The Berenstain Bears Accept No Substitutes

If you're like me and you're in your mid-20s, then you probably remember reading Berenstain Bears books when you were a kid. But what some people don't know is that around 1993, Stan and Jan Berenstain decided to add a new division of books in addition to First Time Readers and First Time Books -- Big Chapter Books (in order words, novels). Accept No Substitutes is one of those books, and it is an interesting story about mild-mannered substitute teacher Ms. Barr, who doesn't know that she is going to be the victim of foul play by Too-Tall Grizzly. But soon Brother Bear, Cousin Fred and Barry Bruin get caught up in the "fun" and wind up playing tricks on Ms. Barr themselves. Things take a turn, however, in the end when the students learn of Ms. Barr's true nature. This is a very good book for kids, but half a star had to be taken off for one character: Barry Bruin. Where exactly did he come from? He is described as being Lizzy Bruin's older brother, but when Lizzy was introduced in The Trouble With Friends, she was an only cub. Now she has a brother all of a sudden? Oh well, this is still a nice book for parents to read to their kids -- or for older kids to read by themselves. Anthony Rupert P.S. One more thing that's always bothered me for some reason. Cousin Fred -- whose cousin IS he, anyway? Is that really his name or something? (Refer to The Trouble With Grownups, where a presentation was noted as being performed by Brother Bear, Sister Bear, Cousin Fred and Lizzy Bruin.)

When brother bear teams up with too-tall and his gang to try to get rid of their subtitute. It teachs kids that ti is not nice to play tricks on anyone. It is one of my favorite Berenstine Bear chapter books.