The Berenstain Bears: Mama's Helpers: Level 1

The Berenstain Bears Good Deed Scouts

by Jan Berenstain

The Good Deed Scouts are a group of bear cubs committed to doing a good deed each and every day. In this Berenstain Bears® Living Lights™ level one I Can Read, scouts Brother, Sister, Cousin Fred, and Lizzy set forth to find a good deed to do. The scouts decide that it is a good idea to help Mama Bear with her every day chores around the tree house. Emergent readers quickly learn that with kindness and cooperation, work gets done and then the fun can begin. Biblical values are brought out and Bible verses are quoted in this new addition to the highly successful I Can Read series. In addition to the faith-based messages always found in Zonderkidz books, we have the benefit of having our young readers learn about life’s truths and lessons with the beloved Berenstain Bear cubs.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, 1st Grade

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2011

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

[Dianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but there is just not enough reality in this book for it to fly with children. As I was reading it to my five-year-old, my eleven-year-old daughter gave me a Look. She knew too.

[Emma Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The relatability of the chores and family household is helpful for kids to stay engaged in the story. The illustration in this book is detailed and adds to the plot in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the story itself.

Ideas
Organization

LEXILE: N/A
ATOS: 2.4

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text was a bit hard for very early readers but story kept their attention.

[IUS-F19 Bryce Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goes on to tell about how the family does chores and how everyone can help. It’s a great beginning book.

[Charlie Easterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not that I'm against the inclusion of faith in kid's books necessarily. It's not my thing but I won't way it's inherently a problem. However the inclusion here seemed...random? Also I remember the Berenstain bears being fairly conservative but not inherently religious; when did that happen?

Either way, it's a fairly outdated story for most kids; it feels more like something out of the 70s or 80s. Generic and boring.

[P · Rating 1 out of 5]

ham handed and clumsy inclusion of religion

The og books were great and secular. These newer ones are very heavy on Jesus and light on plot. As though he took his parents' books and randomly added cliche scripture, while keeping none of what made the og books good. I want too teach my kids good morals and values, but if anything they'll become atheists after this heavy handed boring nonsense.

[Midlife Moxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching Berenstain Bear story that is easy to read. My 7 y/o first grader was able to read quickly & easily. He also enjoyed the story.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama’s Helpers is an “I Can Read!” book for beginning readers. It tells the story of the “Good Deed Scouts” who had the dilemma of deciding what their good deed of the day would be. The scouts decide to help their mother for the day, learning about, and completing all sorts of chores, and realizing that chores can be fun and helpful too. If you have young boy or girl scouts in your home this would be an especially good book for them. Jan and Mike Berenstain make a wonderful team creating not only the story, but the easy to recognize artwork as well.

[ReadingWench · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying I am a huge Berenstain Bear fan. I am not sure on what I think of this new book. There is a bit of religion in this book. Which is a red flag for me. Some people may be offended.

The Good Deed Scouts need to do a good deed, so they help Mama Bear with all the chores around the house.

This is marked by the publisher as a Level 1, Beginning Reading Book. I disagree. It is much to hard for a level 1

AR 2.4

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of man people..." - Romans 16:2

Another fun Christian Living Lights story featuring the Good Deed Scouts. This time around it's Mama Bear's turn to benefit from good deeds. Filled with silly Papa Bear, trial and error on cleaning tasks, memory making fun and memories returning to the surface.

[Lucas A Szari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Teaches good morals. A little more advanced for a true beginner reader, but great overall. Love the occasional little biblical reference

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Naomi.

[Y.Poston]

cute addition

[Lucas]

AR Reading Level
2.4
AR Interest Level
LG
AR Points
0.5