Customer Reviews

Bear in the Big Blue House: A Berry Bear Christmas [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I cannot even begin to express how much I love Bear! Sometimes I think I might like him even more than my 3 year old does. The show manages to teach a little of everything a young child needs. I really like that they manage to teach morals & kindness in a way that appeals to children. They also have a knack for helping with life issues as well, I think my daughter may still be in diapers if it wasn't for "Potty Time With Bear"! We used the songs, sayings, & imagery from the video while potty training & it really took the stress out. I can't say enough good things about this show. Jim Henson would be proud I'm sure!

First-rate production, quality couldn't be better. Playful way of teaching children about sharing and helping. Homelessness is gently broached with Bear kindly bringing a homeless dog into the house. Sends a subtle message of diversity and good will."I love the big Bear!" "It was so nice to see how Bear helped that dog and the dog got his wish and found a home to live in." "Bear made us think about helping others during Christmas, that it's better to give." "I would like to see a Kwanzaa." Ages 2-5.

We just purchased this one for our Bear-loving kids, and it's typical GREAT Bear quality in content. I'm sure we'll watch it again and again (and again). But I had to come online and check out the reviews here. Our VHS tape is extremely poor quality! My husband immediately asked if something was wrong with the TV--because the colors looked muted. But it's the tape. Grainy picture, washed-out colors. It looks like these were mass-produced the worst way--it reminds one of a bootleg tape, actually!

Forgive me for reviewing the picture quality instead of the content, but I thought other buyers would like to know before they purchase. I doubt the kids will care, and now that I see that other buyers have had this problem, we won't be taking it back to the store. But honestly, I wish they had a DVD of this one! They may soon, and when they do, we'll be replacing this VHS pronto.

Bear was something that we happened to catch on t.v. one day and it has become a lifesaver. As you know, moms and dads watch these videos so much that they know all the words, but bear and especially Tutter always make faces that only a parent could enjoy. My 15 month old can't make it through the day without Bear but even my 4 month old smiles and laughs whenever she sees him on t.v. It's about time that we have a character for our children that teaches them things in a positive way without all the dancing, magic and annoying bad acting like the children of the purple dinosaur shows. Thanks Bear, we love you!

My husband and I got this video for our son this past Christmas. He would watch that video all day. It is wonderful how the video teaches children there are more to the Holidays than just presents.

This video covers bits of Christmas, Chaunacha (sp?) and Kwanza without offending anyone and has a good variety of songs (and funny varients of some well known songs) and an outstanding song ("Just Listen"). The two parts of the video segue into each other nicely. Very nice morale underpinnings to the plot. While the plot moves a bit slowly for some kids, patience is rewarded. Our kids at first were a little cool to this, but now it is the most requested "Blue House" video.

I love this Bear Christmas Special! My son loved this show when he was 2 (he's now 8) and we consider this an annual must-along with the Halloween and Thanksgiving specials. I just wish they would put it on DVD!!!

I can't believe they haven't released this on DVD! I don't usually go for "generic holiday" stuff, but good old Bear manages to be profoundly true to the spirit (and spirituality) of Christmas even when he's scrupulously calling it "the winter holidays." The message for young children is that Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) isn't about getting presents; it's about showing love and kindness to others. The young animals in the Blue House learn this lesson when their argument about opening presents is interrupted by the howls of a homeless dog. They welcome him in and, with the help of the magical Winter Berry, help him find a home. I think my 3-year-old got the message on his own level: after watching the video a couple of times, he responded eagerly when I suggested we put some money in the Salvation Army kettle for people who have lost their homes. Later he said he wanted to be a builder and build homes for people who don't have any. It's difficult to communicate concepts like charity and social justice to small kids, but I think the Bear managed it nobly, without ceasing for a second to be fun and endearing. Three cheers for the Bear and the Winter Berry!

"Bear in the Big Blue House" is a wonderful holiday special featuring your favorite friends at the Big Blue House, some returning guests and a brand-new character. In this special, "A Berry Bear Christmas," Bear and his friends celebrate Christmas, but also examine Hanukah and Kwanzaa. They also participate in Bear's favorite winter tradition --- the search for the winterberry and learn about the true spirit of the holidays.

Things start out with everyone wanting to be involved in the decorating and everyone wanting lots of presents. But then they hear a howl and take in an old dog called Jack who doesn't have a home. They vow to give him his best holiday celebration ever and learn that there's more about the holidays than just presents and such. Some may feel that this is PC nonsense, but like anything else in the Big Blue House, this issue is handled with sensitivity and class. They really did a great job.

This special is packed with wonderful holiday songs of all types. "That's All I Want for Christmas" is an over-the-top hoot, in which "Santa Hogg" is piled with the children's Christmas wishes --- all the way up to a hundred trillion clams for Pip and Pop. On the very opposite end is "What If?" in which Tutter speculates what it would be like if he and his friends didn't have the Big Blue House to live in.

My main complaint with this production is how it's packaged and the quality of the tape. Things seem well enough, with Hi-Fi sound and close-captioning. There are also previews in the beginning for "The Trumpet and the Swan," "Dragon Tales" (on VHS and DVD) and other "Bear in the Big Blue House" VHS releases. But this release is recorded in SLP mode, rather than SP, which really degrades the quality, especially upon repeat viewings. Additionally, there is editing --- this was originally a two-part special aired with two separate end-credit sequences and it's been edited into one continuous special. Finally, this video contains the standard "Bear in the Big Blue House" VHS boilerplate about "Each show also includes the following songs: Welcome to the Blue House and Goodbye Song." However, "Welcome to the Blue House" is not in this special, as it's replaced in favor of the holiday opening --- "A Berry Bear Christmas." The "Goodbye Song" is only performed once, at the very end, due to the editing.

I gave this four stars. It's really more like three-and-a-half and I could have easily chosen three, but I'm in a holiday mood.

My little girl can't get enough of Bear. This special, in particular, has been a favorite of hers. The songs are fun - with a lot of Christmas spirit! There's always a touch of humor for adults with Bear and the Big Blue House, so it's a pleasure to watch this one again and again.