00012671

Genre: Modern Fantasy
Age: Primary
Media: Computer

This is a great example of a modern fantasy book for children because the bears are very human-like while they talk and play vidoe games and eat cake but at the same time it is very entertaining. The books in this series are loved by kids and teach great lessons. ( )

Genre: Fictional because bears do not have human qualities as portrayed in this book (such as celebrating birthdays). Media: Computer generated ( )

I love the Berenstain Bears! Sometimes nostalgia is just too strong a force to fight off. This particular title was one of my favorites as a child, and I read it to my own daughter recently. She's still too young to understand it, or even sit still through the whole reading, but I enjoyed revisiting the classic. Sister Bear gets everything she wants for her birthday, only to discover that everything she wants may not be what she needs to make her happy. The illustrations are bright, cheerful, and the story makes its point without being preachy. After all, Sister Bear does get the ponies and the presents and the cake, and no one takes that away from her. To feel better, her friends and family encourage her to open her presents! At the end of it all, the only comment her parents make is that it might have been too much birthday. The story ends with a special family time, to celebrate her new year in a more meaningful way, and though the writers never come out and say it directly, it's clear that this is far more important glitz and glamor of her earlier party. A sweet story that teaches its message gently; I hope my parenting will often be as kind and understanding. ( )

$4.99