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The Bears' Christmas
There’s a whole lot to learn one Christmas morning in Bear Country when Papa Bear teaches his son a thing or two about skiing, skating, and sledding.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1970
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265 people want to read
About the author
Stan Berenstain
880 books698 followersStan and Jan Berenstain (often called The Berenstains) were American writers and illustrators best known for creating the children's book series the Berenstain Bears. Their son Mike Berenstain joined them as a creative team in the late 1980s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
December 25, 2019
I love these early Berenstain Bears books. Up to about 1980something is the best, but I especially love the books written in the 70s and before. It was before they got their formula down. Papa bear is always such a mess in them, which makes for the best stories. He always gets everything wrong. Once Papa bear started acting respectable, the series was no fun anymore. I can’t believe our library didn’t have this one, I had to get it ILL.
It’s Christmas and Bear got a sled, skates and skies for Christmas. He wants to go try them out, but Papa bear has to show them how it’s done and hijinks ensue. I appreciate this story takes place after the presents are opened.
The nephew gets a kick out of seeing Papa bear fail so spectacularly. He said, “my dad wouldn’t do that. He’s good at that stuff.” He still got a laugh out of it all. He gave this 4 stars. He hopes we get a good snow this year so he can go sledding again. There is a huge hill not too far from us that is the best for sledding.
It’s a bright sunny Christmas day. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and a happy holiday to everyone.
It’s Christmas and Bear got a sled, skates and skies for Christmas. He wants to go try them out, but Papa bear has to show them how it’s done and hijinks ensue. I appreciate this story takes place after the presents are opened.
The nephew gets a kick out of seeing Papa bear fail so spectacularly. He said, “my dad wouldn’t do that. He’s good at that stuff.” He still got a laugh out of it all. He gave this 4 stars. He hopes we get a good snow this year so he can go sledding again. There is a huge hill not too far from us that is the best for sledding.
It’s a bright sunny Christmas day. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and a happy holiday to everyone.
December 5, 2018
While looking for a fresh batch of Christmas books to read aloud to my younger son (we've already read through the first lot I checked out shortly after Thanksgiving), I came across this book at the library. I was pleased to note that it was of early Berenstain vintage, but it was not until we were snuggled in bed and I opened it and saw the end paper illustration that I realized it was a bonafide rediscovered picture book of my youth. What a funny thing, in such a short space of time, to go from having no recollection of a book's existence, to finding every illustration familiar, down to the tilt of each and every ursine nose!
My father used to read the Berenstain Bears book aloud to me and my sisters. He didn't read aloud to us often, especially not me, because I was the youngest and he'd fallen out of the habit, but when he did, it was a real occasion. He relished the slapstick humor of Papa Bear's buffoonish incompetence, and we in turn gleefully relished it too. I don't know when the character of the Berenstain books changed, and they became preachy vehicles for the heavy handed imparting of moral lessons, but I'm thankful it was well after my early childhood.
This particular book is only tangentially related to Christmas (it's more about Papa Bear demonstrating how to fail at winter sports), but I think I want to get a copy of our own to bring out with our other very few cherished Christmas books each year. My son was engrossed by the story, which happens so rarely. Does it really have a special quality, or did he simply pick up on my delight in the rediscovery of this little piece of my childhood?
My father used to read the Berenstain Bears book aloud to me and my sisters. He didn't read aloud to us often, especially not me, because I was the youngest and he'd fallen out of the habit, but when he did, it was a real occasion. He relished the slapstick humor of Papa Bear's buffoonish incompetence, and we in turn gleefully relished it too. I don't know when the character of the Berenstain books changed, and they became preachy vehicles for the heavy handed imparting of moral lessons, but I'm thankful it was well after my early childhood.
This particular book is only tangentially related to Christmas (it's more about Papa Bear demonstrating how to fail at winter sports), but I think I want to get a copy of our own to bring out with our other very few cherished Christmas books each year. My son was engrossed by the story, which happens so rarely. Does it really have a special quality, or did he simply pick up on my delight in the rediscovery of this little piece of my childhood?
December 18, 2021
3.5 stars. Another Berenstain Bears classic. After Papa and Mama Bear's son receives a sled, skates and skis for Christmas, the inept Papa Bear attempts to show his son how and where to use his new presents. If you are amused by pratfalls, belly flops and rhyming words, this one is comedy gold.
