Jan - The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

ZONDERVAN

The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game

ISBN-13: 978-0-310-71252-7

Copyright 2009 by Berenstain Bears, Inc.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition September 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-86806-4

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zonderkidz, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Berenstain, Michael.

The Berenstain Bears play a good game / created by Stan and Jan Berenstain; written by Mike Berenstain.

p.cm.

Summary: When a fight breaks out during Brother and Sister Bears soccer game, Missus Ursula reminds everyone about fair play and sportsmanship.

ISBN 978-0-310-71252-7 (saddle stitch) [1. SportsmanshipFiction. 2. SoccerFiction. 3. BearsFiction. 4. Christian lifeFiction.] I. Berenstain, Jan, 1923- II. Berenstain, Stan, 1923-2005. III. Title.

PZ7.B44827Bgp 2009

[E]dc22

2008033882

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

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Editor: Betsy Flikkema
Art Direction: Sarah Molegraaf

Brother and Sister Bear loved all kinds of sports. They played one sport or another all the year round.

But in the fall, when the leaves turned color and the first frosty nip was in the air, the thoughts of Brother and Sister Bear turned to soccer! They dusted off the old soccer ball and headed for the soccer field.

Their team was called the Rockets, and they did rocket around the field. They werent the best team in the league, but they were pretty good.

Their coach was none other than Brother and Sisters own Papa Bear. He didnt really know that much about soccer. But he tried hard and was very good at cheering them on.

Brother and Sister tried hard too. The best players on the team were the Brunowsky twins, Bram and Bam. But Brother and Sister had their strong points.

Brother was a left-footed kicker. He was given the job of corner kicks from the right side. He was great at bending the ball in toward the goal.

Sister was a skillful header. She could bop Brothers kicks right into the net with her head.

My head is like a rock! she said, rapping the top of her head with her knuckles.

It sure is! agreed Brother.

Hey! said Sister.

Brother and Sister didnt worry too much about winning. It was fun just to get out there and play.

Remember, team, Papa always told them, its not whether you win or lose that counts, but how you play the game!

There was one team, though, that didnt feel that waythe Steamrollers. Their best players were Too-Tall Grizzly and his gang. They were the schoolyard bullies of Bear Country, and they were big and tough and strong. They werent very good soccer players, but that didnt matter. If you got in their way, they just ran over you.

Their coach was Too-Talls dad, Two-Ton Grizzly. He was just as rough and tough as his son, only a whole lot bigger.

He said, It isnt how you play the game that counts, but whether you win or lose!

The Rockets first game of the season was against the Steamrollers. Brother and Sister were definitely not looking forward to it.

Dont worry, Coach Papa told his team. Just play your best, and youll all do fine!

The players families were in the stands to see the first game. Mama Bear was there with Honey Bear, of course. Grizzly Gramps and Gran were there too. Gramps was already whistling and cheering and stamping his feet.

Come on, Rockets! he yelled and, putting two fingers in his mouth, blew a whistle that you could have heard all over Bear Country.

Now, Gramps! said Gran. Please control yourself.

Aw, shucks! he said. Makin a big fuss at a ball game is half the fun of rootin for your team. Its all in good fun.

Brother and Sister were surprised to see that their Sunday school teacher, Missus Ursula, was in the stands. Missus Ursula had been the Sunday school teacher in Bear Country for a long, long time. Shed even taught Mama and Papa Bear when they were cubs.

Then, Brother and Sister remembered that Missus Ursula was the Brunowsky twins grandmother. Bram and Bam waved to her as they ran onto the field.