The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners (First Time Books(R))

We have 5-6 of the Berenstain Bears books that we mix into our bedtime reading library. This book, "Forget Their Manners," is especially handy for bedtime reading when I want to stimulate a discussion about a lapse of manners at the dinner table. By the time I finish reading, my children are openly talking about their recent bad manners and resolving to improve their behavior.

In today's culture manners are becoming an increasing issue. Parents aren't sure how to handle their children, without over stepping their boundaries. This book may be a good starting point, on where to begin. The younger the child the better.

This is one of the Berenstain Bears all time classics. It's a wonderful guide to how to achieve better manners in the family.

This book was even better than I thought it would be. My 5 year old actually requests me to read it to her. When she starts to act up, I just remind her to use her manners, just like the Berenstain Bears. Or she will often times use great manners and tell me that she uses good manners just like the Bears. It's wonderful. It's a must-have for all parents with toddlers.

In my opinion, this is THE BEST Berenstain Bears book we have read. It not only does a very good job describing what good manners are, but also why not having them is bad.

The book begins with the cubs displaying some downright familiar examples of bad manners. There is a lack of 'please' and 'thank you' and 'I'm sorry' which leads to the usual sort of familial squabbling. Seeing what's going on, Mama and Papa make a gentle attempt to push the family back on track; but nothing works until Mama creates a chart with a penalty scheme to help everyone 'remember' what appropriate behavior is.

The reaction to the chart is not all that surprising. Brother and Sister Bear think the penalties are unfair. Which is when they decide to undermine Mama's efforts by being so 'super polite' that she will get "fed up and call the whole thing off!" [Ha!] Of course, that doesn't work as we all know that Good Manners lead to harmony and happiness and that you can't really overdo it.

Five Stars. In my opinion this is as good as the Berenstain Bears books get. The message of Good Manners is important, the examples good, and the story is told at just the right level. Okay Read-Aloud.