If you change the words slightly, this could work as a winter read-aloud or a seasonal read-aloud in a classroom with students who do not celebrate Christmas.
If you change the words slightly, this could work as a winter read-aloud or a seasonal read-aloud in a classroom with students who do not celebrate Christmas.
December 10, 2022
Papa Bear wants to show Brother Bear how to use his new Christmas presents: sled, skates, and skis. But the blundering old bear ends up showing how not to do it again and again.
It's a stock formula for the Berenstain books, but I still get a kick out of Papa's floundering slapstick.
It's a stock formula for the Berenstain books, but I still get a kick out of Papa's floundering slapstick.
November 30, 2014
My five-year-old asked me to read this to her tonight and so I did. She enjoyed it and so did my nine and seven year-olds who came to sit by us when they heard me reading to their sister.
It was cute. Papa Bear is living the glory days of nostalgia and it's hilarious how it keeps going wrong for him. Meanwhile the son doesn't catch on to his father's failures, he just takes the lesson of what not to do and moves on. Mama Bear's facial expressions drive me nuts, but that's because I have an issue with women who roll their eyes at men. I just think we all goof up and acting superior doesn't help anyone.
My kids didn't get that though. They just love adventures in the snow with Papa Bear. :)
It was cute. Papa Bear is living the glory days of nostalgia and it's hilarious how it keeps going wrong for him. Meanwhile the son doesn't catch on to his father's failures, he just takes the lesson of what not to do and moves on. Mama Bear's facial expressions drive me nuts, but that's because I have an issue with women who roll their eyes at men. I just think we all goof up and acting superior doesn't help anyone.
My kids didn't get that though. They just love adventures in the snow with Papa Bear. :)
December 18, 2016
This is definitely one of the earliest books, since the illustrations are so old-fashioned. I don’t like the old style of artwork so I didn’t enjoy looking at the pictures that much. The bears look weird with their furry paws, narrow snouts and pencil-thin legs. Since this is a beginner book, the writing is very simple as well, so it’s for young kids learning how to read.
As soon as Son—I never knew there was just the boy at first!—got a sled, skis and skates, and Papa told him this was going to be the best Christmas he ever had, and he’ll teach him to use them and follow him, you knew it was going to be a disaster. Especially because Mama’s face looked so dismayed.
As typical of Mama she’s standing with her arms crossed, looking disapproving as Papa leads Son further outside when Son—crazy how they changed it to Brother once Sister came along…--said he wanted to start right outside the house. Wish Mama had a different role. It’s so far past old that she’s always right, always disapproving of what everyone else is doing.
The page with them scaling this huge, steep mountain was funny, because there were lines of exhaustion around Son as he’s pushing the sled. When they got to the top he stood peeking over the edge and it was straight down, which was ridiculous because what mountain looks like that that you would sled down? Papa proudly told him to watch his Great Belly Flop.
It was so anticlimactic as you see that the mountain was only like 20 ft tall. They had previously shown him suspended in air, flying out into space on the sled, then the next page had him planted in the snow and the great, tall mountain was nowhere to be seen.
Papa looked funny as Son pulled him out of the snow, with a pile on his head, his eyes round and mouth open. It didn’t make sense though why Son wanted to try it out. It made no sense why he would want to do something that had his dad buried in the snow.
They knew how to hit the humor though. Papa had him under his arm as Son as lying on the sled, barreling out of there determinedly, with a clump of snow on his snout and his cap. There was a big hole in the snow where he had been in.
He put on Son’s skates, which were way too small, and it was cute how he pointed down to half of his figure 8, showing Son how to do one. He also said people called him the Great Skating Bear, because he had won first place on the pond, but when he said Great Figure Eight I was like come on. Where was the creativity? Great Belly Flop. Great Skating Bear. Great Figure Eight. Why call everything great and not come up with different words? It was monotonous.
It was funny Son thanked him for showing him how, while he used one of the skis to hook onto Papa’s skate and pull him out of the ice. Papa had fallen through and only one foot was sticking out of the water. The next page was even better, and kids would find it hilarious. Papa’s arms were crossed and he had icicles coming off of him everywhere, frozen from his dip in the pond. Papa went to sit by the fire while Son made a figure 16. He was shaking like crazy, and an icicle hung dripping from his nose. Kids would eat that up.
The writing should have been a little better.
“But now come along. Now I’ll teach you to ski.”
Using the word “now” so close together like that was a mistake.
