he and his dad go out to make a new bed. And when he gets home, his old bed is given to his new baby sister.
There was no discussion with Small Bear beforehand that he was going to have a new baby sister. There's no discussion in the book about how a baby might affect your life, either for good or bad.
This is not how most people raise children today, I think, nor is it the best way to raise children. Additionally, nowadays it's generally advised that if you're going to hand down the old crib that you dismantle it well before the baby arrives so that your older child doesn't feel directly displaced.
I don't think this book is going to be very useful to anybody expecting a second child.
Incidentally, how much older than Sister is Brother bear? In most books, it's written that they're two years apart, but in this book he's clearly intended to be three or four or five in human terms. Makes my head hurt!
So he and his dad go out to make a new bed. And when he gets home, his old bed is given to his new baby sister.
There was no discussion with Small Bear beforehand that he was going to have a new baby sister. There's no discussion in the book about how a baby might affect your life, either for good or bad.
This is not how most people raise children today, I think, nor is it the best way to raise children. Additionally, nowadays it's generally advised that if you're going to hand down the old crib that you dismantle it well before the baby arrives so that your older child doesn't feel directly displaced.
I don't think this book is going to be very useful to anybody expecting a second child.
Incidentally, how much older than Sister is Brother bear? In most books, it's written that they're two years apart, but in this book he's clearly intended to be three or four or five in human terms. Makes my head hurt!
September 11, 2015
We've had multiple readings of a variety of Berenstain Bears books. The latest read of The Berenstain Bears' NEW BABY (1995) was read immediately following The Berenstain Bears' MOVING DAY (1981). Here's the contradiction that had my little boy hollering out loud, "No, he didn't!!!"
In Moving Day Brother Bear is referred to as "Brother Bear" but is an only child. He lives with his family in a hillside cave halfway up Great Bear Mountain at the far edge of Bear Country. They relocate into "a fine (tree) house--a whole house hollowed out of a great oak. It did need work--the paint was old, there were some broken steps, and some of the bark was loose--but Mama and Papa had great plans for fixing it up.
In NEW BABY Brother Bear is referred to as "Small Bear". Second page in reads, "They lived in a large tree which Papa Bear had hollowed out and made into a house."
I wonder what my little guy will think when he learns about the third child "Honey Bear" and how she comes about and disappears.
In Moving Day Brother Bear is referred to as "Brother Bear" but is an only child. He lives with his family in a hillside cave halfway up Great Bear Mountain at the far edge of Bear Country. They relocate into "a fine (tree) house--a whole house hollowed out of a great oak. It did need work--the paint was old, there were some broken steps, and some of the bark was loose--but Mama and Papa had great plans for fixing it up.
In NEW BABY Brother Bear is referred to as "Small Bear". Second page in reads, "They lived in a large tree which Papa Bear had hollowed out and made into a house."
I wonder what my little guy will think when he learns about the third child "Honey Bear" and how she comes about and disappears.
May 24, 2019
When I was a child I loved The Berenstein Bear books. One of my favorite ones was The Berenstein Bears鈥� New Baby by Jan and Stan Berenstein. This book is a 10/10, it is such a great book especially for children. I love this book because it brings me back to my child hood memories. It shows love and difficulties with adjusting to the new baby and how the kids feel. Sister and brother love the new baby but they find it hard adjusting with mama and papa always taking care of the new baby. They can鈥檛 do as much stuff with mama and papa anymore because they are always busy. But they find away to adjust eventually.
I think young children like elementary kids should read this. It is a good book for entertainment and there are lots of other books so if they love that book they can read more! It may be short but young kids may not like long chapter books they most likely like short bright picture books. I would highly recommend parents to read this to their kids before bed.
I think young children like elementary kids should read this. It is a good book for entertainment and there are lots of other books so if they love that book they can read more! It may be short but young kids may not like long chapter books they most likely like short bright picture books. I would highly recommend parents to read this to their kids before bed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2012
The Berenstain Bears series is one of the biggest children series' in this world today. I personally have read probably 200 different stories all on the Berenstain Bears. This isn't even a series anymore, it's past that stage. This particular short story welcomes the birth of a new baby bear into the family. With this new addition comes things that need to be adjusted accordingly. Mama and Papa Berenstain know that it's going to be hard to adjust to having a newborn baby around the house (mainly for safety precautions). Knowing that, they help out there only son on the adjustments he must make to accomodate for a newborn to ensure it's safe. This is a great life lesson for the young cub, it demands that he become a little more responsible so he can help out his parents a little, not make it harder on them. 4 out of 5 stars.
