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The Berenstain Bears
The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin
Clean copy. No marks or writing on pages.
Paperback
First published September 12, 1990
About the author
Stan Berenstain
826 books667 followersStan and Jan Berenstain (often called The Berenstains) were American writers and illustrators best known for creating the children's book series the Berenstain Bears. Their son Mike Berenstain joined them as a creative team in the late 1980s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
November 1, 2018
Halloween has come and gone, but Pumpkins are still not out of vogue. Pumpkins last through Thanksgiving when they finally become pies. Yum.
I do love Thanksgiving, I think because it is the forgotten holiday. The stores don't push it as it is full Christmas speed ahead. I think I like the quiet of Thanksgiving. There is a page in this story where sister bear is coming in from a day of gardening and she stands on the porch looking out over bear country admiring the beauty and it was a beautiful picture. It felt like a breath after the Halloween season.
In this adventure, Papa is growing a prize pumpkin and wants to win first place at the Thanksgiving fair against farmer Ben. They lose what Thanksgiving is all about and Momma keeps trying to remind them. Being Thankful for our lives and giving gratitude is so important in such a busy life. I really like what this book was getting at. It was a great Berenstain Bears story.
The kids enjoyed this story and a change in pace. The nephew gave it 4 stars while the niece gave it 3.
I do love Thanksgiving, I think because it is the forgotten holiday. The stores don't push it as it is full Christmas speed ahead. I think I like the quiet of Thanksgiving. There is a page in this story where sister bear is coming in from a day of gardening and she stands on the porch looking out over bear country admiring the beauty and it was a beautiful picture. It felt like a breath after the Halloween season.
In this adventure, Papa is growing a prize pumpkin and wants to win first place at the Thanksgiving fair against farmer Ben. They lose what Thanksgiving is all about and Momma keeps trying to remind them. Being Thankful for our lives and giving gratitude is so important in such a busy life. I really like what this book was getting at. It was a great Berenstain Bears story.
The kids enjoyed this story and a change in pace. The nephew gave it 4 stars while the niece gave it 3.
October 19, 2020
Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear get a little carried away in their desire to see their pumpkin, 'The Giant,' win first prize at the upcoming Thanksgiving Festival. Mama Bear tries to remind them that Thanksgiving is about being thankful, but her family is too busy sneaking into Farmer Ben's pumpkin patch, in order to spy on the competition, to listen. When 'The Giant' only wins third place however, they do their best to accept the result graciously, and walking home through their beautiful country, they realize that Mama was right...
I recall reading a number of books in the Berenstain Bears series as a child - The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree stands out in my memory - but The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin was not one of them, being published some time after I had moved on to other books. It's a cute story, following the standard formula of these books (as I remember them, anyhow), offering a story in which the Bear Family learns a lesson. This time, that lesson is about Thanksgiving and (one presumes) not becoming so insanely competitive that it takes over your life. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Thanksgiving stories, or for stories about having a healthy approach to competition.
I recall reading a number of books in the Berenstain Bears series as a child - The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree stands out in my memory - but The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin was not one of them, being published some time after I had moved on to other books. It's a cute story, following the standard formula of these books (as I remember them, anyhow), offering a story in which the Bear Family learns a lesson. This time, that lesson is about Thanksgiving and (one presumes) not becoming so insanely competitive that it takes over your life. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Thanksgiving stories, or for stories about having a healthy approach to competition.
July 19, 2013
I LOVE this book and the message it sends to young children. As a coach and teacher, this is as important to me as any, except reading of course. The family of bears try and try and win the blue ribbon at the pumpkin contest but they come up short, however, they gain more and more knoweldge about the importance of being gracious losers and they also learn about the importance of the festival itself. To me, this lesson of being a gracious loser is invaluable. One must always learn how to lose first before they can truly understand how to win. what a great lesson for children to learn.
