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Miss Cookie: Hello, readers, and welcome to Get Bookie with Miss Cookie. I am your host, Miss Cookie. Today we will be sharing the book The Bernstein Bears Trick or Treat by Stan and Jan Bernstein. And this is the first book in our Halloween mini-series, Trick or Read. Now, you might be listening to this story on a podcast. Or reading along with me on my YouTube channel. However you choose to listen, enjoy the story. The Bernstein Bears Trick or Treat by Stan and Jan Berenstein. Even little bears expect a good fright when they go out for treats on Halloween night. The sights and sounds of autumn were all around as Mama Bear pushed her shopping cart along the path that led to the Bear family's tree house. The trees and shrubs were ablaze with color. Farmer Ben's pumpkins stood bright orange in the October sun. The crows cawed noisily as they searched the stubble for bits of corn. Wild geese in great fear. B formations honked high in the sky as they flew south. But the surest sign of the season was inside the tree house, hiding behind Papa Bear's easy chair. It was Brother Bear waiting to try out his Halloween costume on Mama. It wasn't Halloween yet, but brother and sister couldn't wait to try on their new costumes. Sister was going to be a beautiful ballerina. Well, what do you think? She asked. Taking the third position. Shh, said Brother. Mama's coming. Brother had chosen to be a spooky monster on Halloween. He had bought the spookiest monster mask he could find, and Mama made the rest of the costume. So, readers, here in the picture we can see Sister and her beautiful ballerina costume, and then Brother Bear is hiding behind. This big green chair, ready to scare Mama in his spooky monster costume. Boo! he shouted as Mama came in with the groceries. Help a monster, she cried, pretending to be frightened. It's only me, Mama, he said, showing his face. So it is, said Mama. Well That just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. Appearances can be deceiving? What's that mean? asked Sister. It's just a grown up way of saying that things aren't always what they look like, explained Mama as she unpacked the groceries. Look goodies, said Brother. Hands off, please, said Mama. Those are for trick-or-treaters who come to our house tomorrow night. Brother and sister were very excited about Halloween and a little nervous too. This was the first year they would be going trick-or-treating without a grown-up along to supervise. I'm not so sure. I like the idea of them going by themselves, said Papa, as he carved the pumpkin he got from Farmer Ben. It's pretty spooky out there, he added. Making a scary face at the cubs. Now, Papa, said Mama, if brother and sister want to accept the challenge of going out on their own, I think we should encourage them. But remember, she continued, turning to the cubs, there'll be strict rules. You'll stay in your own neighborhood, and you won't eat any of the treats until you're back home. Besides, said Brother, We won't really be by ourselves. We made a trick-or-treat date with Cousin Freddie, Lizzie Bruin, and Queenie McBear. There, said Papa, putting the finishing touches on the jack-o'-lantern. Then he lit a candle inside it and turned out all the lights. It was pretty scary. And readers, I can see in this illustration this jack-o' lantern is all lit up and it's got a fun, scary face on it. They are ready for Halloween here. The next day, brother and sister began planning the trick-or-treat route they'd follow that night. Brother got a pencil and paper and made a map of the neighborhood. That way, he explained, they wouldn't miss anybody. Let's see now, he said. We'll stop at our houses first. Ours, Freddy's, Lizzie's, and Queenie's. Then we'll do Farmer Ben's and our sitters, Mrs. Grizzle. Mrs. Grizzle for sure, agreed sister. She usually makes special Halloween cookies. And teacher Jane, she gives out good stuff. How about doctor Grizzly? asked Brother. She's into health snacks. I think so, just to be polite, said Sis. Gramps and Gran, of course. Of course. I'll tell you one place we are going to miss, said Brother, folding his map. What place is that? asked Sister. That one, he answered, pointing out the window at the home of old Ms. McGriz. It was a spooky, twisted old treehouse in a thicket at the end of Crooked Lane. We're definitely not going there, he added with a shiver. Why ever not? asked Mama, who was listening. Why not? said the cubs. Because she's a witch. That's why not. And readers, here in the picture we can see the house that Ms. Megriz lives in. It does look kind of dark. And maybe I could see where it would be a little bit on the spooky side for these cubs. Especially the way it looks here in this picture. What utter nonsense, protested Mama. True, Ms. McGrizz is old and bent and rather forbidding looking, but I can assure you, she's a perfectly nice person. But the cubs didn't believe her. Not for a minute. They knew better. Everybody knew better. No doubt about it. Miss McGriz was a witch, for sure. Just after dark, a pirate, a skeleton, and the wicked queen from Snow White came for brother and sister. They were Freddy, Lizzie, and Queenie, of course, and together they ventured out into the darkness with their trick-or-treat bags. Before they could get started collecting Halloween goodies, they were joined by some worrisome company. Two tall Grizzly and his gang out for mischief. Tut all didn't waste any time trying to get brother, sister, and their friends to go along with him and his gang. Come on, we'll show you goody goodies how to have some real Halloween fun, he said, pulling Brother along with him. What sort of fun? asked Brother wearily. you might say we're gonna put the trick back in trick or treat, he said, chuckling. It was so dark. That brother and the others didn't notice where they were heading. Hey, said Sister, this is Crooked Lane. That's right, said Tutal. We're gonna play a few tricks on old witch McGriz. What sort of tricks? asked Brother. Her gnarled, twisted old tree house loomed ahead. First, whispered Tutal, taking a roll of toilet paper from his jacket. We'll decorate her house with a little of this. Then maybe we'll tie a few knots in her clothesline. Then smear some honey on her broomstick so she'll stick to it when she tries to fly. And readers, here in this picture I can see too tall. He's got that toilet paper in his hands. He is trying to convince Brother and Sister Bear and their friends to do some pretty mean things to Ms. McGrizz. But before Tootal and his gang could start their mischief, the front door opened and a bright yellow light stabbed the darkness. And there in the doorway stood the frightening figure of old Ms. McGriz. Aha, she said in a gravelly voice. I'm ready for you. She then led the terrified cubs into a cozy living room. To their great surprise, there was a big tray of beautiful candy apples, all prepared for Halloween visitors. Mama was right, whispered Sister to Brother. Miss McGrizz really is a sweet, kind of old person. The cubs thanked her for the beautiful candy apples. And went about the rest of their trick-or-treat business. Later that evening, brother and sister were at home looking over all the treats they had collected. The beautiful candy apples stood out, and Papa asked where they came from. From Miss McGriz, answered Brother. From that scary-looking old grouch puss that lives down Crooked Lane, said Papa. That's right. said Brother, taking a delicious bite of his candy apple. You must really try to remember, Papa, said Sister, giving her apple a little lick. Appearances can be quite deceiving. Thank you so much for sharing this story with me today, readers. I love how the cubs and papa learn that appearances can be deceiving. They first thought Ms. McGrizz was a scary witch, but soon learned that she was a kind-hearted, generous neighbor. Well, before you go, help our podcast and channel grow. Subscribe, follow, or share with someone you know. And be sure to listen in for the next book in Trick or Read, Miss Cookie's Halloween mini-series, Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.