I was surprised they had Papa say Ski Jumper Pop rather than Great Ski Jumper..
It should have been made clearer what happened when Papa had been walking with the skis on instructing Son not to trip, and then the next page he had flipped in the air and the skis popped off, and Brother was saying please tell him, was he going to jump without any skis. The author should have said Papa tripped or something to make it plainer.
Then Papa was rolling downhill, trapped in a snowball. It’s odd that even though he was a snowball he was still talking to Son, telling him to follow him. It was a bad artistic idea to show Son flying through the air on his skis after clearing the jump, with the sled and skates in tow. They were hanging off his shoulder like they were weightless. No way would he be able to fly high being weighed down with a sled and skates. Come on. Couldn’t they have just left the sled and skates at the bottom of the mountain? That was so stupid.
It was over the top that Papa rolled all the way home in the huge snowball, and he had picked up wreaths and garland and a sign from town. As if he would have rolled all that way. It was silly though, which most kids like. Then the snowball busted on their house and Papa looked funny with his eyes all huge. Son asked “Doesn’t Papa look nice? All wrapped up for Christmas in nice snow and ice” which was funny, though it shouldn’t have been worded “nice snow and ice” and should’ve been just “snow and ice” especially because the word nice had just been used.
Son thought it was their best Christmas and thanked him for showing him how to sled, skate and ski. Papa agreed that it was their best, as he was wrapped in Mama’s blanket at the table, with a steaming hot beverage and his feet in a hot bath.
The last page could have been better. It was heavy with this sketchy lines all through it. I hate those lines in old illustrations. It makes them look so heavy and dark. Son was in front of the window, sucking on a candy cane and it should have been a better picture.
It was amusing as far as the illustrations went. It will make you want to laugh out loud and I know kids would really love looking at all the shenanigans Papa performs and how everything he tries to do ends up in failure. I found it odd that Son never picked up on how everything was going wrong and just thought what a grand time it was. Kind of weird how a kid could see their dad fail miserably and end up in bad conditions and just keep on having fun with it and not worrying about their dad or realizing he did everything the wrong way.
The story is 68 pages long so it’s the longest kids’ book I’ve ever read. It’s especially long because this is a beginner’s book, and even though the words and sentences are simple, it would take a big attention span because of the length of it. Some of the pages don’t have words and are just pictures, but there are a lot of pages in the book so it isn’t that quick of a read. I wish the ending had been more of a wrap-up, a lesson to be learned or for Son to know that the whole day had been wrong, but I guess it could be more amusing that he thought it was such a grand time and was oblivious to the fact that his dad was getting clobbered out there. Also, I think the story would have been deeper had it not rhymed, because the rhymes took away from it and made it a little silly and it didn't make the most sense.
As soon as Son—I never knew there was just the boy at first!—got a sled, skis and skates, and Papa told him this was going to be the best Christmas he ever had, and he’ll teach him to use them and follow him, you knew it was going to be a disaster. Especially because Mama’s face looked so dismayed.
As typical of Mama she’s standing with her arms crossed, looking disapproving as Papa leads Son further outside when Son—crazy how they changed it to Brother once Sister came along…--said he wanted to start right outside the house. Wish Mama had a different role. It’s so far past old that she’s always right, always disapproving of what everyone else is doing.
The page with them scaling this huge, steep mountain was funny, because there were lines of exhaustion around Son as he’s pushing the sled. When they got to the top he stood peeking over the edge and it was straight down, which was ridiculous because what mountain looks like that that you would sled down? Papa proudly told him to watch his Great Belly Flop.
It was so anticlimactic as you see that the mountain was only like 20 ft tall. They had previously shown him suspended in air, flying out into space on the sled, then the next page had him planted in the snow and the great, tall mountain was nowhere to be seen.
Papa looked funny as Son pulled him out of the snow, with a pile on his head, his eyes round and mouth open. It didn’t make sense though why Son wanted to try it out. It made no sense why he would want to do something that had his dad buried in the snow.
They knew how to hit the humor though. Papa had him under his arm as Son as lying on the sled, barreling out of there determinedly, with a clump of snow on his snout and his cap. There was a big hole in the snow where he had been in.
He put on Son’s skates, which were way too small, and it was cute how he pointed down to half of his figure 8, showing Son how to do one. He also said people called him the Great Skating Bear, because he had won first place on the pond, but when he said Great Figure Eight I was like come on. Where was the creativity? Great Belly Flop. Great Skating Bear. Great Figure Eight. Why call everything great and not come up with different words? It was monotonous.
