The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin - Thanksgiving Read Aloud - Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin, by Stan and Jan Berenstain, is a wonderful kid's book read aloud for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school ages (and adults still young at heart), for the Thanksgiving season.
Parents and teachers, join me here at The Children's Storytime Bookshelf for daily read alouds in the classroom, at bedtime, or anytime!
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Parents and teachers, join me here at The Children's Storytime Bookshelf for daily read alouds in the classroom, at bedtime, or anytime!
Follow The Children's Storytime Bookshelf for a classic children's library.
#kidsbooksreadaloud #readaloud #readaloudbooksforchildren
Transcript
00:00You
00:26The Berenstain Bears and the prize pumpkin
00:30by Stan and Jan Berenstain
00:36Pumpkins are just like everything else in nature said Papa Bear as he and the cubs finished weeding the pumpkin patch
00:43No, two of them are exactly alike
00:47That's for sure agreed brother bear. Look at that funny flat one and that lumpy one over there
00:54Then there was the giant which is what Papa had named one that just seemed to be getting bigger and bigger
01:01Why is it that no two things are exactly alike asked sister bear?
01:06It's just the way nature is answered Papa
01:10Time to wash up for supper called mama bear from the treehouse steps
01:17What about Queenie McBear's twin brothers asked sister
01:21They certainly look a lot alike said Papa, but I've noticed that mrs.
01:26McBear can tell them apart quite easily
01:29In you go said mama shooing her family into the house
01:33But sister didn't go right in she stood on the stoop for a moment and looked out over bear country
01:43It was well into fall so the days were getting shorter
01:47Halloween had come and gone
01:49Pretty soon the bears would start thinking about Christmas, but right now bear country was a glow in the setting Sun
01:57Farmer Ben's well-kept farm looked especially fine with its baled hay and corn shacks and pumpkins casting long shadows
02:06I guess nature's pretty amazing sister said as she looked out over the beautiful scene
02:12It's the most amazing thing there is said mama come on now in you go
02:20you
02:21Farmer Ben's farm sure looks beautiful in the setting Sun said sister as the family sat down to supper
02:28Hmm said Papa grumpily Farmer Ben's not such a much
02:33Not such a much said mama. Why Ben is the finest farmer in bear country and besides
02:40He's one of your best friends
02:42That may be so said Papa
02:45But earlier today he came by and said nice little pumpkin patch you've got there Papa
02:52What he said is true said mama
02:55Especially compared to his fields and fields of pumpkins
02:58That may be so too grumped Papa, but I didn't like the way. He said it he sort of chuckled
03:06My patch may be small, but the giant is big it may be the biggest and best pumpkin in all bear country
03:13What do you think about that?
03:18I
03:18Think you're being oversensitive said mama come let's clear the table so the cubs can do their homework
03:26Brother and sister sighed as they spread their books out on the table. What's that all about ask Papa? Oh?
03:33How's just thinking said brother with Halloween over and Christmas almost two months away?
03:40There's nothing to look forward to
03:42That's right added sister nothing except lots of homework. Oh
03:48Is that so?
03:50protested Mama bear
03:54It just so happens that there's something very important to look forward to a very special holiday called
04:02Thanksgiving that's when we give thanks for all the wonderful your mama's absolutely right interrupted Papa
04:09He pointed to a notice in the evening paper. It said don't forget this year's Thanksgiving festival
04:17Entry blanks for the big pumpkin contest available at City Hall
04:22Thanksgiving is a very important holiday
04:25Especially this year because we're going to enter the giant in the pumpkin contest and beat the pants off Farmer bin
04:33But Papa, he's a professional said brother. He's won the contest ten years in a row all
04:41The more reason to teach him a lesson
04:43Come on. Let's go out and check up on the next heavyweight pumpkin champion of bear country. He said
04:53Now it was Mama's turn to sigh
04:57Thanksgiving was about giving. Thanks. Not beating the pants off Farmer bin
05:02Isn't it a beauty Papa said after they admired the giant
05:07Across the road they could see a field of Ben's pumpkins
05:11There were lots of fine ones, but none that measured up to the giant
05:15There's homework to be done called Mama bear from the house as they left the cubs asked Papa aren't you coming in?
