Bear Stays Up for Christmas

September 27, 2004
Bear's thoughtful buddies rouse him from his deep hibernation nap just in time for Christmas Eve. With creative planning, the animals get their ursine friend into the holiday spirit—and the Yuletide preparations. And by the time Santa makes his appearance, guess who's tuckered out? (Not
a certain Bear.) This duo's latest Bear book sustains the sweetness and humor of its predecessors (Bear Snores On
; Bear Wants More
) via rhyming, read-aloud-ready text and soft acrylic scenes of the cuddly creatures and wintry landscapes. Ages 3-7.

October 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 2-It's the day before Christmas, and Bear's friends have gathered in his lair to wake him up to celebrate the holiday. They get a tree, pop corn and bake fruitcake, and hang stockings and hum songs. The others doze off, but Bear keeps busy wrapping presents, baking cookies, and decorating, unaware that a certain plump, red-suited gentleman is watching from outside the cave. The rhyming text sings, shouts, whispers, and crows, and the appealing acrylic illustrations are dear. This is an exuberant tale of friendship and perseverance, and holiday storytimes will be the brighter for it.-M. A.

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2005
Bear struggles to stay awake on Christmas Eve as he and his friends hunt for a tree, decorate it, and hang stockings. When the others nod off, Bear gets busy making and wrapping presents for everyone. The appealing illustrations, the smooth rhyme, and the catchy refrain of "the bear stays up" make this a satisfying addition to Wilson's other Bear books.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)