The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin

We own over a dozen Berenstain Bear books, and The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin is one of my favorites. True to life, this book tells the story of how Papa Bear is jealous of Farmer Ben's pumpkin patch, and gets quite upset at Farmer Ben's comment that Papa Bear had a "nice little pumpkin patch". Papa Bear wants to win the annual Big Pumpkin Contest...and gets obsessed "The Giant" (the pumpkin he nurtures throughout the story in hopes of winning). As in most of the Berenstain Bear stories, Papa displays his pettiness and other faults, much to the chagrin of Mama Bear. But in the end, the family remembers what it means to give thanks and count your blessings: "It wasn't until they reached the crest of a hill that overlooked Bear Country that Mama decided to have her say. 'I know you're disappointed. But third prize is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, Thanksgiving isn't about contests and prizes. It's about giving thanks. And it seems to me we have a lot to be thankful for.' Perhaps it was Mama's lecture, or maybe it was how beautiful Bear Country looked in the sunset's rosy glow. But whatever the reason, Papa and the cubs began to understand what Mama was talking about." Although Papa Bear's behavior and comments are eyebrow raising (as usual), the story has a wonderful moral and lovely illustrations (especially the sunset and nighttime scenes!).

Be sure not to pass this book up when looking for Thanksgiving books to read to your children. In the classic Berenstain bears style, the cubs learn to be thankful after trying to win a pumpkin contest. They learn quite quickly to be thankful for what they have instead of trying to outdo the next guy and be the best at everything. Even Papa learns a lesson in this one. It's quite cute and a real favorite in our house. Highly recommend!

This book was a wonderful book. In it Papa Bear loses sight of what's important around Thanksgiving when he tries to beat out Farmer Ben in the Pumpkin Contest. After Farmer Ben tells Papa Bear that he has a "nice little" pumpkin patch Papa Bear does everything in his power to nuture his largest Pumpkin he calls, "Giant." Mama Bear tries to get him to realize that there are other things that are more important around this time of year than winning a silly contest. That is why this book would be helpful to little children it tries to help them to realize that they should be thankful everyday for what they have and not be competitive about things that in the long run won't matter anyway.It tells kids that they have a lot to be thankful for and that they should remember those things everyday.I would recommend it to any child who needs to learn the value of day to day life and how to respect and love everything about it.

It's Thanksgiving again, and time for the Pumpkin Contest!!! Papa is determined to beat Farmer Ben with his "Giant" pumpkin, although Thanksgiving isn't about contests, prizes, movies, TV specials, parades, etc.After hearing about Ben's "Monster" pumpkin, Papa and the cubs go spying on it, but Ben catches them in the act, thinking they're "prowlers in the pumpkin feild!", so they don't get a chance of seeing it.Papa loses again (I think Ben cheated!), until Mama tells him about the spirit of Thanksgiving. Where's the jazz about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans!?