Christmas has given everyone a bad case of the greedies, and Santa Bear is upset. He's canceling Christmas until he can find the true holiday spirit. It's up to the Berenstain Bears -- but will they be in time to save Christmas?

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
That famous family of bruins remind kids of the true meaning of Christmas in this festive new picture book from the Berenstains.

Like everyone else in Bear Country, Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and the cubs are "going Christmas-crazy this year," with an onslaught of decorations on the house and battles for toys at the local "Toys 'R' Bears." Santa's especially not thrilled with the commotion (like the emails "all asking for toys fully lacking in charm"), and after he cancels Christmas to much dismay in Bear Country, Mama Bear suggests that the family make their tree decorations simpler in the hope of saving the holiday. But little do they all know that Santa has a plan: to disguise himself on Christmas Eve and look for true spirit firsthand. Thankfully, the Bears' simpler decorations, a kind act from Papa Bear, and some warmhearted hospitality restore Santa's faith, and the old bruin finally takes off: " 'I have searched for Christmas!' he cried. 'And found the Spirit True. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do.' "

Like singing Christmas carols and drinking eggnog, this tale starring old friends will make your holidays warmer and brighter. There are no characters better to teach about the true meaning of the holidays than this thoughtful family, who never fail to plant a smile and get young minds thinking about the important stuff in life. A treat that's sure to sit peacefully on your Christmas bookshelf. Matt Warner

ANNOTATION

Thinking that the spirit of Christmas has been lost, Santa Bear disappears, until the Berenstain Bears show him that it still exists.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Well, maybe not so happy as far as Mama Bear is concerned. She misses Christmas past, when her family gathered together around a little tree, with feelings of love and goodwill. But this year it seems as if everybody in Bear Country has gone Christmas-crazy -- fighting for the last toy on the shelf, jamming the roadways with honking cars, and covering Bear homes with enough Christmas lights to blot out the stars.

Mama Bear isn't the only one who thinks this Christmas lacks the true holiday spirit. Someone is watching the Bears on his scanner-machine -- someone who knows more about Christmas than anyone and doesn't like what he sees one bit. It is Santa Bear, of course, and he's ready to take drastic action! Only the Berenstain Bears can change his mind, but will they be in time to save Christmas?

Like the Bear family, Stan, Jan, and Mike Berenstain have the true Christmas spirit in their hearts, and they prove it with this merry holiday story.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The Berenstain Bears may save Christmas, but even the Bears' best behavior does not breathe life into this overly long and plodding picture book. Much to the chagrin of Santa Bear, as well as wise Mama Bear, the holiday season in Bear Country has become a crass commercial competition, encouraging the "Christmas greedies." Santa's prepared to cancel the whole shebang until he witnesses Mama and her brood exhibiting genuine restraint, hospitality and goodwill. The clan's all here, but the Bear family's personalities remain oddly de-emphasized, in a rhyming text that often does not scan well. While the chestnut of a theme, er, bears repeating, Berenstain fans will likely miss the energetic humor, silliness (and even the sibling bickering) of previous outings. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

The popular Berenstain Bears have fallen into the holiday trap. All the trapping that have come to surround Christmas appear to have obliterated its true meaning. Interestingly the main character is Santa who is completely disgusted with the commercialism and has decided to cancel Christmas. He goes about the world and is distressed until he comes to the Bear family who have apparently seen the light and have gone back to a simpler way of celebrating the holiday. Sharing, asking for things for others and not getting overly commercial with decoration. It is preachy at best and long too. The religious aspect of Christmas is avoided-probably since the book would then be less likely to appeal to the school market (perhaps a bit of commercial interest there). The intent is good, the lesson, however, is overly done and may or may not have any impact on those reading the book. 2003, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-From e-mails he receives from cubs, and by observing on his scanner machine, Santa Bear concludes that Christmas has been ruined: families are rude and competitive and the "-Christmas greedies were spreading through the land." He sets out, incognito, to search for the true spirit of the season. Luckily, Mama Bear has already put the brakes on, and the Bear family has reformed when disguised Santa arrives. Once again, a moral imperative is pounded home in the Berenstains' familiar, formulaic way. Problems of the overlong text, the meter that doesn't scan, and the canned illustrations will hardly matter to the Bears' many fans.-S. P. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.