The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies

Outline

The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (1988) follows Brother and Sister Bear as they beg for toys and treats every time the family goes shopping. With help from Grandma and Grandpa, Mama and Papa Bear find a gentle way to cure their case of the gimmies. Stan and Jan Berenstain’s story teaches children about gratitude, patience, and appreciating what they already have.

• Wanting every toy and treat on a shopping trip never leaves children satisfied, because the wanting simply keeps growing.
• Brother and Sister Bear beg for something new every time the family goes shopping, which is the habit the book calls the gimmies.
• Parents can address constant begging gently, without anger, and the story shows Mama and Papa Bear doing exactly that.
• Grandma and Grandpa help the family find a calm way to cure the gimmies.
• Children learn to feel grateful for what they already have and to be patient about what they want next.

Stan and Jan Berenstain were an American husband-and-wife team who wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books for decades. Their stories use a warm bear family to help children understand manners, feelings, and everyday challenges. The series has become one of the best-loved in children’s literature.