February 3, 2016
I originally read this book because it was one of my favorite childhood books and I wanted to see if it lived up to the love I had for it as a child. After reading it I can say it did, and now as an adult, I can also see all of the teachable aspects the book has for children as well. This book is filled with characters with district personalities and great illustrations that make it enjoyable for a child to read. It also has a great message about the true meaning of Thanksgiving hidden inside of the book. This is a book I will read to my students during the time of Thanksgiving because it shows that during this holiday people need to put aside their differences and be thankful for what they have in their lives.
October 15, 2015
love this great story always have.....its not quite time for thanksgiving but its coming up soon. And a few years back my grandfather actually passed away on thanksgiving day.
so always remembering what I am grateful for is hard cause. Deep down even though I can't do anything about it....I wish my grandfather was still around.
but I try to make up for it by remembering what the holiday is truly about.
and living the way i know my grandfather would want me to.
so always remembering what I am grateful for is hard cause. Deep down even though I can't do anything about it....I wish my grandfather was still around.
but I try to make up for it by remembering what the holiday is truly about.
and living the way i know my grandfather would want me to.
October 11, 2018
Thankful.
Another great lesson to be learned by all. Whether a parent or child, The Berenstein Bears hold a special place in everyone’s hearts. It was nice reading this to my daughter, I felt it gave the simplest yet most important definition of what Thanksgiving is really meant to be about.
Another great lesson to be learned by all. Whether a parent or child, The Berenstein Bears hold a special place in everyone’s hearts. It was nice reading this to my daughter, I felt it gave the simplest yet most important definition of what Thanksgiving is really meant to be about.
July 31, 2013
I read so many Berenstain Bears books during elementary school it's ridiculous!
I rated every book that I read during childhood 5 stars.
Why? Well because that was a time in my life when I loved every single thing I read. And because they bring back fond memories. Ah, the joys of being young!
I rated every book that I read during childhood 5 stars.
Why? Well because that was a time in my life when I loved every single thing I read. And because they bring back fond memories. Ah, the joys of being young!
November 27, 2020
You could feel a little more of the original voice here, but I don't really have a preference for specific generations of the Berenstain Bears - it really just depends on each story.
March 27, 2021
Continuing the great Berenstain Bears read and release.
This one is the style I like best. Moralistic and wordy but also slow enough to see the Bears as distinctive people. Papa Bear is not at his best in this one, but he usually isn't - at least he's not at his worst. We get to see some landscapes and the idea of Papa Bear having a friend. And that everything is different, though twins less so. Not great, but not bad. 3.5 of 5.
This one is the style I like best. Moralistic and wordy but also slow enough to see the Bears as distinctive people. Papa Bear is not at his best in this one, but he usually isn't - at least he's not at his worst. We get to see some landscapes and the idea of Papa Bear having a friend. And that everything is different, though twins less so. Not great, but not bad. 3.5 of 5.
November 26, 2022
One of those Berenstain Bears books where Papa Bear acts like a jerk -- this time he goes overboard trying to beat Farmer Ben in a pumpkin contest -- and Mama Bear comes off all self-righteous as she looks askance at his behavior. Not my favorite formula.
November 24, 2016
I liked the cover page with the huge pumpkin and curling vine and leaves. There was a picture tacked to it of the bear family with their big pumpkin. Bear Country was pretty with the sunset sky and big pink sun behind a barn.
It was weird how Papa Bear said “Farmer Ben’s not such a much.” What the heck does that mean? That sounds so stupid. Papa Bear actually sounds the most like me! He took what Farmer Ben said as an insult and grumbled to his family about it. Ben told him he had a nice little pumpkin patch and chuckled as he said it and Papa Bear was mad at him. It was cute how after Papa said it’s time to beat the pants off Farmer Ben and teach him a lesson Mama Bear think “Thanksgiving was about giving thanks—not beating the pants off Farmer Ben.” It was also amusing how Papa stayed with the pumpkin at night and wrapped it up in a blanket. Then the next day he was talking to it, telling it “Come on, old buddy! You can do it! Suck up that water, take in that sunlight!” Mama told the cubs that Papa had read it helps plants to grow if you talk to them, and Brother said he supposed it couldn’t do any harm, but Sister said “It sure could harm his reputation if anybody saw him talking to a pumpkin.”