It was funny Son thanked him for showing him how, while he used one of the skis to hook onto Papa’s skate and pull him out of the ice. Papa had fallen through and only one foot was sticking out of the water. The next page was even better, and kids would find it hilarious. Papa’s arms were crossed and he had icicles coming off of him everywhere, frozen from his dip in the pond. Papa went to sit by the fire while Son made a figure 16. He was shaking like crazy, and an icicle hung dripping from his nose. Kids would eat that up.
The writing should have been a little better.
“But now come along. Now I’ll teach you to ski.”
Using the word “now” so close together like that was a mistake.
I was surprised they had Papa say Ski Jumper Pop rather than Great Ski Jumper..
It should have been made clearer what happened when Papa had been walking with the skis on instructing Son not to trip, and then the next page he had flipped in the air and the skis popped off, and Brother was saying please tell him, was he going to jump without any skis. The author should have said Papa tripped or something to make it plainer.
Then Papa was rolling downhill, trapped in a snowball. It’s odd that even though he was a snowball he was still talking to Son, telling him to follow him. It was a bad artistic idea to show Son flying through the air on his skis after clearing the jump, with the sled and skates in tow. They were hanging off his shoulder like they were weightless. No way would he be able to fly high being weighed down with a sled and skates. Come on. Couldn’t they have just left the sled and skates at the bottom of the mountain? That was so stupid.
It was over the top that Papa rolled all the way home in the huge snowball, and he had picked up wreaths and garland and a sign from town. As if he would have rolled all that way. It was silly though, which most kids like. Then the snowball busted on their house and Papa looked funny with his eyes all huge. Son asked “Doesn’t Papa look nice? All wrapped up for Christmas in nice snow and ice” which was funny, though it shouldn’t have been worded “nice snow and ice” and should’ve been just “snow and ice” especially because the word nice had just been used.
Son thought it was their best Christmas and thanked him for showing him how to sled, skate and ski. Papa agreed that it was their best, as he was wrapped in Mama’s blanket at the table, with a steaming hot beverage and his feet in a hot bath.
The last page could have been better. It was heavy with this sketchy lines all through it. I hate those lines in old illustrations. It makes them look so heavy and dark. Son was in front of the window, sucking on a candy cane and it should have been a better picture.
It was amusing as far as the illustrations went. It will make you want to laugh out loud and I know kids would really love looking at all the shenanigans Papa performs and how everything he tries to do ends up in failure. I found it odd that Son never picked up on how everything was going wrong and just thought what a grand time it was. Kind of weird how a kid could see their dad fail miserably and end up in bad conditions and just keep on having fun with it and not worrying about their dad or realizing he did everything the wrong way.
The story is 68 pages long so it’s the longest kids’ book I’ve ever read. It’s especially long because this is a beginner’s book, and even though the words and sentences are simple, it would take a big attention span because of the length of it. Some of the pages don’t have words and are just pictures, but there are a lot of pages in the book so it isn’t that quick of a read. I wish the ending had been more of a wrap-up, a lesson to be learned or for Son to know that the whole day had been wrong, but I guess it could be more amusing that he thought it was such a grand time and was oblivious to the fact that his dad was getting clobbered out there. Also, I think the story would have been deeper had it not rhymed, because the rhymes took away from it and made it a little silly and it didn't make the most sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2016
Wow this cover is old! Look how skinny the bears are!
Love the inside cover; looks like a winter wonderland. That tree is way too skinny to live in though! It's amazing how the illustrations changed over the years.
I wish the backgrounds had more to them. It shows blank white space for their walls.
I'm really not feeling this illustration.
The mom looks sickly and old, her eyes slitted.
Guess sister hasn't been born yet. But they lived on a mountain when brother was young.
'Let's try the sled first.
Let's try the sled here.' Was repetitive to read and should have been in quotations.
It's weird how it wasn't rhyming and then rhymed Pop with Great Belly Flop.
It's funny how the dad did the bellyflop and fell right off the cliff into the snow& the boy is like is that the way to belly flop?
& the dad says 'not now, my son. It's getting late. I still have to teach you to ski and to skate.'
The page with the dad carrying the boy and his sled is cute! While the huge hole he made in the snow is in the background.