December 3, 2013
This picture book tells the story of the bear family who is about to welcome a new member to the family. Brother is forced to adjust what he is used to and be a good brother to his brand new baby sister. This book is awesome to read to younger elementary students who most likely either are the younger child or have an older sibling. They are able to relate directly and this book could help to open a conversation among the students about families and the different kinds of families that each student comes from. Also, if a child has parents that are expecting a second child, this might be a good thing that could help them get into the mindset of an older sibling. It provides a setting where new members of the family are celebrated and desired, so that might foster some positive feelings in child who may have dreaded getting a new sibling.
April 1, 2014
Stan and Jan Berenstain were already successful cartoonists for magazines and adult humor books when they began writing children's books. The first story starring the bear family, The Big Honey Hunt, appeared in 1962. Since then, more than 370 Berenstain Bears books have been published, and more than 300 million copies have been sold. What began as an idea sparked by their young sons' love of reading has become over the years arguably the best-selling children's book series ever.
The Berenstain Bears stories have expanded to include picture books, beginning readers, and chapter books--even a hit TV show on PBS. The Bear family has expanded over the years as well. Sister Bear arrived in 1974, and baby Honey joined the family in 2000.
Though Stan died in 2005 and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful bear adventures from his studio in Pennsylvania.
The Berenstain Bears stories have expanded to include picture books, beginning readers, and chapter books--even a hit TV show on PBS. The Bear family has expanded over the years as well. Sister Bear arrived in 1974, and baby Honey joined the family in 2000.
Though Stan died in 2005 and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful bear adventures from his studio in Pennsylvania.
July 5, 2017
This is a favorite from my childhood that I could probably still recite word for word. Considering I became a big sister six times, my family's copy has probably long since been worn out from overuse.
As other reviewers have noted, if you are looking for a book that provides a clear and concise "explanation" for how to be a big sibling or what new babies are like, then there are plenty of other books that can provide that.
Personally, I appreciate this book as it is, because it's not preachy. It's not a "newborn FAQ" in book form. It just tells a simple story of how Brother bear needs a new bed because he's outgrown his old one, and in the process of cutting down a tree and building him a new bed, Papa bear explains what's going to happen to his little bed. By the time they arrive back at the house with the new bed, his new sister is waiting.
As other reviewers have noted, if you are looking for a book that provides a clear and concise "explanation" for how to be a big sibling or what new babies are like, then there are plenty of other books that can provide that.
Personally, I appreciate this book as it is, because it's not preachy. It's not a "newborn FAQ" in book form. It just tells a simple story of how Brother bear needs a new bed because he's outgrown his old one, and in the process of cutting down a tree and building him a new bed, Papa bear explains what's going to happen to his little bed. By the time they arrive back at the house with the new bed, his new sister is waiting.
September 8, 2007
"This way to Bear Country, You'll know when you're there;
As soon as you enter, you'll feel like a bear."
I love the Berenstain Bears' series. This is one of the earlier ones, about the birth of Sister Bear. You can tell it's earlier, because the artwork is pointier, less smooth and rounded, like the art in the later books. But the story is timeless--eldest child deals with the arrival of a new sibling--and the way of life depicted in the book is charming and old-fashioned, with funny little Bear Country twists. I recommend this book as just one of many of the series to parents looking for wholesome but fun reading material for their children, or for adults looking for a easy, nostalgic read.
As soon as you enter, you'll feel like a bear."
I love the Berenstain Bears' series. This is one of the earlier ones, about the birth of Sister Bear. You can tell it's earlier, because the artwork is pointier, less smooth and rounded, like the art in the later books. But the story is timeless--eldest child deals with the arrival of a new sibling--and the way of life depicted in the book is charming and old-fashioned, with funny little Bear Country twists. I recommend this book as just one of many of the series to parents looking for wholesome but fun reading material for their children, or for adults looking for a easy, nostalgic read.
April 11, 2013
This is one of my favorite Berenstain Bears book because it holds a powerful message that is very helpful especially for children who are going to be the older brother or sister for the first time. This tells the story of when the bear family welcomed its newest member: sister bear and it tells of how the members of the family especially brother bear change their lives and get accustomed to having a new member in the family.
LE: After the story you can have a discussion with the class about if any of the children have any younger siblings and what that feels like and what they do. After the discussion you will give them a picture that is split down the middle and one side it says after and you can ask them to draw what their life was before their youngest sibling and what it is now.
LE: After the story you can have a discussion with the class about if any of the children have any younger siblings and what that feels like and what they do. After the discussion you will give them a picture that is split down the middle and one side it says after and you can ask them to draw what their life was before their youngest sibling and what it is now.
