The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best
January 30, 2011
By: Carisa Kluver
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User Rating:
Rating: Not Yet Rated!
The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best
January 30, 2011
By: Carisa Kluver
The Digital Media Diet
The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best by Stan & Jan Berenstain was published in print for the first time in 1992. This version has the addition of Mike Berenstain as an author and was re-published in 2010. Also added was an overtly religious story behind papa's ability to help build the kite for the kids to enter a kite flying contest. I found the religious references surprising since the title didn't indicate anywhere that it was about God. Not that this is a bad thing for a book to emphasize, but why hide it from readers in the promotional info in the AppStore?
Many of the other Berenstain books with religious themes are much more explicit about their religious messages, indicating it even in their titles, so readers are likely to be surprised by this title's references to God, even if that surprise is pleasant. When I checked Amazon.com for reviews, this book only got a 2-star average from 3 reviews, including a mediocre review from Christian Children's Book Review that points out that the story doesn't set a very good example for kids because the dad does all the work when his kids decide to enter the kite contest at the last minute.
The message of the book is based in Proverbs 16:3, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plan will succeed." The book is written in rhyme, which is not typical of other Berenstain Bears titles, but the illustrations are full of the same beloved characters that many children & their parents have loved for a generation.
Like the Seuss books (also by OceanHouse Media), this book is interactive in a way that enhances early reading skills. Most images (of papa, mama, kids, kite and more), will name themselves aloud while the word briefly appears over the illustration. For example, touch the trophy they win at the end and "trophy" appears and is spoken aloud by the narrator. For young readers and pre-readers, the text also highlights as the narrator says each word.
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
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Author/Illustrator:
Stan, Jan and Mike Berenstain
Developer:
Oceanhouse Media
Length (time):
6 - 10 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: Yes
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: No
Age: 3 - 8 +
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
34 Pages
Story Synopsis - The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best
The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best has Brother and Sister Bear wishing they could enter a kite flying contest. But when Papa Bear gets involved he tells them, "I'll make a kite. Just wait and see, with the special talents God gave me!" Papa Bear makes a big red kite out of sticks, paper, string and glue. Mama helps by adding a tail made from a ripped up bed sheet.
They are teased for having a homemade kite. No one thinks it will fly. Then the wind grows too strong for the other fancy kites and with his faith in God, Papa manages to be the only one with a kite that isn't destroyed by the strong winds. A Bible verse is on the last page, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plan will succeed." [Proverbs 16:3]
Orientation: Landscape & Portrait
Format: Universal
Options:
Autoplay, Read-it-myself, Read-to-me, News on/off, Sound on/off
App Release Date:
2011-01-12
Size: 17.6 MB
Version: 1.08
Lite Version Available: No
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