Papa bear says he's done with one half of his figure 8, & is about to do the second half. But you wouldn't have time to talk during a figure 8!
Papa under the ice looking like he's freezing is so funny!! & clever of the boy to prop his ski on his self and use it as a lever to lift papa out.
Him hauling out a frozen papa, with icicles dripping from his arms and face was hilarious!!!
Papa's face sitting by the fire is funny too, while brother makes a figure 16!
It's mighty convenient there's a ski lift right where the pond was.
Some of the writing isn't great, sentences will start off the same, or the same words will be used so it doesn't sound as pleasant to read. It can be a lil repetitive.
Idk how papa tripped in his skis all of a sudden.
It's funny how he went rolling down the hill and turned into a snowball.
The boy asks are you going to jump with his skis and the dad says don't ask silly questions as he rolls down the hill.
I like the decorations in town. The garland over the streets.
Mama needs more expression. Papa is rolling in as a snowball and she knows no emotion whatsoever.
Here's an example of writing that isn't great: 'all wrapped up for christmas in nice show and ice.' The nice wasn't necessary there.
Papas face when the snowball exploded was so funny!
It's funny he thanked his dad for teaching him how to ski, skate, and sled even though everything was a calamity!! & papa is sitting at the table with a blanket over him and his feet in a tub.
I wish it had ended more conclusive. I wasn't expecting that to be the last page. I wish it had a wrap up.
Overall I enjoyed this, it was funny, I liked a lot of the rhymes.
Love the inside cover; looks like a winter wonderland. That tree is way too skinny to live in though! It's amazing how the illustrations changed over the years.
I wish the backgrounds had more to them. It shows blank white space for their walls.
I'm really not feeling this illustration.
The mom looks sickly and old, her eyes slitted.
Guess sister hasn't been born yet. But they lived on a mountain when brother was young.
'Let's try the sled first.
Let's try the sled here.' Was repetitive to read and should have been in quotations.
It's weird how it wasn't rhyming and then rhymed Pop with Great Belly Flop.
It's funny how the dad did the bellyflop and fell right off the cliff into the snow& the boy is like is that the way to belly flop?
& the dad says 'not now, my son. It's getting late. I still have to teach you to ski and to skate.'
The page with the dad carrying the boy and his sled is cute! While the huge hole he made in the snow is in the background.
Papa bear says he's done with one half of his figure 8, & is about to do the second half. But you wouldn't have time to talk during a figure 8!
Papa under the ice looking like he's freezing is so funny!! & clever of the boy to prop his ski on his self and use it as a lever to lift papa out.
Him hauling out a frozen papa, with icicles dripping from his arms and face was hilarious!!!
Papa's face sitting by the fire is funny too, while brother makes a figure 16!
It's mighty convenient there's a ski lift right where the pond was.
Some of the writing isn't great, sentences will start off the same, or the same words will be used so it doesn't sound as pleasant to read. It can be a lil repetitive.
Idk how papa tripped in his skis all of a sudden.
It's funny how he went rolling down the hill and turned into a snowball.
The boy asks are you going to jump with his skis and the dad says don't ask silly questions as he rolls down the hill.
I like the decorations in town. The garland over the streets.
Mama needs more expression. Papa is rolling in as a snowball and she knows no emotion whatsoever.
Here's an example of writing that isn't great: 'all wrapped up for christmas in nice show and ice.' The nice wasn't necessary there.
Papas face when the snowball exploded was so funny!
It's funny he thanked his dad for teaching him how to ski, skate, and sled even though everything was a calamity!! & papa is sitting at the table with a blanket over him and his feet in a tub.
I wish it had ended more conclusive. I wasn't expecting that to be the last page. I wish it had a wrap up.
Overall I enjoyed this, it was funny, I liked a lot of the rhymes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2015
Funny short children's book from the legendary Stan and Jan Berenstain about the Berenstain Bear family before the appearance of Sister bear. In this holiday-themed book, Brother Bear is given a sled, a pair of skates & skis for Christmas. His father excitedly takes him out to show him how to use his new toys, jumping on them as if he's a spritely youth, and ends up making a fool of himself each time.
Great early reader with hilarious illustrations.
Great early reader with hilarious illustrations.
November 6, 2016
This book is very cute. The dad is trying to show his son all that he used to do when he owned a pair of ice skates, a sled, and a pair of skies. The father now older though does not do those things as well as he used to but he teaches the son and he does all those things great. Then, they go home and say that it was the best Christmas ever.
