The Berenstain Bears Go to School

Stan and Jan Berenstain's The Berenstain Bears Go to School is a gentle picture book for 5 year olds about Sister Bear getting ready to start kindergarten.

What happens

Summer's nearly over in Bear Country. There's a nip in the air and the leaves on the tree house are changing colour. Brother announces that he's actually ready to go back to school.

Sister isn't so sure. She likes being at home with Mama and Papa, her books and toys, and all her friends. At bedtime she asks what school will be like.

So Mama takes her to visit first. They meet Handybear Gus fixing the roof, and Miss Honeybear the kindergarten teacher, whose big, jolly voice Sister finds just a little bit scary.

But the classroom is lovely. There are tables and chairs exactly her size, huge jars of paint and a whole barrel of clay. Maybe school will be fun after all?

Then the big morning comes, and all the worries come flooding back. What if she just doesn't like it? (Big brother's answer is to grab her hand and run for the bus.)

On the bus, the little bear sitting next to her looks worried too. So Sister smiles and holds his hand. It's such a sweet moment, and a nice way to show that being kind can help you feel braver.

The first day has everything a new starter will recognise. Squabbles over the same toy truck, story time, painting, a block city, a giant clay doughnut, snack time and even a nap.

And the ending is really clever. A few days later it's Brother who wishes it was still the holidays, and Sister who tells him school is fun.

If you've got a little one about to start school, this is a lovely way to talk about it before the day comes. It's honest that it can feel scary, without making a big deal of it.

What to read next

And if they enjoy Sister's first times, The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist has her wobbling a loose tooth all the way through Brother's check-up.