I have a deep and abiding love for The Berenstain Bears--the origin of which I will have to explain one day. For today, suffice it to say that I still love reading these stories, and they now (in my old age) elicit the most fabulously warm memories of my childhood.The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat is great for so many reasons. First of all, despite the fact that most of us aren't bears that live in a treehouse down a sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country, it is a very relatable story. It tells of Brother and Sister's excitement for the coming holiday, of deciding what to dress up as, of Mama Bear help with the costumes, and of planning activities with friends for the big night. The main plot revolves around a spooky old house--the owner of which is rumored to be quite scary. But Mama and Papa help the kids see that she is as sweet as Halloween candy (lame simile--sorry, couldn't help myself) and as the cubs develop a relationship with her, they also show the rest of their friends how wonderful she is.
As always, very moralistic. And I love it. It is warm. It is sweet. It reminds me of those best days--carving jack-o-lanterns with my siblings, decorating the whole house with my mother, taking photographs in our costumes, running down the sidewalk for the next trick-or-treat, coming home to a nice warm house to dump the loot out of my pillowcase and make trades with my friends, and enjoying the rest of the evening with my mom and dad.
Stan and Jan Berenstain can bring all of those memories out? Amazing.
Happy Halloween, everyone!
4 comments:
I love that book! It is one of my favorite Halloween ones, too. Thanks for bringing back a fond memory.
My kids love this book.
Oh I love the Berenstain Bears! I also really really wanted (/want) to live in a treehouse. I can't wait to read to my little ones.
Oh, I LOVED this book. So much that I made my mom duplicate Sister's costume exactly. And she did. It was my favorite Halloween ever. I wouldn't be surprised if my mom still has my pink leotard and crown somewhere. I really think people are driven by the Spirit to write and I'm sure the Bernsteins are some of them!
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