The Berenstain Bears and the In-Crowd

The Berenstain Bears

by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

Queenie McBear, the bossy new she-cub in town, tries to take over by putting other cubs down. But she's in for a lesson when Sister Bear decides not to give in to Queenie's peer pressure tactics.  

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Family, Classics, Young Adult

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

Stan and Jan Berenstain (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.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Bear country story. I feel like this one got a bit preachy, but I do like the message it's getting across. Sister Bear is spending the summer at the playground where a new bear is in town and she is older and cooler and makes fun of how young sister bear is. Sister gets upset and she and Mamma have some heart to heart chats. Mamma says some good things.

The story is long and drama filled, not funny like it was earlier. The art is better though, practice making perfect and all that.

Sister decides she likes who she is, which I absolutely love, and she enters a double-dutch contest and wins. She wins back her friends and she doesn't compromise who she is. I love that.

It's not the best Bears story, but it has a good positive message.

I read this on Open Library.

[J.T. IV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering school is in session, and the rampant bullying epidemic that “seems” to be sweeping through our country’s youth, this appeared appropriate timing. The Berenstains do a great job of depicting how cruel being left out, picked on and made fun of can be. They address this in a couple other books as well that I hope to review at a later date. They also do a wonderful job, telling the story through the eyes of Sister Bear, of explaining one of the best ways to handle the situation. If you have a young kiddo who is struggling with bullying at school, this might be a good place to start both for you as the parent and your young one as the kid. It might also be a good book to read if you feel like your child might be the one bullying. At any rate I highly recommend both the series and this book in particular.

[Lucy]

Charlie got this book from a school book exchange during SEP conferences.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Bear learns about what it means to be left out when a new cub - Queenie - moves in and everyone seems to think she's all that. When Queenie starts making fun of her, Sister has to figure out how to deal, and is tempted to try harder to 'fit in.'

The odd thing about this book is that it's Mama Bear who plants that seed that trying to fit in is the first and best solution. She even gets Sister Bear some new and trendy clothes (and we get to see her wearing something other than those pink overalls for a change) and it's Sister who makes the decision that she wants to be herself. I like that Sister is strong and does the right thing, even though it's the harder decision. I'm still trying to figure out if Mama Bear was using psychology to drive her there or whether she's really let us down this time by trying to encourage Sister to go the easy route.

While I like the ending of the book, I can't help but feel that Sister has learned a valuable lesson about who her friends really are. Maybe I'm cynical, but would I trust those girls again when they'd been so quick to turn on me only because something new and shiny came along? I think I'd be wary. Maybe it isn't only Queenie that's learned something here.

Being autistic I'm really not good at social things, or nuances of situations you like this. I've been the victim of this kind of group bullying all my life, and I've done just what sister has - decided to be myself. I wish I understood better the ending - how everything becomes fine again afterwards. Maybe that's a lesson on forgiveness that I sorely need. But in a similar situation what I've learned is not to trust others. I kind of wish there was a follow up book here that shows how to restore those broken friendships. Still, this is a decent book about a difficult situation that at least should open a dialogue with your children when this kind of bullying (and it IS bullying) occurs.

[VampireNovelFan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think there's a very good reason that this book series has spanned decades and maintained popularity. It gives children the chance to think on their own and make their own choices for behaviors that carry over into their adult lives. Many of these issues will be ones that will persist through their lives, just on different levels of course.

Even as an adult we will deal with peer pressure situations where we are out casted from people that were once our friends, or people we want to become our friends. I think sometimes it's good to go back to ideas like this book, naturally not quite as simplistic, but the principle is the same.

*Review also posted to Amazon

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm never particularly thrilled with a Berenstain Bears book, but it does bring up fond memories of reading them when I was a child. Some of these books feel more dated than others, and this one definitely has a strong 1980s vibe. My five-year-old seems to be at about the right age for these, in that he is actually grasping the main idea and the lesson being taught by the story. My two-year-old was reading this with us tonight as well but really wasn't interested, despite the fact that she was the one that picked it out (probably because she was intrigued by the bears on the cover). She wanted to talk about the pictures a bit, but the story was too complex for her.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queenie, a new girl with cool clothes and pierced ears, moves into Bear County. She in short is a jerk. She puts Sister Bear down for what she is wearing and belittles her in front of the other cubs. Sister is upset because most of her friends follow Queenie off to ice cream and say nothing to stand up for Sister. This book did a good job about teaching how to deal with people like Queenie. Also giving parents a great way of talking to their kids about the topic of bullying or putting down others to feel better about themselves.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good lesson in this one about not giving in to peer pressure, and trying to be someone you're not.

Sister Bear is deserted by some of her friends when a new cub named Queenie McBear comes to school and seems so grown up and sophisticated. Queenie makes fun of Sister's clothes and tricycle.

