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Two Greedy Bears: Adapted from a Hungarian Folk
Two young bears are out to see the world and are determined to outdo each other. I'm hungry, says one. I'm hungrier, says the other. So who gets the biggest portion of the big, round cheese they discover? A sly fox, that's who! The pictures are lively and colorful and so is Ginsburg's text. -- Publishers Weekly
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 2, 2015
I have read many folktales from around the world, but I rarely read folktales that came from Hungary! “Two Greedy Bears” by Mirra Ginsburg along with illustrations by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey seems like a familiar story that I had heard of many times before, but I have never actually read the actual tale of this lesson. Well, now this is the first time I had read the original tale and I loved it!
The book starts off with two young bear cubs running outside to see the world until they stumbled upon a brook. Both of the bear cubs wanted to drink out of the brook, but when one of them replies that he is thirsty, the other one replied that he is thirstier and this leads to the two bear cubs trying to outdo each other by seeing who could drink the most water from the brook. The bear cubs drank so much water from the brook that they ended up having huge stomachaches and they had to sleep it off until the next morning. When the bear cubs felt better the next morning, they continued to explore the world until they found a large round of cheese lying on the ground. The bear cubs wanted to divide the cheese among themselves, they could not figure out a way to divide the cheese equally. So, they started to fight each other until a fox came by and wanted to help the bear cubs divide the cheese.
Will the fox help the bear cubs divide the cheese?
Read this book to find out!
I was seriously amazed at how Mirra Ginsburg made the story as simplistic as possible, while still delivering the message about how becoming greedy can come with its own consequences. Now even though I had read many folktales that dealt with the consequences of greed, this book was quite unique as it showed more about what happens if you let greed get to you, rather than outright telling the reader that greed is never a good thing. I also thought that it was quite hilarious and creative at what happens at the end of this book (I will not spoil it for anyone who has not read this book yet) as I found myself laughing at how the fox solved this dilemma between the bear cubs! Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey’s artwork were truly cute to look at as the two bear cubs had different shades of color as one was brown and the other was yellow as it helps the reader tell them apart. I also loved the fact that the bear cubs were round and fluffy as it shows how innocent they are and yet, they do not understand about greed and therefore they get themselves into trouble whenever their greed gets the best of them.
Overall, “Two Greedy Bears” is a truly fantastic book for children who wants to learn about the consequences of greed and wants to read a folktale that comes from Hungary! I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
The book starts off with two young bear cubs running outside to see the world until they stumbled upon a brook. Both of the bear cubs wanted to drink out of the brook, but when one of them replies that he is thirsty, the other one replied that he is thirstier and this leads to the two bear cubs trying to outdo each other by seeing who could drink the most water from the brook. The bear cubs drank so much water from the brook that they ended up having huge stomachaches and they had to sleep it off until the next morning. When the bear cubs felt better the next morning, they continued to explore the world until they found a large round of cheese lying on the ground. The bear cubs wanted to divide the cheese among themselves, they could not figure out a way to divide the cheese equally. So, they started to fight each other until a fox came by and wanted to help the bear cubs divide the cheese.
Will the fox help the bear cubs divide the cheese?
Read this book to find out!
I was seriously amazed at how Mirra Ginsburg made the story as simplistic as possible, while still delivering the message about how becoming greedy can come with its own consequences. Now even though I had read many folktales that dealt with the consequences of greed, this book was quite unique as it showed more about what happens if you let greed get to you, rather than outright telling the reader that greed is never a good thing. I also thought that it was quite hilarious and creative at what happens at the end of this book (I will not spoil it for anyone who has not read this book yet) as I found myself laughing at how the fox solved this dilemma between the bear cubs! Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey’s artwork were truly cute to look at as the two bear cubs had different shades of color as one was brown and the other was yellow as it helps the reader tell them apart. I also loved the fact that the bear cubs were round and fluffy as it shows how innocent they are and yet, they do not understand about greed and therefore they get themselves into trouble whenever their greed gets the best of them.
Overall, “Two Greedy Bears” is a truly fantastic book for children who wants to learn about the consequences of greed and wants to read a folktale that comes from Hungary! I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
July 17, 2014
An old story, I love the folk tale it is based on but I find the art to be horrendous and the writing unimaginative.
May 21, 2022
Two greedy bears make themselves miserable because they refuse to allow the other to have more of anything.
The moral is that greed is destructive.
The moral is that greed is destructive.
September 12, 2011
I choose the children's book, Two Greedy Bears, partially because of the cover illustration, which is two bears fighting over grapes, also, I noticed it was a Hungarian Folk Tale, which I have never read. The cover illustration and title display an excellent glimpse of what to expect, bear cubs fighting over everything. After reading the book, I was not surprised by the plot, but it still taught a lesson that needs to be constantly reiterated. I would recommend this book, the pictures are appealing and plot is entertaining.
June 24, 2018
The fox offers to arbitrate the quarrel over the cheese by making two even halves. By taking one bite after another until it is mostly gone. I had read some other version of this story as a child, although I don't recall if it featured sibling bears.
January 3, 2019
This book is fun and does a good job of keeping little ones' attention. I love acting really dramatic when I read the bears' parts.
June 7, 2008
Fun, simple fable about sharing and being grateful. Illustrations aren't spectacular, but they are cute and fit the tone of the book.
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August 16, 2014Works well to talk with kids during and after story time about what happened and why.
April 28, 2015
cliched and simple.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews