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The Berenstain Bears Out West: A Fun Picture Book About Visiting Uncle Tex's Ranch in the Wild West for Kids (Ages 4-8)
Yee-ha! The Bear family is flying over rivers and mountains to get to Uncle Tex's ranch. There is so much to see! Uncle Tex and Aunt Min have plenty of ways to share the fun of the West with the Bear family.
32 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2006
About the author
Stan Berenstain
954 books711 followersStan 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.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 9, 2017
As the Berenstain Bears head out West, they meet up with their Uncle Tex. There, he introduces everyone to the wonders of ranch life, from scenic views to riding temperamental horses. Tex warns Poppa, who does not want to listen and pays the price. After an enjoyable time and some wonderful food, the family must return to the city, with memories of their wonderful Western adventure. Neo enjoyed the rhyming nature of this book, as we were able to pick up words that sounded similar to help with the reading process. He is slowly but surely capturing the wonders of reading, which keeps me vigilant as we forge ahead.
August 31, 2019
I think this is the first I Can Read Berenstain Bear book, and I must not have realized what that meant when I added it 3 years ago. Their picture books tend to be the best, and I discovered I don't like this I Can Read format. Every other line rhymed in that poem style that can translate well to kid's books but didn't here because the sentences were so simple. This is geared towards kindergarten and kids first learning to read short sentences, so the Berenstains weren't at their best.
The worst rhymes for me were:
"Wake up! Wake up,
Papa Bear!
The pilot says
we're almost there."
"Please stay in your seats. Do not stand.
We are about
to land."
"We've got horses,
cattle,
a barn, of course.
This is Red,
my favorite horse."
It was really weak to me to start out talking about horses and then end up talking about horses again. You already mentioned horses, another rhyming word needs to be found so you're not repeating things.
"Cubs, I have ponies
for you to ride.
But first, meet Aunt Min,
my lovely bride."
You don't usually call a woman a bride, unless it's on her wedding day...she would be called his wife but I know they did that to rhyme.
"Red is frisky, as I said.
But be my guest.
You go to it."
"No, Papa! No!
Do not do it."
Seemed like longer, stronger sentences could have been formed that still rhymed. These were way too simple.
Uncle Tex's horse looked so mean, eyebrows drawn down looking like it wanted to kill someone, so I wondered why that was his favorite horse. Also, there was a snot-green pony and I couldn't believe that color was chosen for a horse. Horses don't look like that!
The cover made it looked like it was going to be such a wild west adventure, but it wasn't. Papa immediately decided he could handle Red, except the horse bucked him off and he landed on a cactus. Nothing was made of it; it just showed him dangling over a cactus arm. I thought it would show him covered in needles, but it didn't, and then they were going for a ride. It was a missed opportunity.
I liked the title page showing the image of a cowboy bear bearing down on horseback. It had the western spirit. The book really picked up once they went on their ride in the wilderness. Each page had multiple images, showing parts of the terrain. There were canyons, cliffs, ridges, the Painted Desert (which could have been better because it was only an orange cliff with a smudge of red on it, and natural bridges. I liked how there was an image of each type.
But my favorite part was
"Now think of the things
that are no longer here--
the hopes and dreams of yesteryear.
"And if you use your mind's eye,
you can almost see them
in the sky.
"Pony Express riders
brave and bold,
folks who came west
to pan for gold,
great bison herds
and wagon trains
that reached across
the western plains."
I loved the faint images of the Pony Express rider from the title page, fiercely riding his horse, and the gold miners panning for gold by a stream, each down on their knees holding a pan. They showed a big bison herd, and trains of covered wagons being pulled by cows. That was the best part of the book. The sentences got longer and better with better choices in wording.
But then as Uncle Tex said, the spell was broken, and they left to go have Aunt Min's bbq.
There was a nice image of them all sitting at a picnic table looking out into the desert, a coyote howling on a cliff and the big white moon over the horizon.
It was a bit disappointing because I expected a lot more. If the rest of the book had been like those 4 pages I would have felt better about it and rated it higher. It didn't have enough western flair for me and the writing wasn't as good as their other works.
The worst rhymes for me were:
"Wake up! Wake up,
Papa Bear!
The pilot says
we're almost there."
"Please stay in your seats. Do not stand.
We are about
to land."
"We've got horses,
cattle,
a barn, of course.
This is Red,
my favorite horse."
It was really weak to me to start out talking about horses and then end up talking about horses again. You already mentioned horses, another rhyming word needs to be found so you're not repeating things.
"Cubs, I have ponies
for you to ride.
But first, meet Aunt Min,
my lovely bride."
You don't usually call a woman a bride, unless it's on her wedding day...she would be called his wife but I know they did that to rhyme.
"Red is frisky, as I said.
But be my guest.
You go to it."
"No, Papa! No!
Do not do it."
Seemed like longer, stronger sentences could have been formed that still rhymed. These were way too simple.
Uncle Tex's horse looked so mean, eyebrows drawn down looking like it wanted to kill someone, so I wondered why that was his favorite horse. Also, there was a snot-green pony and I couldn't believe that color was chosen for a horse. Horses don't look like that!
The cover made it looked like it was going to be such a wild west adventure, but it wasn't. Papa immediately decided he could handle Red, except the horse bucked him off and he landed on a cactus. Nothing was made of it; it just showed him dangling over a cactus arm. I thought it would show him covered in needles, but it didn't, and then they were going for a ride. It was a missed opportunity.
I liked the title page showing the image of a cowboy bear bearing down on horseback. It had the western spirit. The book really picked up once they went on their ride in the wilderness. Each page had multiple images, showing parts of the terrain. There were canyons, cliffs, ridges, the Painted Desert (which could have been better because it was only an orange cliff with a smudge of red on it, and natural bridges. I liked how there was an image of each type.
But my favorite part was
"Now think of the things
that are no longer here--
the hopes and dreams of yesteryear.
"And if you use your mind's eye,
you can almost see them
in the sky.
"Pony Express riders
brave and bold,
folks who came west
to pan for gold,
great bison herds
and wagon trains
that reached across
the western plains."
I loved the faint images of the Pony Express rider from the title page, fiercely riding his horse, and the gold miners panning for gold by a stream, each down on their knees holding a pan. They showed a big bison herd, and trains of covered wagons being pulled by cows. That was the best part of the book. The sentences got longer and better with better choices in wording.
But then as Uncle Tex said, the spell was broken, and they left to go have Aunt Min's bbq.
There was a nice image of them all sitting at a picnic table looking out into the desert, a coyote howling on a cliff and the big white moon over the horizon.
It was a bit disappointing because I expected a lot more. If the rest of the book had been like those 4 pages I would have felt better about it and rated it higher. It didn't have enough western flair for me and the writing wasn't as good as their other works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2019
I liked the picture on the opening page of the bear riding on horseback, looking like a picture from the old west.
I didn’t realize until a couple pages in that this was rhyming.
I was very surprised that there was an airport and planes in the Berenstain Bears series. It didn't seem to fit for me.
I thought “cowboy bear” was cute. And how he had a horse named Red because my dad had a horse named Red, too.
Papa Bear gets on the horse, despite his kids and wife telling him not to. He ends up getting thrown and lands on a cactus. The line “you must be a little out of practice. Er, sorry about the giant cactus” was funny.
It was weird of Uncle Tex to say “climb on, Sister” to Sister, because she's not his sister, and it's always weird to me that they don't have actual names.
I liked the rhymes in here:
“Just take a look at how he’s dressed in a ten-gallon hat, chaps and vest, cowboy boots, and all the rest.”
“I’ve got the finest ranch you’ve ever seen, from the Rio Grande to Abilene.”
It really captured the west, with canyons, cliffs, rivers, ridges, the Painted Desert, and natural bridges.
I loved the moment when Uncle Tex said to think of the ‘hopes and dreams of yesteryear’ and how you could almost picture it in your mind’s eye; the Pony Express riders, which was pictured at the beginning pages of the book, gold miners, bison herds, and wagon trains. I loved the yellow color of the pages to show the dream-like images. It was very romantic to think of the past like that.
It said they had dinner under the night sky, but the page was light blue and looked like daytime. The ending felt very rushed to me. I turned the page and they were leaving the ranch, then suddenly on a plane and leaving.
In the end I was disappointed in how fast everything ended up being covered, and how short the book was. And the abrupt ending.
2.5 stars
I didn’t realize until a couple pages in that this was rhyming.
I was very surprised that there was an airport and planes in the Berenstain Bears series. It didn't seem to fit for me.
I thought “cowboy bear” was cute. And how he had a horse named Red because my dad had a horse named Red, too.
Papa Bear gets on the horse, despite his kids and wife telling him not to. He ends up getting thrown and lands on a cactus. The line “you must be a little out of practice. Er, sorry about the giant cactus” was funny.
It was weird of Uncle Tex to say “climb on, Sister” to Sister, because she's not his sister, and it's always weird to me that they don't have actual names.
I liked the rhymes in here:
“Just take a look at how he’s dressed in a ten-gallon hat, chaps and vest, cowboy boots, and all the rest.”
“I’ve got the finest ranch you’ve ever seen, from the Rio Grande to Abilene.”
It really captured the west, with canyons, cliffs, rivers, ridges, the Painted Desert, and natural bridges.
I loved the moment when Uncle Tex said to think of the ‘hopes and dreams of yesteryear’ and how you could almost picture it in your mind’s eye; the Pony Express riders, which was pictured at the beginning pages of the book, gold miners, bison herds, and wagon trains. I loved the yellow color of the pages to show the dream-like images. It was very romantic to think of the past like that.
It said they had dinner under the night sky, but the page was light blue and looked like daytime. The ending felt very rushed to me. I turned the page and they were leaving the ranch, then suddenly on a plane and leaving.
In the end I was disappointed in how fast everything ended up being covered, and how short the book was. And the abrupt ending.
2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 28, 2024This is an ideal book for your beginning reader. The Bears are taking a vacation out west, visiting a relative who owns a ranch in Texas. Due to the distance they have to take a plane to get to their destination, which it seems is something new for the two children, as they were expecting to take a train. Once there they engage in a number of activities. The two oldest children are provided with ponies to ride. Father insists on trying a horse but that doesn't end well. The story closes with a Bar-B-Q. One thing I note is that the way the book is set up it seems everything happens on the same day. It seems to me that if you are visiting a relative who lives far away your visit is going to be for more than just a day. All well, probably just presented this way due to the fact the book isn't that many pages. Besides that problem isn't going to occur to kids, who is really for whom the book is intended. This is a good book for children. It is easy to read, with the story being told in rhymes. It is also nicely illustrated. However don't think that only children will enjoy this one. Grownups who aren't too hung up with age will also like this one as well. Happy reading.
August 31, 2020
Copyright 2006
Genre is children’s fiction
I enjoyed reading this book because of the Wild West theme and occasional rhyming. I would use this book in my future classroom to discover if my students were interested in ranching, horses or farming in general.
Genre is children’s fiction
I enjoyed reading this book because of the Wild West theme and occasional rhyming. I would use this book in my future classroom to discover if my students were interested in ranching, horses or farming in general.
December 13, 2020
We love the Berenstain bears books!
February 19, 2023
The Bear family visits family in the west and enjoys themselves immensely. This is an easy-to-read book for young readers.
June 15, 2024
6/3/24: Cute Berenstain Bears book. Liked it.
December 19, 2025
5 mins
January 9, 2026
The Bears visit family in the Wild West and learn lessons about ranch life.
August 13, 2009
A book about how the bears go to visit Uncle Tex and his ranch. I think its a good book to go along with the rest of the Berenstain Bears books.
beginning reader
beginning reader
November 26, 2011
I like the BB. This one is written at an early reader level, but it still has the rhyming lines of the more classic BB. A typical adventure.
September 8, 2021
The Berenstain Bears head out West to visit their relatives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2014
I thought this book was very cute and a fun representation of what it's like in the west.
Read
June 13, 2014IIII
March 10, 2016
Cute rhyming book about "Western" activities and landscapes with the uncle of the family "Tex".
Read
July 25, 2011Rhyming verse- good for young readers (or almost readers)
June 1, 2012
36 months -O always likes the BBs. Easy reader version with good rhyming.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews