Stan Berenstain - The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs

Copyright 2002 by Berenstain Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York, and
simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.
www.randomhouse.com/kids www.berenstainbears.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Berenstain, Stan.
The Berenstain Bears and the real Easter eggs / by Stan & Jan Berenstain.
p. cm. (A first time book)
summary: The Berenstain Bear cubs are anxiously awaiting all the candy and Easter eggs that Easter will bring, but Mama Bear and Mother Nature show them the true wonders of the season.
ISBN 0-375-81133-8 (trade) ISBN 0-375-91133-2 (lib. bdg.)
eISBN: 978-0-375-98247-7 (ebk)
[1. EasterFiction. 2.

Bears Fiction.] I. Berenstain, Jan. II. Title.
PZ7.B4483 Bejq 2002 [E]dc21 2001041882 Random House and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. v3.1

Nineteen twenty twenty-one twenty-two twenty-three. How about that? said Sister Bear.

I got twenty-three valentines at school todayseven signed with names, eight guess-whos, and eight S.W.A.K.s. Brother smiled. He knew that there were twenty-four cubs in Sisters class and Teacher Jane made every cub give every other cub a valentine. But Sister was enjoying her valentines so much that he didnt say anything. Besides, hed gotten quite a few himself. I just love holidays! said Sister.

I wish every day was a holiday. Then you could get stuff every day. Oh? said Mama, whod been listening. Is that all holidays mean to yougetting stuff? Sure, said Sister. You get turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, presents on Christmas, and valentines on Valentines Day. Whats wrong with that? Whats wrong with that, said Mama, is that holidays are about much more.

Thanksgiving is about being thankful, Christmas is about good will and peace on earth, and Valentines Day is about love and friendship. What do you think about that, my dear? asked Papa. Er, where did Sister go? he said, looking around. She went into the kitchen, said Brother. Which Sister had. Shed gone into the kitchen to look at the calendar on the wall.

She was looking ahead for holidays. She looked at the rest of February. There werent any more big holidays in February. She looked at March. She didnt see any big holidays in March either. Coconut eggs, jellybeans, chocolate bunnies! Yum! And double yum! That night, Sister fell asleep while visions of jellybeans and chocolate bunnies danced in her head. But it was still winter, and when she woke up the next morning she forgot about Easter and spring because there was a new blanket of snow covering the earth wonderful snow to sled on, to make forts out of, to make angel wings in. But it was still winter, and when she woke up the next morning she forgot about Easter and spring because there was a new blanket of snow covering the earth wonderful snow to sled on, to make forts out of, to make angel wings in.

But Mother Nature hadnt forgotten. And while Brother, Sister, and their friends sledded and made forts and angel wings, she was getting ready for a whole new season. As the winter winds died down and the sun began to ride higher in the sky, signs of spring began to appear. The big icicles of winter dropped from roofs and stuck like swords in the last of the melting snow.