My children always loved Berenstain Bears books. We owned several through the years and they were always well-loved over and over again. Now, my in-home daycare children love them too. I am so excited about my newest role as a Harper Collins Publishing BookLook Blogger. Recently, I reviewed If He Had Not Come by Nan F. Weeks and 7 Days of Awesome by Shawn Byous. A few days ago, I received Mother’s Day Blessings by Mike Berenstain. My youngest daughter who is now 18 briefly reverted to her childhood when she saw the package arrive. She was so excited to see a Berenstain Bears book and remember her childhood experiences with them.
Mother's Day Blessings
The story begins with with a brief explanation of the season. It’s spring and Mother’s Day is drawing near. Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear want to surprise their mother with a gift for Mother’s Day but they need Papa to help them think of something special.
They think of a special place to take Mama and Grizzly Gran after church on Sunday for a double Mother’s Day celebration. On the way to church, the Bear family notices other mamas and children. Mama Bear helps her children appreciate the fact that some mamas have to work on Mother’s Day, like mama doctors, mama farmers, mama police officers, and mama preacher’s wives.
I love that Mother’s Day Blessings teaches children to worship. Within the pages of this story, children not only learn to appreciate mothers on Mother’s Day, but they learn the importance of going to church to worship. The following passage is one of my favorite parts of this story:
Welcome!” began Preacher Brown. “Special Mother’s Day blessings to all the mothers here and everywhere in Bear Country. On this day we give thanks to God for all of you – and for what each of you has done for us – for feeding and caring for us, for guiding our feet in the paths of the Lord, and for raising us to be good, strong, and healthy. As the Bible says, ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches.”At the end of the story, there is a page which lists questions and activities to go along with Mother’s Day Blessings. Literacy based activities help children get more involved with the stories they read. They remember more about the stories and they learn to love reading.
I have to say, as a mom and teacher who values faith-based books and activities, that this is one of my favorite Berenstain Bears books. I am honored to review it and recommend it to you.