Mama Bear buys Sister some trendy clothes to try to make her feel better, but Sister decided to BE HERSELF!

Things work out in the end when Sister is the champion jump roper, and the other girls want to be on her team.

Read with Logan in September, 2012.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, I remember the horrible Queenie - same name as one of the bitches from the Drina series! I like how a lot of these Berenstain Bears books have similar sorts of storylines to later Simpsons episodes too. Brother Bear was a bit more of a namby-pamby, but you can definitely get the Sister Bear/Lisa Simpson vibe at times.

[Lauren Neale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berenstain Bears series have always been one of my favorites, and many of them tend to send a great message to children. This specific book is great for students who may have a difficult time fitting in, or if there is that one student in the classroom who is trying to boss everybody around. Many students may be able to relate to this book, and hopefully learn from it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that teaches you don't have to be apart of the "In Crowd", just be yourself. That sometimes we don't know other peoples circumstances either, they may react differently because of their situation.

[angrykitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

sister was such a tool in this one. but really, wasn't sister a tool in just about every one of these books? i think that's why i didn't like this one that much....

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister learns a lesson on how important it is just to be yourself and not try to be someone you're not just to fit in.

[Cece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to read to students and talk about one's sense of self-worth and not being included to participate with the in-crowd.

[Lidra West · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can always depend on the Berenstain Bears for teach a valuable lesson. This book tells student of how they shouldn't worry about trying to hang with the in crowd.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One sense of self-worth
is often undone
the first time one feels
left out of the fun.

A new girl named Queenie shows up at school and Sister finds herself being left out.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berendstain Bear books never get old :)

[Melissa Housholder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Berenstain Bears book but still a good one. Story about not giving in to peer pressure and accepting being yourself.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awwww yes, one of my favorite of the newer Berenstain Bear books. Gets at how nuanced dealing with the popular group can be -- there's no real quick fix.

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story.
A good one about bullies too, which is timely right now.
I love how Sister stands up for herself!

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has a good solid lesson about cliques and teasing, with some added self-affirmation for good measure.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading the Berenstain Bears books to my children. Each and every one of them sends a positive message.

[T Crockett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is surprisingly not preachy, considering the topic. I like how Mama responds to Sister when she's left out and that Sister finds her own way. I've had kids 4-11 yrs enjoy it.

[Vivienne Noelle Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great berenstain bears story

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving Re-Reading some classics from my childhood:)

[Michelle Hessler]

In this book written by Stan and Jan Berenstain a young bear must come to terms with the fact that there will always be certain groups of people willing to put others down. She learns this lesson one day on the playground where a new bear has shown up with her new and shiny bicycle. Sister bear wants nothing more than to fit in and thinks of all the ways she can. She wants to be like Queenie McBear and the group that has now turned into Queenie’s followers. So one day her mother goes out and buys Sister a new outfit so that she looks just like all the other bears on the playground. Sister tries the outfit on and comes to a realization. That she, in her bright pink jumper, can just be herself and does not need to try to fit in with the other bears. She understands that there are differences in everyone and that all these differences need to be represented. She decided to be herself and this eventually helps Sister get back all of her old friends as well as some new ones.

The Berenstains’ capture a subject that is very relatable for children in schools, as well as children anywhere. This social issue is one that is becoming more prevalent because of the constant increase of changes in society. The ability to prove to children that changing themselves to impress those around them in this format was wonderful. Children are able to connect so much better with pictures and things they can relate to. The images were drawn very successfully and placed in strategic places to better the text. It was great to see how the emotions of the bears were felt through the illustrations. This is a very important topic for children to be exposed to and for them to understand. They need to understand that there will always be certain people with whom they do not fit in. But that even when this happens they still need to remain true to themselves.

This book can also aid adults in coming to a realization that children do feel these struggles at a deep level. The book is a great way for adults to connect with their children and recall and tell times where this has happened to them as well. Opening up and discussing this issue with children is very important to determine their emotional capabilities on the subject. The Berenstains’ do a great job of bringing this topic into the light. It reveals a theme that bring about empathy for children and the situations they face. This book would be very effective to read to children of all ages who are experiencing this in their lives. The book does a great job of bringing this issue into the light.

[Margo Martin]

The Berenstain Bears and the In-Crowd is a story about a new cub, Queenie, who excludes Sister Bear and Lizzy from their group of friends. This new cub has earrings and a harsh style and lead all of Sister Bear’ friends off to ice cream without her. As the time passes, the Double-Dutch jumping contest is getting even bigger around time. Sister Bear and her team swooped away all of the competition and finally Queenie Bear learns her lesson.

[Jennifer Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Berenstain Bears!!! This story about the “in crowd” shows children that it is okay to be you and not to just follow the crowd. It also is a good reminder to children that just because someone is different that you doesn’t make them less, and bullying is not okay!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reminder to be yourself and to stand up for yourself.

[Rachelolivia]

III