Brother told Papa that a friend said Farmer Ben had a really big pumpkin he called The Monster, so Papa Bear was determined to see it. He took the cubs into Farmer Ben’s field, until a light shines on them and it’s Farmer Ben yelling prowlers and about to get his pitchfork. Papa tore his overalls climbing through the fence. Kids would get a kick out of that. It’s even amusing to me.
I liked all of the names for the pumpkins at the contest. The Giant, the Monster, Beauty, Boy, the Gourd, Baby, Autumn Gold, Big Orange and Pun’kin. I had seen this episode on TV so I knew what happened, but I still felt bad for them that they didn’t win first or second, and got third instead. Such a disappointment, but it gave yet another opportunity to prove that Mama Bear is always right and knows best and the rest need to be preached to. Her character is pretty tiresome to read about, someone always being right.
The illustrations could have been better, they’re too much like sketches, but I did like the sunset page with the pink and purple sky, big sun and mountains in the distance.
They were thankful for the meal they had to eat, and Sister was thankful they didn’t win first place, because the Giant would be on display instead of made into the pie they were having. It was cute the picture of their tree house that said Home Sweet Tree. The lesson was that they were thankful for a lot of things, like family, friends, neighbors and home.
These stories just seem so short and lacking. I wish they were longer and had more substance to them. Everything happens so quickly.
It was weird how Papa Bear said “Farmer Ben’s not such a much.” What the heck does that mean? That sounds so stupid. Papa Bear actually sounds the most like me! He took what Farmer Ben said as an insult and grumbled to his family about it. Ben told him he had a nice little pumpkin patch and chuckled as he said it and Papa Bear was mad at him. It was cute how after Papa said it’s time to beat the pants off Farmer Ben and teach him a lesson Mama Bear think “Thanksgiving was about giving thanks—not beating the pants off Farmer Ben.” It was also amusing how Papa stayed with the pumpkin at night and wrapped it up in a blanket. Then the next day he was talking to it, telling it “Come on, old buddy! You can do it! Suck up that water, take in that sunlight!” Mama told the cubs that Papa had read it helps plants to grow if you talk to them, and Brother said he supposed it couldn’t do any harm, but Sister said “It sure could harm his reputation if anybody saw him talking to a pumpkin.”
Brother told Papa that a friend said Farmer Ben had a really big pumpkin he called The Monster, so Papa Bear was determined to see it. He took the cubs into Farmer Ben’s field, until a light shines on them and it’s Farmer Ben yelling prowlers and about to get his pitchfork. Papa tore his overalls climbing through the fence. Kids would get a kick out of that. It’s even amusing to me.
I liked all of the names for the pumpkins at the contest. The Giant, the Monster, Beauty, Boy, the Gourd, Baby, Autumn Gold, Big Orange and Pun’kin. I had seen this episode on TV so I knew what happened, but I still felt bad for them that they didn’t win first or second, and got third instead. Such a disappointment, but it gave yet another opportunity to prove that Mama Bear is always right and knows best and the rest need to be preached to. Her character is pretty tiresome to read about, someone always being right.
The illustrations could have been better, they’re too much like sketches, but I did like the sunset page with the pink and purple sky, big sun and mountains in the distance.
They were thankful for the meal they had to eat, and Sister was thankful they didn’t win first place, because the Giant would be on display instead of made into the pie they were having. It was cute the picture of their tree house that said Home Sweet Tree. The lesson was that they were thankful for a lot of things, like family, friends, neighbors and home.
