The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat (First Time Books(R))

Yes, there is a moral to the story, but mostly my boys just enjoyed it because it was a fun Halloween story. It's one that's been requested by both of them over and over which is a real stamp of approval! Actually, I think this was the book that got each of them interested in the Berenstain Bears - and they're five years apart so each at a different point in time. Don't buy this one for the moral to the story; buy it because it's fun!

The book's message, "appearances can be quite deceiving," focuses on a spooky, old house with an elderly woman named Miz MGrizz. The little bears learn to not judge people unkindly by their appearance.

This is a tricky message as so much of the parental advice prior to Halloween is for kids to be on their guard.

The book does reinforce some great Halloween safety messages:

1. Stay in your own neighborhood.
2. Don't eat the treats until you get home and Mama Bear inspects them.


I also recommend these other Berenstain Bears' books:

* The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight
* The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Commercials
* The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
* The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Chores
* The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners

My 5 year old loved this book, and it's got a positive message too that he goes around saying sometimes. Anybook that can promote fun and safety at Halloween as well as a good message is a great book to share with your children.

Like the book The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors, The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat is a book tackling the subject of prejudice and not judging people by appearances.

However, like the other book, Papa's animosity and presumption is just too over the top--and, in my opinion, reinforces prejudice rather than challenges it.

For example, on the next to the last page, the kids are happily eating their take from Trick or Treating. Papa asks them where the beautiful candy apples came from. Brother and Sister inform him that they came from old Miz McGrizz.

"From that scary-looking old grouch puss that lives down Crooked Lane?", he asks. While the kids were surprised at Mizz McGrizz's kindness and friendliness and learned a lesson about rumors and assumption, the book ends on a rather sour note with Papa Bear's judgmentalism. In my opinion, it reinforces stereotype about the elderly and small-town rumors about "scary old people" who live in a "haunted house".

I feel that The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin is a far better book to celebrate the Fall season (although that one is more about thankfulness/Thanksgiving).

This book has great illustrations because of the night scenes, to be sure, but I don't like how the ending focuses mostly on Papa Bear's insult against Mizz McGrizz (although it's great that the kids, at least, realized the error of their assumption based on neighborhood legend...)

The Berenstain Bears "Trick or Treat" is a good book for the 1st time readers. It tells the story of Brother and Sister on Halloween night. They are scarred to go to Miz McGrizz's house because they think she is a witch. They end up going there trying to cuase trouble but are suprised when they find out that she is a very nice person.