June 25, 2011
This is the 13th Berenstain Bears book that I have read. This book is very weird. The father missed the birth of his daughter because he was out chopping wood with his son. The mother gave birth to a baby and it didn't even seem to affect her at all. The baby is big enough to sleep in a regular bed just hours after it is born. Weird. I mean, I know they're bears and not humans, but still. Also, brother bear is supposed to be 2 years older than sister bear so since she is born in this story that would make him 2 years old. How is a 2 year old considered old enough to go out and chop wood with papa bear?
January 18, 2018
What. The. Hell. Apparently its perfectly acceptable to leave your PREGNANT AND SOON TO BE IN LABOR WIFE alone while you go chop wood. Do Stan and Jan really think that the best time to tell the kid about the new baby is the day it shows up?
Was Brother's name really "Small" when he was little? Did they really make such a poor naming decision that they felt the need to change it? Did they have to fill out paperwork at the courthouse?
I would have rather read the book "Berenstain Bears Fill Out Legal Paperwork To Change Small Bear's Name to Something Just As Stupid".
Was Brother's name really "Small" when he was little? Did they really make such a poor naming decision that they felt the need to change it? Did they have to fill out paperwork at the courthouse?
I would have rather read the book "Berenstain Bears Fill Out Legal Paperwork To Change Small Bear's Name to Something Just As Stupid".
January 28, 2018
This is how the Sister Bear came to join the Bear family. I like how we took the story of how Small Bear was outgrowing his bed, and used that to start the story about growing up and how things change. This gradually leads into the idea that a new bear cub will be joining the family.
But is anyone else someone disturbed by the fact that while everyone was gone and Mama Bear was home alone that she went and moved the furniture around the house and then apparently had a baby without any help at all? I'm hoping a neighbor came in at the least.
Yes, I worry too much.
But is anyone else someone disturbed by the fact that while everyone was gone and Mama Bear was home alone that she went and moved the furniture around the house and then apparently had a baby without any help at all? I'm hoping a neighbor came in at the least.
Yes, I worry too much.
November 2, 2012
I'm not too big on picture books but this one was okay. The book teaches a lesson using the little bear cubs and the parent bears. The cubs do as they please and then Papa and Mama Bear teach them a lesson. The lesson they learn is something kids should read so that they'll learn also and understand if they ever come to being taught a lesson. I would recommend this to a first grader or someone who is near that age group because the book was written for kids learning to read.
March 7, 2019
Overall a pretty cute book, and the very first in the Berenstain Bears series, you can tell when you look at the art style for this compared to later books. A bit too cutesy, but then, the first books in any series tend to be a bit more rough compared to later installments.
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July 7, 2011Brennan wants to read this over and over; I'm hoping that's a positive sign that he's going to be excited about welcoming his baby sister in a few weeks.
January 31, 2025
A VERY QUICK, YET VERY CUTE BOOK!
PREMISE: Meet the Berenstain Bears. Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Small Bear. Small Bear has woken up with pain in his knees and aches in his legs. He's grown out of his Small Bear Bed. But Mama Bears knows he's grown out of it just on time!
THOUGHTS: So, for context, I hosted a bingo-board read-a-thon in January (2025) and one of the prompts was to read a book with the word 'new' in it. I was happy to come across a Berenstain Bear book that fulfilled the prompt as a vaguely remember being read some of these books as a child.
The book was incredibly cute and almost makes me want to hunt down the rest!
Special shout out to both Stan and his wife Jan Berestain who did not only a great job writing the book but a supurb one illustrating it.
5 Stars!
xoxo.
PREMISE: Meet the Berenstain Bears. Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Small Bear. Small Bear has woken up with pain in his knees and aches in his legs. He's grown out of his Small Bear Bed. But Mama Bears knows he's grown out of it just on time!
THOUGHTS: So, for context, I hosted a bingo-board read-a-thon in January (2025) and one of the prompts was to read a book with the word 'new' in it. I was happy to come across a Berenstain Bear book that fulfilled the prompt as a vaguely remember being read some of these books as a child.
The book was incredibly cute and almost makes me want to hunt down the rest!
Special shout out to both Stan and his wife Jan Berestain who did not only a great job writing the book but a supurb one illustrating it.
5 Stars!
xoxo.
June 26, 2020
Small Bear is outgrowing his bed which is good timing as Mama is due to give birth to a new baby. He helps Papa make a new bed for himself and looks forward to becoming a big brother. Cute story with great illustrations.
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