05:24Nope, he said I'm going to stay out here a little while and watch the giant grow
05:32And grow it did it grew bigger rounder and oranger every day
05:38When Papa and the cubs went to City Hall to get an entry blank for the contest?
05:43They saw the place where the winning pumpkin would go on display
05:47We can't lose said Papa in their minds. I they could see their pumpkin in the place of Honor
05:55Mama tried to remind them what Thanksgiving was really about but every time she did
06:01Papa would interrupt you'll have to excuse me my dear. He'd say it's time to water the giant
06:08He not only watered it on a regular schedule and gave it special plant food
06:13He also covered it with a blanket at night and tucked it in against the cold
06:20One afternoon the cubs got off the school bus with something important to tell Papa
06:26But they were stopped in their tracks by what they saw
06:30He was talking to the giant
06:33Mama explained that Papa had bought a book from the swindler raffish Ralph about how to encourage your plants to grow by talking to them
06:43Well said brother. I don't suppose it can do any harm
06:47It sure could harm his reputation
06:50Said sister if anybody saw him talking to a pumpkin
06:55or
06:56Papa brother said a
06:58Cub at school told me he went on a class trip to Ben's farm and saw some pretty big pumpkins
07:05Especially one really big one that Ben calls the monster. Oh
07:10We've got to get a look at it said Papa
07:14That evening Papa and the cubs climbed through the fence into farmer Ben's field
07:20They saw some good-sized pumpkins, but none to match the giant
07:25Maybe it's behind the barn whispered Papa
07:29Suddenly a light shone on them and they heard Ben shout
07:33Prowlers in my pumpkin field get me my pitchfork
07:40They got out of there so fast Papa tore his overalls climbing through the fence
07:46What have you been up to ask mama bear when they got home? Oh nothing much said Papa just strolling in the moonlight
07:58The weekend before Thanksgiving arrived and it was time for the big festival
08:04The bear family got there just in time the pumpkin judging was about to begin
08:10There were many fine pumpkins in the contest, but Papa was sure that none could measure up to the giant
08:17until he saw the monster it was at least as big and round and orange as his pumpkin and
08:24Maybe just maybe a little bigger rounder and oranger
08:31The bears waited nervously while the judges studied
08:35Measured and weighed and then studied measured and weighed some more
08:40Finally they made their announcement
08:42the first prize winner and still champion of
08:47Course that meant farmer Ben had won it was close
08:52It turned out that Ben's monster was just a little bigger rounder and oranger than Papa's giant
08:58but that wasn't the worst of it the giant didn't even come in second a
09:03Beautiful pumpkin grown by Miss McGrizz won second prize the giant came in third
09:10Papa and the cubs were crushed
09:13Crushed and very quiet as they pushed their third prize winner home
09:19It wasn't until they reached the crest of a hill that overlooked bear country that mama decided to have her say I
09:27Know you're disappointed, but third prize is nothing to be ashamed of
09:32besides
09:34Thanksgiving isn't about contests and prizes. It's about giving. Thanks, and it seems to me that we have a lot to be thankful for
09:43Perhaps it was Mama's lecture or maybe it was how beautiful bear country looked in the sunsets rosy glow
09:50But whatever the reason Papa and the cubs began to understand what Mama was talking about
09:57And
10:01Even more so on Thanksgiving Day
10:04After the Bears gave thanks for the wonderful meal. They were about to enjoy
10:09Sister bear gave her own special. Thanks
10:12I'm thankful. She said that we didn't win first prize
10:17If we had the giant would be on display in front of City Hall
10:22Instead of being part of the yummy pies we're going to have for dessert
10:27you
10:29As the laughter faded and the Bears thought about the blessings of family home friends and neighbors
10:36They knew deep in their hearts that there was no question about it
10:40Indeed they did have a great deal to be thankful for
10:49I hope you enjoyed that story if you'd like to see these bucks uploaded daily go ahead and subscribe
10:56And don't forget to check out all the other stories that are already uploaded. Thank you so much for watching