The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers

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A nice way to teach children to be cautious around others. - Rated
Learning About Strangers covers all bases; shows how it is O.K. to say hello and be pleasant, but not overly so. Sister bear is overly friendly; when cautioned by her family she becomes frightened and suspects everyone. Mama bear illustrates with a brilliant analogy with apples. She shows an apple which is ugly and strange looking on the outside, is sweet and normal on the inside; Yet another apple, perfect on the outside, is rotten inside. Mama bear continues to explain most people are O.K. just like most apples are O.K. Later in the story, there is another point taught. Brother bear is playing with sister bear outside when a stranger appears with a big toy airplane and brother is interested. Forgetting to be cautious brother bear is awed by the airplane. The man tries to get him to go in his car and sister bear reminds him that this is dangerous and stops him. The book illustrates nicely, as I've found all the Berenstain books do, important values and attitudes in life. The books also help parents see in the child's perspective as well. As a parent sometimes we forget how the child is thinking. The Berenstain Bear's family is kind of like viewing your own family with the book's typical family scenarios. Enjoy!