Deep In Bear Country – A Berenstain Bearcast
Let's talk about every single Berenstain Bears book, shall we?
The Berenstain Bears finally meet real bears—and everything we thought we knew about Bear Country changes.
This week, I break down “The Berenstain Bears: Here Come the Bears!”, a brand-new Level 1 reader that seems simple… but hides big implications about evolution, cultural identity, and the Berenstain multiverse.
“We ate our honey. We ate a lot. Now we have no honey in our honey pot!”
This week on Deep in Bear Country, we’re taking a nostalgic look back at The Big Honey Hunt (1963)—the very first Berenstain Bears book!
Join me as I revisit this classic, explore its origins, and discuss how Stan and Jan Berenstain’s collaboration with Dr. Ted “Theodore” Geisel shaped the Bear Family we know today. From rejected story ideas to wild illustrations and Papa Bear’s very questionable honey-hunting methods, this episode has it all! Or, some. Has it some.
Plus, what’s next for the show as we approach the 10th anniversary?
Listen to past episodes: https://berenstainbearcast.org/episode-2-the-big-honey-hunt/
Let me know what you think in the comments!
This week we’re diving deep into The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day—and wow, do we have a lot to unpack. Apparently, Ireland doesn’t exist in Bear Country?! This book raises so many questions, like: How does St. Patrick’s Day fit into the world of the Berenstain Bears? Why does Brother Bear have zero clue what St. Patrick’s Day is? Is this book reinforcing cultural stereotypes… or just having fun? What’s the real history behind leprechauns, corned beef, and Irish-American traditions? And most importantly—what does The Great Bear War have to do with any of this?!
Buckle up, Bear Country—this one’s a doozy. This week, we dive into The Berenstain Bears: God Made You Special, a book that on the surface has the best of intentions but stumbles hard into some serious pitfalls. What happens when a children’s book about faith and differences accidentally reinforces inspiration porn, infantilization, and outdated disability tropes? A very uncomfortable discussion.
Sources Referenced:
📖 Special Olympics Inclusive Language Guide
📖 Disability Rights UK on “Inspiration Porn”
📖 Ashley Shew’s Against Technoableism
Join the conversation! Drop your thoughts in the comments, share your own favorite (or least favorite) books about disability, and let’s talk about how we can create a more inclusive Bear Country.
