The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore)

In this particular story, the Bear family tackles the subject of the environment, including littering, pollution, ecology, conservation and recycling. Father Bear reads an article by Professor Actual Factual in the local newspaper, warning that Bear Country is in serious trouble because of pollution. Papa Bear responds "piffle". After all, he tells the cubs, look how beautiful it is outside our door! Brother Bear points out that the beautiful colors of the sunset they're seeing is actually a result of harmful chemicals. "Piffle", Father Bear again replies. Brother Bear must do a report on endangered species, but the library books aren't much help. He decides to visit Prof. Actual Factual at the museum. While all looked well outside the Bear family stoop, other parts of Bear Country weren't so lovely: a fish is caught in a plastic soda can holder, Grizzly Gus--the local mechanic--dumps oil in the stream (causing the deaths of fish), and black smoke poured out of the chimney's at the old box factory. The siblings ask Prof. Factual to come speak at their school. Inspired by the Professor's talk about the environment, the kids brainstorm ideas for recycling and cleaning up pollution--finally deciding to create the Earthsavers Club. This is a great book for Earth Day or for teaching children about the consequences of pollution and using resources without replacing them. (For example, Papa Bear cuts down trees--but doesn't replace them by planting new ones.) He eventually joins the community environmental bandwagon--but only AFTER a bad dream. (This isn't the first time that a bad dream is the sole catalyst for change in a Berenstain Bear book: The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster is yet another example. So Papa Bear doesn't get reformed by considering the ramifications of his actions--only because he has a dream that trees are chasing him! Personally, I'd have liked to see Papa Bear change his mind because he realizes the error of his ways--not because he's being pressured to kowtow to popular opinion or, worse, just because he had a bad dream! Still, it's an excellent book about personal responsibility and exercising stewardship over this beautiful earth by protecting its resources and advocating change wherever you're at.

This is a great little book to get young children thinking about the environment and ways we can protect the earth. We used it as a starting point for discussion at my daughter's preschool on Earth Day and it really got them thinking about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. My kids love the Berenstain Bears and enjoy repeated readings of the books.

Perhaps not the very best of the B. Bears books, but still really good (more of the book is dedicated to actually dealing with environmentalism than to the typical B. B. family plot--Sister and Brother spot polluters in their community and give advice on how to take care of the earth). This is a practical, readable, enjoyable book on the environment. Stan and Jan Berenstain have covered practically every other subject, and do justice to this one. It's simple, but it will stick with kids (and yes, I think it reads aloud just fine). As usual, the illustrations are great--and kids will find the story of how Papa Bear comes around to helping the environment quite funny.

This book shows kids of all ages how important it is to take care of the earth. Not only does it give examples of how pollution can affect our society, but it also explains what children can do to help. It gets them intrested in nature and the environment surrounding them. The authors cleverly added a special twist to the story, about right and wrong. When my three year old cousin comes over, she enjoys reading the Berenstain Bears. I've noticed that she favors this one and I highly suggeat that you at least check this book out at the library.