Berenstain Bears was one of my favorite book/tv series as a child (you can find out more about the entire series at Home of the Berenstain Bears).  They’re fun reads, but there are also some valuable lessons found in most of the books.  When working with kids, you have to find a way to hold their interest, so if you can find an entertaining book that also teaches social skills?  Jackpot!

Here are 5 Berenstain Bears books that I’ve used (both in individual and group therapy sessions) to discuss social skills:

• The Berenstain Bears and The Truth – Brother and Sister Bear tell a lie in an attempt to get out of trouble (I’m pretty sure everyone has been there!) and readers get to see how the cubs have to tell more and more lies to cover up their first lie, then deal with the consequences of being dishonest.
• The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners – Mama Bear has to take pretty drastic measures to motivate Papa Bear and the cubs to use some basic manners.
• The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers – Sister Bear is a little too friendly and has to learn about stranger danger.  There’s a neat analogy in the book about how strangers can “look” nice on the outside, but that doesn’t mean they’re always nice people.
• The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends – Sister Bear befriends a new neighbor, but they end up fighting and have to learn to take turns and compromise.
• The Berenstain Bears Learn to Share – the cubs learn that sometimes it’s necessary to share in order to have fun because it can be awful lonely playing by yourself all the time.

These are my top 5 favorite books to use for teaching/discussing social skills, but there are many, many more valuable lessons found in the series!