Customer Reviews

The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights)

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I love reading Christmas stories on my Kindle, and my daughter wanted to read one of her own. I purchased this book for her, as I love the Berenstain Bears' series. These books have great messages and are easy to read for kids. She found this book to be very entertaining and even read it twice! Cute book!

I grew up with this book and it's almost impossible to find in bookstores, even around the holidays. It's a great story with a wonderful message...a little longer than some other B. Bears books, but well worth the longer time reading it to your kiddos!

Any Berenstain Bear book is great....you can read them all and you don't have to be young to enjoy them!

My kids can't put this book down! It will be February soon and they still want me to read this to them every day. (We got the book for Christmas.) As a Christian, I love the extra meaningful phrases and additions to this version. As a fan of this book since childhood I must say that none of the spirit or flavor of the original is missing at all. Great update, in my opinion!