March 21, 2015
This is a little more lengthy for a bedtime story, but really does suit the holiday season. I was amused by the father's antics. He also realized that it wasn't quite as fun as it was when he was young.
Cheers and Happy Holiday Reading kids!
Cheers and Happy Holiday Reading kids!
December 9, 2014
This is so old school Brother bear doesn't even have a sister yet. The only thing that really bothers me is when Papa Bear falls under some ice in a frozen lake. I find it terrifying to suggest that it's easy to get out of that situation without freezing to death while drowning. Merry Christmas!
January 11, 2009
Papa Bear is full of vanity and pride - steer clear of letting little feminists read this one!
November 7, 2025
Once upon a time, children's books were funny and irreverent. This reprint from 1970 is just that. Good silly fun! And really quite beautifully illustrated.
Read
December 3, 2019o Grades k-2
o Animal fantasy
o This funny book is an interesting read. It made me laugh the majority of the away threw. I loved this book because Papa bear is known to be a bit of a clutz, and it really shows in this book.
o Animal fantasy
o This funny book is an interesting read. It made me laugh the majority of the away threw. I loved this book because Papa bear is known to be a bit of a clutz, and it really shows in this book.
December 21, 2017
Can Papa Bear muck up Christmas? He sure can!
18 November 2013
I remember this book with all of the fun and the wonder of a punch in the face (no, not really, but I felt like saying that at the opening to this commentary). Once again we have Papa Bear attempting to show off to his kid how wonderful he is and then pretty much making a complete mess of the situation which results in his kid, once again, bailing him out, but also under the strange belief that he has actually learnt something.
This book was obviously written in the northern hemisphere, or at least in the regions where it actually snows for Christmas (because down here – or should I say up here – in the Antipodes we never see snow at Christmas, so we are forever dreaming of a white Christmas – actually, come to think of it, I don't think I have ever dreamt of a white Christmas because to me Christmas is about hot days and swims at the beach and barbecues in the back yard, as well as going to church and midnight mass).
In a way the book's only connection with Christmas is the gifts that little bear gets and it then goes into the familiar parts of where Papa Bear tries to teach little baby bear something and fails abysmally. The fact that some people hate this aspect of the book (and one person has thrown his Berenstain Bears books out in disgust, though I wonder if the accident prone buffoon of a father is a little too close to home for him) makes me feel comfortable when people criticise my commentary of Mister Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself.
18 November 2013
I remember this book with all of the fun and the wonder of a punch in the face (no, not really, but I felt like saying that at the opening to this commentary). Once again we have Papa Bear attempting to show off to his kid how wonderful he is and then pretty much making a complete mess of the situation which results in his kid, once again, bailing him out, but also under the strange belief that he has actually learnt something.
This book was obviously written in the northern hemisphere, or at least in the regions where it actually snows for Christmas (because down here – or should I say up here – in the Antipodes we never see snow at Christmas, so we are forever dreaming of a white Christmas – actually, come to think of it, I don't think I have ever dreamt of a white Christmas because to me Christmas is about hot days and swims at the beach and barbecues in the back yard, as well as going to church and midnight mass).
In a way the book's only connection with Christmas is the gifts that little bear gets and it then goes into the familiar parts of where Papa Bear tries to teach little baby bear something and fails abysmally. The fact that some people hate this aspect of the book (and one person has thrown his Berenstain Bears books out in disgust, though I wonder if the accident prone buffoon of a father is a little too close to home for him) makes me feel comfortable when people criticise my commentary of Mister Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself.
November 4, 2016
This is one of the earlier Berenstain Bears books; an "I Can Read It All By Myself Beginner Books" so the text is simple and many words are repetitive. Helping young readers self esteem when they feel they can read the story (or even words one at a time) as they reread the same word.
This story is before Sister Bear and before Honey Bear so it's only Brother Bear whom is "Son" in this book. Santa has come and brought "Son" the things he wanted a sled, skis, and ice skates. So Pop takes Son out to teach him how to use these things. And as always Pop goes extreme and teaches Son how 'not' to use the items. But all in all they have fun and enjoy the day together.
This story is before Sister Bear and before Honey Bear so it's only Brother Bear whom is "Son" in this book. Santa has come and brought "Son" the things he wanted a sled, skis, and ice skates. So Pop takes Son out to teach him how to use these things. And as always Pop goes extreme and teaches Son how 'not' to use the items. But all in all they have fun and enjoy the day together.