These stories just seem so short and lacking. I wish they were longer and had more substance to them. Everything happens so quickly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2016
I thought it was funny when Papa Bear said no two things in nature are alike, because I immediately thought of twins. &then on the next page Sister Bear mentions her friend’s twin brothers.
The page of Bear Country was so quant-looking, and the writing sounded really good. I was surprised, because I didn’t know they wrote so well. It sounded lyrical.
‘It was well into fall, so the days were getting shorter. Halloween had come and gone. Pretty soon the Bears would start thinking about Christmas. But right now Bear Country was aglow in the setting sun. Farmer Ben’s well-kept farm looked especially fine, with its baled hay, corn shocks, and pumpkins casting long shadows.
It was annoying how the mother stayed out on the stoop, waiting for Sister to come in. She’ll come in when she’s ready. She’s like “It’s the most amazing thing there is” then goes right back to “Come on now, in you go.”
“Farmer Ben’s farm sure looks beautiful in the setting sun.” Yes, it did!
“Farmer Ben’s not such a much.” Who talks like that?
“That’s when we give thanks for all the wonderful…”
“Your mama’s absolutely right,” interrupted Papa.
If he interrupted her, there should have been a dash, not trailing dots. It looked like she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Papa Bear is acting really childish, and not like a good friend at all. I know it’s part of the story, to teach the kid’s a lesson, but it’s hard to believe an adult would act that way in front of his kids.
It’s funny a swindler--funny they called him that and not peddler--happened to be carrying a book on plants.
“Well, I don’t suppose it can do any harm.”
“It sure could harm his reputation, if anybody saw him talking to a pumpkin.”
I didn’t realize until a handful of pages in that this is the same storyline as the episode. So I already knew what was going to happen.
What was different was that Papa took his kids with him to Farmer Ben’s at night. It’s funny how he ripped his trousers.
At the pumpkin contest, The Giant was supposed to be about the same size as The Monster, but it looked like others were the same size/bigger than Papas, like Autumn Gold. That made sense, because that one ended up taking second. I can’t believe I forgot Papa came in third.
Any scene of Bear Country always looks quaint.
Sister had almost the same line she did in the show, but in the show, they invited Farmer Ben for dinner.
Some of the writing was good in here, and the illustrations. What took away from it was that I'd recently watched this episode on TV, so I knew what was going to happen. Some things were slightly different, but it was mostly the same.
The page of Bear Country was so quant-looking, and the writing sounded really good. I was surprised, because I didn’t know they wrote so well. It sounded lyrical.
‘It was well into fall, so the days were getting shorter. Halloween had come and gone. Pretty soon the Bears would start thinking about Christmas. But right now Bear Country was aglow in the setting sun. Farmer Ben’s well-kept farm looked especially fine, with its baled hay, corn shocks, and pumpkins casting long shadows.
It was annoying how the mother stayed out on the stoop, waiting for Sister to come in. She’ll come in when she’s ready. She’s like “It’s the most amazing thing there is” then goes right back to “Come on now, in you go.”
“Farmer Ben’s farm sure looks beautiful in the setting sun.” Yes, it did!
“Farmer Ben’s not such a much.” Who talks like that?
“That’s when we give thanks for all the wonderful…”
“Your mama’s absolutely right,” interrupted Papa.
If he interrupted her, there should have been a dash, not trailing dots. It looked like she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Papa Bear is acting really childish, and not like a good friend at all. I know it’s part of the story, to teach the kid’s a lesson, but it’s hard to believe an adult would act that way in front of his kids.
It’s funny a swindler--funny they called him that and not peddler--happened to be carrying a book on plants.
“Well, I don’t suppose it can do any harm.”
“It sure could harm his reputation, if anybody saw him talking to a pumpkin.”
I didn’t realize until a handful of pages in that this is the same storyline as the episode. So I already knew what was going to happen.
What was different was that Papa took his kids with him to Farmer Ben’s at night. It’s funny how he ripped his trousers.
