“The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore)” is a fantastic book because it takes a very serious issue and makes it comprehensible for children. For example, it describes pollution from the perspective of animals. “If you had a squirrel’s-eye view and were finding fewer and fewer acorns because too many trees were being cut down, Bear Country didn’t look so fine.” The book also acknowledges the effect of pollution on children, specifically. Sister Bear says, “Because we’re the ones who’ll have to live on a messed-up, polluted earth when we grow up!” In addition to explaining why pollution is bad, the book also introduced new vocabulary such as ecology, conservation, and recycle. Although these are fairly big words, the book makes them understandable by defining them in very simple terms. Lastly, the book mentions some ways that we can help reduce pollution such as stating recycling programs, planting trees, and raising awareness. The big idea of the book is to explain the issue of pollution to children and suggest ways to make a difference. ( )

This is a fiction book about the bear cubs of Bear Country trying to alert their community about the trouble their environment is in. The book contains not only very factual information, but also solutions to our environmental problems. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 because I feel that students can read this book and get excited by learning how they can help out the environment even at such a young age. ( )

I saw this book at our library. It came in along with many other Berenstain Bear books, all dolled up in new covers and I thought: `Yes! I bet my kids will love these.'

Boy, I was wrong. First, the text is exceedingly wordy. Second, the word choice is awkward so that this book not a good read-aloud. And third, the wordiness and awkwardness combined mean that the book is not one that is easy for younger children to enjoy.

In this regard, I don't know what 'First Time Books' is supposed to refer to, but it certainly isn't a reference to being a primer of any sort. Nearly half of some of the pages are words. Some of these words include: wanna, professor, cooperate, earthsavers. So you can see that the book is not for beginning readers.

As for the plot, it was well developed at first; but then it fails to deliver at the end. I mean, I applaud their bringing up the topic of pollution. But please, how positively medieval can you get to have Father Bear changing his mind about protecting the environment, not because of the destruction of the earth's beauty, or because the destruction will eliminate resources and species, or even because it might drive up the cost of goods at the store... BUT because he has a nightmare where angry trees chase him around. I think I'd rather have had Papa Bear stand up for what he believes, than to have him cower to dreams.

Our take: Too wordy. My two children who laugh readily didn't think it was funny, and I found it an awkward read-aloud. This won't be one I read to the kids at school.

Pam T~
"Good Books for Kids" ( )

This book is good because it teaches children not to pollute. This is a book for younger children. The family works together to help save the earth and keep it clean. They pick up trash and make sure to recycle.

The Bear cubs learn about the damage that pollution is doing to the environment, but Papa Bear isn’t convinced until he has a dream that the trees are after him. Then he joins them in standing up for the earth with a parade. ( )