The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Grownups

by Jan Berenstain and Stan Berenstain

Book Overview

Illus. in full color. Brother and Sister Bear's parents always seem to be nagging them about something, so the cubs decide to show how their parents annoy them by creating a play entitled "The Trouble... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067983463X
• ISBN13: 9780679834632
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Random House
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Terrific Book!

This book is a hilarious treatment of the subject of seeing things from the other family member's point of view. It's the Rashomon of children's books. When the kids get fed up with their parents' discipline and restrictions (as all kids do), they base a skit in a school play on the situation by showing their parents their own behavior from the kids' point of view. But, then, the parents turn the tables on the kids by acting out the kids' negative behaviors that led to the discipline and restrictions in the first place. Both parents and kids come to understand and empathise with eachother. It's a very clever and sophisticated concept presented in a way that is funny and clear. Even quite young children can "get" this book. And it's a pleasure for adults to read--an important point when you have to read the same book over and over again night after night.

A change of perspective.

The book opens with Papa and Mama Bear in grumpy moods. Papa yells at Brother for taking the sports section of the paper, Mama yells at Sister for talking on the phone too long, Mama and Papa yell at the cubs for playing with their food and for not giving them notes from school on time. The cubs go to school the next day and have to prepare for the Parent's Night Talent Show. After talking with their friends, they decide to put on a play called The Trouble With Grownups, which is the hit of the night. The show reminds the parents what it was like to be a cub. In the morning, the parents switch roles with the cubs so that they can see what it's like to be a parent. At the end they remind the cubs that they will probably be parents someday too, which gives the cubs something to think about.The book never explains why Mama and Papa are so grumpy. However, most children can probably relate because people don't always explain why they are in a bad mood. However, Sister Bear's creation of a bowl from mashed potatoes for gravy was a brilliant example of creativity and it seemed more confusing to me that she got yelled at about it.As a sidenote, I enjoyed this book a little more than I thought I would because it also briefly explains all the work that goes into putting on a play.Overall, this is a good book for both parents and children to read together; it may help children see what it's like to be an adult and it may help parents remember what it's like to be a kid.

The Trouble With Children

The Trouble With Grownups is a good book that every parent should read to their child. Brother Bear and sister bear feel that their parents are to hard on them and let them do nothing. Like most kids they don't relize that it's hard being a parent to. Brother Bear and sister bear get a taste of their own medicine when their parents start acting like them. Finally the cubs relize what things their parents can go through. I think this is a good book because it can teach a child the means of respect in words they can understand. This is a fully illistrated well written book. I to read this as a child and it help me understand the importance of parents and respect. Every child should pick up this book and read it because maybe it will teach them to me a little better to their parents.

The Trouble With Children

The Trouble With Grownups is a good childrens book that every child must read. It will teach them the importance of respecting their parents and show them that even though they may think their life is hard.Their not alone parents also can have a ruff time. In this book brother and sister bear learn this and learn how they've been acting. Their parents start acting like them to show them what it would be like the other way around. I to read this as a child and I to learned my leason. Kids have it to easy these days maybe if they read this book it will teach them the importance of parents and respect.

I love this book!

Brother and sister bear's parents are always nagging about something.So,at the Parents To hog Night,they put on a show called The Trouble With Grownups.