At the pumpkin contest, The Giant was supposed to be about the same size as The Monster, but it looked like others were the same size/bigger than Papas, like Autumn Gold. That made sense, because that one ended up taking second. I can’t believe I forgot Papa came in third.
Any scene of Bear Country always looks quaint.
Sister had almost the same line she did in the show, but in the show, they invited Farmer Ben for dinner.
Some of the writing was good in here, and the illustrations. What took away from it was that I'd recently watched this episode on TV, so I knew what was going to happen. Some things were slightly different, but it was mostly the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2022
A fun story that doesn't end the way you think and reminds us of thankfulness and looking for the silver lining.
Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: does mention twice that Halloween has passed.
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Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: does mention twice that Halloween has passed.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
November 27, 2014
The Bear family might not win the blue ribbon for their entry in the pumpkin contest during the annual Bear Country Thanksgiving Festival, but they do gain a new appreciation of the true spirit of the holiday and all they have to be thankful for. Mama Bear's reminders about the true meaning of Thanksgiving are left in the dust as the spirit of competition takes over and Papa Bear and the cubs begin a campaign to win first prize in the Thanksgiving Pumpkin contest.
This book is great to teach kids the value of Thanksgiving and that it is not all about materialistic things but being with family and cherishing the little moments. Berenstain did an amazing job getting the message through to the reader, I would consider reading this to my future kids.
This book is great to teach kids the value of Thanksgiving and that it is not all about materialistic things but being with family and cherishing the little moments. Berenstain did an amazing job getting the message through to the reader, I would consider reading this to my future kids.
October 22, 2011
Papa Bear has his heart set on winning the prize for the biggest pumpkin. He waters his pumpkin and fertilizes it, and even talks to it. Mama tries to get his mind off winning, and get him to focus on the beauties of nature and the coming Thanksgiving holiday, but Papa is grimly determined to win the pumpkin contest.
Unlike most Berenstain Bear books, this one is all about Papa. Brother and Sister Bear are minor characters this time, so the book loses a lot of its kid-appeal. We don't really care whether Papa wins the prize or not, and Mama's message about Thanksgiving is diluted. For a good Berenstain Bear book about Thanksgiving, see The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks.
Unlike most Berenstain Bear books, this one is all about Papa. Brother and Sister Bear are minor characters this time, so the book loses a lot of its kid-appeal. We don't really care whether Papa wins the prize or not, and Mama's message about Thanksgiving is diluted. For a good Berenstain Bear book about Thanksgiving, see The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks.
April 30, 2014
Papa Bear has his heart set on winning the prize for the biggest pumpkin. He waters his pumpkin and fertilizes it, and even talks to it. Mama tries to get his mind off winning, and get him to focus on the beauties of nature and the coming Thanksgiving holiday, but Papa is grimly determined to win the pumpkin contest. Unlike most Berenstain Bear books, this one is all about Papa. Brother and Sister Bear are minor characters this time, so the book loses a lot of its kid-appeal. We don't really care whether Papa wins the prize or not, and Mama's message about Thanksgiving is diluted. For a good Berenstain Bear book about Thanksgiving, see The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks.
October 8, 2008
Here is a book with my favorite family in it, this time round; the bear family is trying to raise the biggest pumpkin in all of Bear County. Everyone works together and they try to make their pumpkin the biggest and best. In the end their pumpkin doesn’t win, they make good use of the huge pumpkin.
1. Have the students make a pinyata pumpkin, and hang it in the classroom with a blue ribbon on it.
2. Have the students make a list of all the different things that you can do with pumpkins.
1. Have the students make a pinyata pumpkin, and hang it in the classroom with a blue ribbon on it.
2. Have the students make a list of all the different things that you can do with pumpkins.
July 5, 2023
This story seemed kind of all over the place. For one, it was included in the Berenstain Bear trilogy book called "Happy Halloween," but it's actually about after Halloween. Then there's a little bit of Thanksgiving mixed in. Then there's some "nature is glorious" messaging. Anyway, Papa Bear obsesses over the giant pumpkin he's growing and wants to best Farmer Ben, who always wins the biggest pumpkin contest. When does Mama Bear get to stop playing the straight man and have a little fun? She's such a grownup, man.
