The Berenstain Bears and the Rowdy Crowd: An Early Reader Chapter Book

By Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain

Young readers enjoying their first chapter books are sure to love this addition to the Living Lights™ series of The Berenstain Bears books. Children will learn just how important it is to choose the right friends when Brother Bear starts spending time with Too Tall and his gang.

The Berenstain Bears and the Rowdy Crowd—part of the popular Zonderkidz Living Lights series of books with over 13 million copies sold—is perfect for:

• ?   Early readers ages 6-10
• ?   Reading out loud at home or in a classroom
• ?   Sparking conversations about being a good friend, making smart choices about your actions and who you spend time with

The Berenstain Bears and the Rowdy Crowd:

• ?   Features black-and-white illustrations drawn by the Berenstain family alongside entertaining text
• ?   Allows older fans of the Berenstain Bears to continue enjoying the Bears’ adventures
• ?   Is part of one of the bestselling children’s book series ever created, with more than 250 books published and nearly 300 million copies sold to date

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9780310768098

Stan Berenstain

Stan and Jan Berenstain were already successful cartoonists for magazines and adult humor books when they began writing children's books. The first story starring the bear family, The Big Honey Hunt, appeared in 1962. Since then, more than 250 Berenstain Bears books have been published, and more than 260 million copies have been sold. What began as an idea sparked by their young sons' interest in children's books has become over the years arguably the best-selling children's book series ever. Since their inception, the Berenstain Bears stories have expanded to include picture books, beginning readers, and chapter books—even a hit TV show on PBS. Writing and illustrating the books has become a Berenstain family affair. Mike joined with his parents as a creative team in the late 1980s. The Bear family has expanded over the years as well. Sister Bear arrived in 1974, and baby Honey joined the family in 2000. Since Stan's death at age eighty-two in 2005, Jan and Mike have continued to write and illustrate wonderful new adventures for Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear. They live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which looks a lot like Bear Country.

Book preview

1

So far, it had been a fun summer.

On most days, Sister went to the playground with her best friend, Lizzy Bruin.

They ran around the track.

They pushed each other on the swings.

They jumped rope.

There was always a third for double Dutch.

There was another good thing about the playground.

Teacher Jane was in charge. Teacher Jane was Sister’s teacher. Watching the playground was her summer job.

There wasn’t a lot of trouble at the playground. But there was some. It was mostly caused by Too-Tall and his gang.

They pushed and shoved.

They picked on younger cubs.

They threw hats into trees.

They did all the mean things bullies do.

Then one day, Too-Tall snatched Sister’s best hair bow from her head.

Sister tried to grab it back. But Too-Tall was too tall!

Sister screamed and shouted, Give me back my hair bow, you big bully!

Too-Tall laughed down at her.

Then he threw Sister’s best hair bow up into a tree.

Sister screamed and shouted some more.

That was when Brother came along.

He had been playing basketball with Cousin Fred. Brother marched up to Too-Tall.

He stood toe-to-toe with Too-Tall. His nose came up to Too-Tall’s chest.

Too-Tall really was tall.

Why don’t you climb up and get Sister’s hair bow? said Brother.

Yeah? said too-Tall. What are you gonna do to me if I don’t?

Too-Tall stood nose-to-nose with Brother. He had to bend down to do it. It was scary how big he was.

But Brother stood his ground.

If you don’t— began Brother.

That was when Teacher Jane came