Pitching Dinosaur Dig (The Berenstain Bears)
By Anza Rizwan
Why this book?
The Berenstain Bears are picture book adaptations of a television series that convey many lessons to its young children's audience. Books are society’s way of teaching us what is acceptable and what is not. Jan and Mike Berenstain do so through the art of storytelling. Brother and Sister Bear both reflect the importance and positive outcome of nurturing children’s books. Young readers are taught manners and universal lessons that will allow them to learn societal rules, roles, and values. This series contributes to the identity formation of young readers in cultivating respectful members of society.
Mirror Mirror on the Wall...
The Berenstain Bears Books illustrate the importance of Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass doors by acting as both mirrors and windows, allowing young readers to see characters like themselves who belong and are valued (mirrors), helping young readers understand their place in the world and help develop an understanding of society (windows). As Professor Emeritus Rudine Sims Bishop has explained, mirrors allow “children to find themselves, their families, and their communities reflected values.” The Berenstain Bears' picturebook acts as the book of rules and lessons through adventurous stories about the bearcubs. Each story teaches a new lesson.
"Berenstain Bears 50th Anniversary - Interview 5." Youtube, uplaoded by BerenstainBearsVideos, 14 Nov. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch
For more insight on the kinds of lessons that The Berenstain Bears have conveyed to its young children's audience through its book adaptations, check out 12 Essential Lessons From Berenstain Bears Books!
Sources
Berenstain, Mike, and Jan Berenstain. Dinosaur Dig. HarperCollins, 2012.
Ribas, Maria. “12 Berenstain Bears Books That Taught US Lessons We Can Actually Still Use.” Bustle, Bustle, 2 Mar. 2015, https://www.bustle.com/articles/63771-12-berenstain-bears-books-that-taught-us-lessons-we-can-actually-still-use.
Video, BerenstainBears. Berenstain Bears 50th Anniversary - Interview 5, YouTube, 14 Nov. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zMeLONUeuM. Accessed 21 Mar. 2022.