February 4, 2008
The competitive side of Papa Bear comes out as he watches "The Giant" grow larger, rounder, and oranger in his pumpkin patch. He reckon's he can even beat the pants of Farmer Ben in the pumpkin contest this year. Mama tries to remind the cubs and Papa that Thanksgiving time is not about "beating the pants off Farmer Ben," but about family and giving thanks. Will she be able to make them take her message to heart though??
January 19, 2012
Despite the fact that the father figure is almost always portrayed as muddleheaded comic relief, a stigma which I don't appreciate in children's books, there are a few Berenstain Bear books that let down their hair, don't try so hard to contrive a story in order to force feed a moral message, and just have fun. In that realm, this one works.
Read
December 6, 2014The Berenstain Bears are planting a pumpkin. Papa Bear wants the pumpkin to win the blue ribbon in the fall festival. He wants to beat Farmer Bear this year and his pumpkin. Will Papa Bear win the pumpkin contest?
I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about competition and what it means to be competitive. I would also use it as a fall book to read to my students.
I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about competition and what it means to be competitive. I would also use it as a fall book to read to my students.
Read
December 10, 2014This is the Thanksgiving story of the Bear Family. They get so caught up in trying to win the biggest pumpkin contest that they forget about the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
This could be used when talking about what people are thankful for. It could also be a good thing to bring out when talking about competition.
This could be used when talking about what people are thankful for. It could also be a good thing to bring out when talking about competition.
October 26, 2017
I know some people love the Berenstain Bears and have good memories from childhood, but I felt this story was long, boring, and outdated. Papa sets a bad example with his poor attitude and while Mama brings it around to a good lesson by the end, it felt a little forced. I read this story aloud to a kindergarten class and they were not really into it.
April 8, 2018
Papa Bear is out to win the prize for the biggest pumpkin - but so is everyone else. It'll be up to the rest of the Bear Family to keep things in perspective - and to remember what Thanksgiving is all about really (that's pumpkin pie in case you don't know).
Seriously, this book is kind of cute and funny. I liked it.
Seriously, this book is kind of cute and funny. I liked it.
September 4, 2012
The Berenstain Bears books are one of my favorite children's series. I enjoyed them as a little girl and now enjoy reading them to my children. Each one is cute and always teaches a simple lesson.
October 1, 2012
In this outing, Papa Bear and the cubs learn that winning isn't everything--in fact, sometimes it pays to come in second, or even third!
Very cute.
Read in Austin. Lonene purchased it for the kids' library.
Very cute.
Read in Austin. Lonene purchased it for the kids' library.
December 26, 2012
This book is bullshit! As if bears can talk! It's like another book from the old testament. Oh, and since when do bears participate in agriculture? Bears wearing clothes? One star for lack of versimilitude.
April 28, 2013
★★★★The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin by Stan and Jan Berenstain
So Papa has one goal, beat Farmer Ben in the "Biggest Pumpkin Contest."
The cubs watch it grow. But Mama tries to get everyone to realize, winning isn't everything, the season is about nature, family, and giving thanks.
So Papa has one goal, beat Farmer Ben in the "Biggest Pumpkin Contest."
The cubs watch it grow. But Mama tries to get everyone to realize, winning isn't everything, the season is about nature, family, and giving thanks.
July 11, 2019
I thought this was a good look at how Thanksgiving can get overlooked, and I liked the little twist at the end where Sister pointed out a reason to be thankful for something that originally disappointed them.
October 2, 2014
I've always loved The Berenstain Bears, and this one did not disappoint me. It was a nice read about the meaning of Thanksgiving and how it's okay to not always come in 1st place. Definitely a keeper!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews