The Berenstain Bears' Easter Surprise facts for kids

The Berenstain Bears Easter Surprise is an Easter-themed animated television special based on the Berenstain Bears children's book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Produced by Buzz Potamkin and directed by Mordicai Gerstein and Al Kouzel, the program made its debut on NBC on April 14, 1981.

Plot

The story takes place before Sister Bear was born and Brother Bear was the only cub on the block. During fall, when he isn't playing with his friends down by the bog, he enjoys asking Papa different questions about life. Papa Bear, although he has no idea how to answer most of his son's questions, plays along anyway.

During the long cold winter, no one has any explanation for why it doesn't seem (to want) to end. Both Mama and Papa Bear are especially anxious for Spring, as they had a special Easter Surprise planned, which neither of them want to disclose (although Brother Bear does notice that he can't sit on Mama's lap anymore, and it's not because he's getting bigger or taller). When Brother Bear asks "What's Easter, Papa?" Papa Bear tells him all about candy and the Easter Bunny, but Mama Bear sings about new life and miracles.

The family decides to pay Boss Bunny a visit. Boss Bunny is bear Country's official Easter bunny and the one responsible for the beginning of Spring. However, to their shock, they find out that he has quit. Papa Bear, while initially just as depressed as Brother is about the loss of Easter, decides to be "the Easter Bunny" ("I'll Be the Easter Bunny/If You Want Something Done, Then Do it Yourself") and create his own candy and egg factory, but it ultimately ends in disaster.

Brother Bear eventually decides to take matters into his own hands and begins a search to find Boss Bunny on his own. He encounters his friend Bill Bunny, who turns out to be Boss Bunny's son. Bill takes him to a factory no bear has ever been before. The two then enter the (abandoned, and in a dilapidated state) Easter Factory and find Boss Bunny who is asleep, and later complains that the workload, and being in charge of the seasons has become too much for him to handle in his old age and he is simply too burnt out to continue. Despite Brother's pleading, Boss Bunny refuses to reconsider until he sees the Great Spring Rainbow, which revives him and puts his factory back in business.

On Easter morning, Brother finds his Easter candy, but Mama Bear has an additional Easter surprise for him: ("Brother, Meet your new baby Sister.") When Brother asks where she came from, Papa Bear is left speechless, but Mama reminds Brother about the miracle of new life (and Brother quickly notices that he can sit on Mama's lap again).

Book adaptation