The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) [Hardcover]

Stan and Jan Berenstain w/ Mike Berenstain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2009 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Berenstain Bears/Living Lights

Finding the perfect Christmas tree is very important for Papa Bear and the cubs. But while hunting for that one special tree, the family meets up with other animals that live in them. Papa, Brother, and Sister realize that the trees are perfect homes for the animals and show kindness and love for their fellow Bear Country friends by not cutting them down. The animals from the forest work together to thank the Bear Family in a wonderful and unique way.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1–This update modifies the original book (Random, 1980) and adds a slightly more religious message. It is Christmas Eve and the Berenstain Bears need a tree. Of course, Papa makes a mess of things and learns that Christmas is &a time to be thinking of others–/to show love and respect to your sisters and brothers/And to treat them all/with kindness and concern. The added references to Sunday school, Jesus, a Nativity scene, and God will not be noticed unless readers are doing a close textual analysis. The rhymes are slightly more awkward than usual, but the kids who love the Bears family's solid traditional values won't be too bothered by any changes. If your old copies are worn out, this will be a popular addition.–Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library END

About the Author

Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005, Jan and Mike continue to create the delightful Bear adventures from their family home in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country. SPANISH BIO: Stan y Jan Berenstain presentaron el primer libro de los Osos Berenstain en 1962. Mike Berenstain crecio viendo a sus padres trabajar juntos, dibujando y escribiendo acerca de estos osos adorables. Finalmente, el empezo a dibujar y a escribir acerca de ellos tambien. Aunque Stan murio en el 2005, Jan y Mike continuan creando las encantadoras aventuras de estos osos desde su hogar en Pennsylvania, en un area que se parece mucho a la asoleada carretera sin pavimento sumergida en el pais de los osos.

Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents, Stan and Jan, working together to write and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310719402
• ISBN-13: 978-0310719403
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #644,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the original - VERY disappointed, June 25, 2010

By 

Judy Blue - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (Hardcover)

I bought this book because I saw it in a hardcover format and wanted a copy that would last longer than my old paperback. I should have listened to the earlier review about it not being the same book.

If you know the original, don't even bother with this one. The text has been revised to reflect a more religious tone. Of course, if you are a "Jesus is the reason for the season" person, these are good changes. There are biblical references, Sunday school edits, nativity scene additions, and they even cut out any mention of Santa by name. They have also cut out the entire last page of text and illlustrations.

If you are NOT religiously inclined and really want a copy, see if you can find an older version of the book. Original copyright was 1980. I use the older version in my classroom. For obvious reasons, this one is out for school purposes. This edition is going straight back to Amazon. If I had known that this was an altered version, I would have never purchased it.

I have nothing against religious books about Christmas. I do feel sad that the Berenstains felt the need to change the original, classic story.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the original story, January 30, 2010

By 

jennie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (Hardcover)

This was my son's favorite Christmas book when he was growing up. I ordered this new one for a first grade class. There have been some additions which, because I KNOW the original, detract from the text. However, it is essentially the same beautiful message and the wonderful artwork is essentially the same. I still recommend this book though the buyer should be aware of the additions.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Christmas Tree Story, December 17, 2009

By 

Anne (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) (Hardcover)

The Berenstain Bears are funny to me. A friend once pointed out to me that Ma Bear is always the one who makes the right choice and Pa Bear always seem to go his own way--which is often a foolish way at first, but then he learns a lesson in the process of the story--along with brother and sister bear. Sometimes I think I get a little too critical of books and the message in them--essentially cynical. This thought occurred to me today: I wondered how I would feel if it was the Ma Bear making the foolish choice in this story? The plot hinges around someone (really everyone) learning more about and remembering the true spirit of Christmas--the joy of Christ--Giving, not Getting.

In this story, Pa Bear takes the cubs out to find a tree. He doesn't want to buy the same old tree from the same lot everyone else has bought theirs from. No, he wants to go into the forest to find his own perfect tree for Christmas. In the process, he remembers that Christmas is about giving, not getting.

There is no mention of Jesus in this tale of Christmas and only once is God mentioned directly. When I read it, I will talk to my children about the story and that the spirit of Christmas is the joy of Christmas (which is what the story is about)--that Jesus came to the world for us and that He loves us. I will talk about the real Christmas star that shone over Bethlehem when Jesus was born.

But, this story is a sweet story to share with your children as you get ready to decorate your tree or as you sit around and enjoy it. There is a warmth in our homes that comes with Christmas decorations. There are good memories and the love we have for our families that we remember. I have wanted a book that I could sit and read with my children that would express these things to them. We have a lot of books about the nativity. So, it's good that this book is different. Reading it makes me smile.

As a side note, this copy is especially nice because it is a larger hardback book about the size of a sheet of paper (but it's not too thick) and will be able to stand up to many years of packing, unpacking, and reading together. It's a nice size to sit around reading so everyone can see the pictures.