Anonymous wrote:They're preachy and have aged poorly there's so much better stuff for kids to read.

They’re so preachy that the ministers’ kids I used to babysit for always ended the book with an “Amen!” It would be like “and brother Bear learned…” and then the kid would say “Amen!”

Anonymous wrote:I tried to avoid books where the fathers are shown as incapable of doing normal household tasks. See also: Peppa Pig.

Daddy Pig is a bit of an expert! I think it's more a dig at engineers...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tried to avoid books where the fathers are shown as incapable of doing normal household tasks. See also: Peppa Pig.

Female here. Agreed. Why is the dad such a doofus? He's also sexist and didn't like mama bear working out of the house. That being said, my kids really liked them. Some of the messages were great too about sharing, being nice to others and not being brats.

I agree with both of these! And also the poster who said they have too many words for a bedtime story. But kids have liked some of these older books so we have them. Not my first choice to read though.

They're preachy and have aged poorly there's so much better stuff for kids to read.

Anonymous wrote:I tried to avoid books where the fathers are shown as incapable of doing normal household tasks. See also: Peppa Pig.

Female here. Agreed. Why is the dad such a doofus? He's also sexist and didn't like mama bear working out of the house. That being said, my kids really liked them. Some of the messages were great too about sharing, being nice to others and not being brats.

Rob Anderson has the best takes on Berenstain books

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu7fMehxifh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvNXJd3OrUM/

Anonymous wrote:I loved the originals as a kid, and I've read many of the originals to my kids and think they teach good lessons (even if some of it, like the one about weight and junk food, is too outdated for my liking). The newer ones that are Christian themed are terrible

OMG - I totally remember that one about junk food from when I was a kid!
I tried reading these with my kids when they were young but did not find that they had aged well, and totally agree with a previous poster that there were too many words for bedtime.

I had a couple from when I was a kid. I discovered that I don't like reading them aloud. The writing in many other pictures books has much better flow.

I enjoyed them as a child and always somehow misread the titles and thought they were Jewish bears (Bernstein) despite no other Jewish references in the book..lol. They fit right in with my family and long Island neighborhood.

Loved them as a child! I have a very large collection as well as entire Dr. Seuss and Jan Brett collections too. Sadly my youngest hates all of them. My older daughter read them all. I am saving them for 40 years until I have grandkids.

My parents kept my collection which I loved as a kid. But I am not a fan as a parent. Lots of outdated trops.

Read originals from family member - Queenie, the messy room, strangers, the gimmes, many good lessons. But am aware of some out of date aspects, particularly a copy called mama goes to work or something (acting like it’s this huge thing) and the stereotyping of mom and dad sometimes. Explain to child a bit

I loved them as kids and mine like them as well.