The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving - Christmas Picture Books

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
By Jan & Mike Berenstain
(Scholastic Inc., 2010)

Merry Christmas!

Giving. That's what The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving is all about.

Maybe you've heard it. The gimmee's. Are there any more presents? We're all done? Why can't I have more? I didn't get...

Actually, there is one commercial from this season that I do not like at all. I'm not even sure who the company is that the commercial represents. But I do know that the entire focus of the commercial is "Wha'ja'git?" That question is repeated, repeated, repeated, and repeated from numerous famous cartoon and imaginary characters.

That is NOT the message I want children to learn and inhale about the Christmas season. Not one bit.

Rather, I would have them learn about the joy of giving.

Reading The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving is a great tradition that speaks to the important character trait of giving. Or we could call giving a positive social habit. Or a generous human social trait.

Brother and Sister Bear enjoy the usual trappings of a family and church Christmas. But the ending is what promotes the true spirit of giving. Read this book to find out more.

It's Never Too Late.

Kid Kandy:

~ Give away old toys. Some families have children choose one toy to go out for each new one that comes in.

~ Save change in a jar throughout the year. Carry coins as you go about your errands during the holidays. Let your child put money in the red buckets or donate cash to a shelter.

~ Adopt a family with same-aged children as the ones in your family. Let your child shop for the child his/her age. Wrap the gifts and deliver.

~ Ask your child what he/she would like to do to give. Find a way to do it.