MWES Counseling Update

Teaching children about forgiveness and compassion can be challenging. In this addition to the Living Lights(TM) series of Berenstain Bears books, young readers will identify what behaviors are frustrating or hurtful. Children will learn the importance of controlling their emotions and the process of forgiveness.

Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother, Ami, insists that she bring her little sister along. Rubina is mortified, but she can't convince Ami that you just don't bring your younger sister to your friend's party. So both girls go, and not only does Sana demand to win every game, but after the party she steals Rubina's prized party favor, a red lollipop. What's a fed-up big sister to do?

At the farm where author and children’s book editor Cotler and artist Bliss’s (Good Rosie!) emotionally honest story is set, bad moods aren’t just contagious—they’re epidemic. Cow, made grumpy by muddy hooves, kicks some muck in Duck’s face; to add insult to injury, she says she did because “I felt like it.... And I’m not sorry.” Duck, now in an equally foul state, picks on Frog, who lashes out at Bird (“Your tweets stink!”), who turns on Goat. Pressed to apologize, they do, but not one is sincere. When Goat accidentally crashes into Pig and refuses to apologize, Pig breaks down (“SNORT SNORT WAAAHHHHH!!!!”). In steps Dog, who knows just what to do: let Pig cry it out, and remind her that they’re friends (“We eat lunch together every day”). Kindness breaks the chain, and apologies and tokens are offered all around before the friends head to the pond for some fun. The animals, rendered expressively by Bliss, learn what kids already know and adults too easily forget: the capacity to say “I’m sorry”—and mean it—is no small thing.