April 5, 2018
This is another one of those early Berenstain Bears books that you just have to love. There's no Sister yet, and Papa Bear is off being an idiot in about a million different ways again. I absolutely love the expression on Mama Bear's face - it's just worth it to page through the book and look at her. Small Bear is great in his constant optimism and good cheer even though he's not really being given a chance to play with his own gifts.
The pages without words at the end are absolutely priceless.
.
Overall, another great book in the series, perfect for those readers just starting out. I wish I'd learned on these books.
The pages without words at the end are absolutely priceless.
.
Overall, another great book in the series, perfect for those readers just starting out. I wish I'd learned on these books.
December 15, 2009
Fun to read for the old timey feel of this book. Sister bear is not born yet?! Brother bear gets skis and skates and a sled for Christmas and Papa bear insists on teaching brother how to use them all. Disaster is everywhere! I might enjoy this one more then my daughter - she seems to enjoy the more modern family the bears have evolved into.
November 7, 2017
Practically the winter/holiday version of The Bike Lesson. I don't normally go for slapstick humor- but there's something charming about father bear's never-ending optimism that I really like.
December 14, 2008
For a Christmas book, this isn't really all that Christmassy. Brother Bear (Sister Bear doesn't seem to exist yet) gets ski, skates, and a sled for Christmas. Most of the book involves Father Bear teaching him how to use them and of course mayhem occurs.
December 9, 2011
Set on Christmas morning (in a snowy environment) It's a nice simple story. As said in some other reviews Papa Bear is vain, headstrong, and tends to bungle things up. Some of the words are hard for early readers, but it's an easy rhyme if your practicing predicting stories.
January 2, 2018
I love these bears. They've been a favorite of mine since I was a kid and now I love reading them to my son.
Papa Bear teaches his son to sled, ski and ice skate on Christmas Day. Of course, things don't work out so well for Papa Bear but they do have fun.
Papa Bear teaches his son to sled, ski and ice skate on Christmas Day. Of course, things don't work out so well for Papa Bear but they do have fun.
December 21, 2017
This is one of the few Berenstain Bears stories that isn't completely aggravating to me and my daughter enjoys as well. A classic from my childhood, the focus is more on Papa Bear's desire to teach and show off rusty skills from his youth. A quick Christmas read.
November 25, 2018
The old school illustrations are not the Berenstain Bears I remember and so are a little disconcerting and the rhyming doesn't scan super well. Nothing especially wrong with this book, it's cute, but Papa Bear somehow isn't his lovable self.
September 10, 2017
Humor seems targeted more to grown ups than children. Parents, like the skeptical mother in the story, might find it amusing. Ha ha. Incessant rhyme, but some of the rhythm is weak.
December 27, 2017
A cute and nostalgic story!
March 4, 2019
Lol this was so sassy. More a lesson for the parents than the kids, I'd say.
August 25, 2019
Cute and funny and teaches a lesson.
December 9, 2020
I have a lot of favorite Christmas books, like probably 50 but if you made me put one at the very top of the pile, the classic Bear’s Christmas was and is my favorite. Their Christmas Tree book is also tops but this is topsier. 😀.
I love the classic Berenstain books, the ones of my youth and before the perfect, politically correct themes showed up and Papa Bear couldn’t be such a mess up. The early books are the best and this one still gets pulled out each holiday season and is one of my favorite reading traditions...even if I just have to read it to myself nowadays.
I love the classic Berenstain books, the ones of my youth and before the perfect, politically correct themes showed up and Papa Bear couldn’t be such a mess up. The early books are the best and this one still gets pulled out each holiday season and is one of my favorite reading traditions...even if I just have to read it to myself nowadays.
December 26, 2025
Wow, some of the reviews on here are harsh and in-depth. It's a fun, silly book from the 70's, still entertaining for kids of today. You have the cocky, prideful Dad who thinks he knows it all, showing his son how to ski, sled and skate. Of course, things don't go to plan for Dad but Son is always his biggest supporter and thanks him for showing him anyway.
I prefer these original illustrations with the skinny bears, I guess it's the nostalgia of what I grew up with. It was a fun trip down memory lane.
I prefer these original illustrations with the skinny bears, I guess it's the nostalgia of what I grew up with. It was a fun trip down memory lane.
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