Courtesy: PBS Distribution/PBS Kids/Nelvana
When Stan and Jan Berenstain created their beloved characters The Berenstain Bears so many years ago, odds are they had no idea that their creations would become the beloved figures that they have. The furry family has seen its adventures beloved by families for generations in countless books. There are even plush toys, shirts and various DVDs. One of the latest of those DVDs is the third and final installment in the series’ Treehouse Tales collections. The two-disc collection is in reality the last season of PBS Kids’ series, which launched in 2003 and ran for three seasons on the network. Released May 19, approximately four months after the series’ second season was released, this 26-episode collection is another enjoyable offering from PBS Kids, PBS Distribution and Nelvana. That is due in part to the stories featured within the episodes. This will be addressed shortly. The lessons that are tied into the stories are important in their own way to the whole of the set, and will be discussed a little later. Keeping in mind the amount and type of content featured in the et, its average price point proves key in its own right. It will also be discussed later. All three items noted here are important in their own way to the whole of the set. All things considered, they make The Berenstain Bears: Tree House Tales Volume 3 a wonderful way to wrap up the series’ full season sets.
The Berenstain Bears: Tree House Tales Volume 3 is an enjoyable final season set from PBS Kids’ beloved animated series. It is another presentation that audiences of all ages will enjoy and appreciate. That is proven in part through the stories featured throughout the season. Season 3 opens with the Bear family getting a new neighbor. The neighbor in question, Ursus, is a very tech savvy figure. At first Papa Bear is not fond of Ursus because he is so much different from Mr. Kodiak. However, as Papa gets to know Ursus, the pair becomes better friends. The story itself is unique in the bigger picture of Season 3 (and the overall series). What’s more, it presents a familiar lesson in that unique setting, proving easily why it is just one example of the importance of the set’s stories.
That story is followed up with a story in “The Big Election.” The story at the center of this episode finds Papa unwittingly ending up as a candidate in the Bear Country elections. Considering that this is an election year, it’s a fitting story. Given, it isn’t the first time that any program – animated or live action – has ever gone the political route, but it still works even in this presentation. Audiences will especially enjoy this story because of how realistic it is, what with people lobbying for this, that and the other thing. That the topic is presented in a way that makes it easy for younger viewers to understand the matter, too makes the story that much more engaging for everyone. To that end, it is just one more example of the importance of the set’s stories. It is just one more way in which the stories show their importance. “That Stump Must Go” is one more example of why the set’s stories are key to its presentation. This story finds Brother, Sister, and Papa having to deal with their own problems. Sister and Brother are struggling to make a present for Papa for Father’s Day while Papa is struggling to get rid of an old tree stump. Each interweaving story line will connect with any viewer in its own right. Parents will laugh as Papa loses the rear bumper on the family car in his efforts to pull up the tree stump. Children meanwhile will connect with Brother and Sister’s frustrations in their effort to make something special for Papa. Staying on that note, adults will relate to Papa’s quandary because even adults get frustrated when they struggle to reach a goal. It’s one more way in which the stories featured throughout this set prove so important to the overall presentation of The Berenstain Bears: Tree House Tales Volume 3. When these noted stories are considered along with the rest of the set’s stories, the whole of that content comes together to make the collection well worth watching if only for that aspect. Of course, it is just one of the set’s positives. The lessons that are tied into the set add to its appeal.
The lessons that are connected with the stories are timeless and will connect with audiences of all ages just as much as the stories themselves. Case in point is the lesson at the center of the episode “Pet Show.” When brother enters his grandmother’s pet parakeet in his school’s pet show, the bid doesn’t talk, but does mimic various household sounds, such as a rocking chair, a typewriter and even bells. The lesson that Brother learns in this episode is that expecting things to work out specifically one way is not the best plan of action. Audiences learn that by looking at things differently than how one expects can reveal something good. In this case, Brother had to realize that his expectation of the bird talking only resulted in frustration. When he realized what the bird actually did, his outlook changed. So, if we look at things in life in a way other than how we expect, that can make all the difference in our daily lives, whether adult or child. It is just one of the key lessons featured in this season’s stories. The lesson featured in “The Female Fullback” is another key example of the importance of the collection’s lessons.
The lesson featured in “The Female Fullback,” which is a sports-themed episode, reminds audiences that while practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, it plays a key part in us getting better at what we do. The interesting thing about this lesson is that while the story is sports-themed, this lesson applies in so many avenues, from practicing a musical instrument to practicing for a big test or whatever other scenario. Whether it be athletes at any level of their games, musicians at any level of their respective professions or even politicians preparing for public appearances, practice is critical for everyone in so many avenues. It’s just one more important lesson that will connect with listeners of any age. “Go To The Movies” is yet another example of the importance of the stories’ companion lessons.
The lesson at the center of this episode is crucial especially for adults. It teaches grown-up (and children alike) that having quality family time does not have to mean making major plans and spending lots of money. It can be something as simple as watching home movies at home together, remembering great memories. In an age of social media and parents constantly bragging about their families’ vacations through nearly every (if not every) social media channel, this is a lesson that really every grown-up needs. Parents have forgotten that vacations and family time are supposed to be about family, not about bragging about that time on social media and posting pictures of their children posed. Family time is supposed to be about family. Keeping this in mind, this unforgettable lesson proves once more why the lessons featured in this set are so important to its presentation. When it is considered along with the set’s other featured lessons, that whole shows without doubt why the collection’s lessons are so important to the series and not just the set. When all of this is considered with the season’s stories, the whole of the set’s content shows without doubt the important role that it collectively plays in the set’s presentation. Considering the depth and breadth of the overall content featured in Tree House Tales Volume 3, it makes the set’s average price point a positive in its own right.
The average price point of Tree House Tales Volume Three is $11.83. That price is obtained by averaging prices listed at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Books-A-Million, and PBS’ online store. The collection was not listed through Target at the time of this posting. The least expensive listing of $8.69 is at Amazon and Walmart while the most expensive listing of $14.99 is at Books-A-Million and PBS’ online store. Best Buy did not have the best buy in this case, listing the set at $9.99, which along with the listings at Amazon and Walmart is still below the noted average. Barnes & Noble Booksellers lists the set at $13.64. Simply put, at least half of the set’s listings are below the noted average while the other half exceeds that number. Even in breaking that boundary, even the most expensive of the listings are still below the $20 mark, so that means that it is still relatively affordable even if not the least expensive. Considering again the breadth and depth of the discussed content, any of the listings are money well-spent for any family. What’s more, a portion of sales through any retailer other than PBS still goes to PBS, so audiences will still be supporting the network regardless of which retailer is chosen. Keeping this in mind along with the importance of the content, it makes the last of the Berenstain Bears season sets a positive finish in terms of the series’ season sets. It makes it one more of the year’s top new family DVD/BD box sets.
The Berenstain Bears: Tree House Tales Volume 3 is a positive final season presentation from the beloved animated series. The stories in the season’s episodes are just as engaging and entertaining as those in the series’ previous seasons. The lessons that accompany those stories are just as important to the set as the stories themselves. Keeping in mind the positive impact of the season’s overall content, the average price point of less than $20 (and separate listings, some of which are below $10), proves just as appealing for audiences. Each noted item is important in its own way to the whole of the set. All things considered, they make this final standalone season set from the 2003 Berenstain Bears set a fitting finish for the series’ full season sets. It is available now.
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