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The Christmas Bear
A curious young polar bear tumbles through a mysterious hole in the snow and ends up in the midst of Santa's workshop, where the corpulent charmer himself leads little Cub on an wonderful tour. BOMC Main.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 10, 2017
Pretty stars on the inside cover.
Cute polar bears and moon.
Him falling down was so cute! Paws by his face. And he's heading toward Santa!
I love santa's surprise that the polar bear fell through the roof. He thinks he's there to be his helper.
That's cool that Santa has designed some toys.
It said he liked the purple dinosaurs but it looked blue.
He said the electrical room was simple but it didn't look it!
Cub was so cute cuddling all the teddy bears!!
So Santa knew he wasn't there as a helper after all.
I like seeing the elves' private rooms.
I like that the stables open up onto the ice.
I wish the trip was explained instead of 'in the blink of an eye, Cub was home.'
He said "thank you for your help" but he didn't really do anything. It was sweet how he said "remember--you'll always be my Christmas bear."
In typical parent fashion, totally killing the mood, the mom says "and now, little Cub, it's time for bed."
It said 'Cub curled up next to the best Christmas presents of all' meaning his parents. But what did he get from Santa? Are you kidding me?!?
I like the view from their cave of santa's sleigh in front of the moon.
This book didn't capture a cub's voice. At first I didn't even know he could talk, and was surprisd when he talked out loud, and like a human. But he didn't sound childlike.
Cute polar bears and moon.
Him falling down was so cute! Paws by his face. And he's heading toward Santa!
I love santa's surprise that the polar bear fell through the roof. He thinks he's there to be his helper.
That's cool that Santa has designed some toys.
It said he liked the purple dinosaurs but it looked blue.
He said the electrical room was simple but it didn't look it!
Cub was so cute cuddling all the teddy bears!!
So Santa knew he wasn't there as a helper after all.
I like seeing the elves' private rooms.
I like that the stables open up onto the ice.
I wish the trip was explained instead of 'in the blink of an eye, Cub was home.'
He said "thank you for your help" but he didn't really do anything. It was sweet how he said "remember--you'll always be my Christmas bear."
In typical parent fashion, totally killing the mood, the mom says "and now, little Cub, it's time for bed."
It said 'Cub curled up next to the best Christmas presents of all' meaning his parents. But what did he get from Santa? Are you kidding me?!?
I like the view from their cave of santa's sleigh in front of the moon.
This book didn't capture a cub's voice. At first I didn't even know he could talk, and was surprisd when he talked out loud, and like a human. But he didn't sound childlike.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2019
I absolutely love the book, “The Christmas Bear” by Henrietta Strickland it has always been a childhood fav. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone especially around Christmas. This book is mainly about a bear who takes a tour around the North Pole where all the Christmas magic is made. I felt joyful and it refreshed my memory while reading the book. Overall, I think this is a good book.
May 13, 2021
What I loved most about this book was the illustrations. I thought that they were beautifully detailed and it was worth it to take a pause from reading the story to look at all the pictures had to offer. I think the story was very bland, not much action or excitement. But the pictures really made up for it. I think this is a fun story for kid's to read, mostly for the illustration though.
October 13, 2017
Alissa loved everything about this story - the art, Santa, the elves!
October 3, 2018
A very sweet story, beautifully ready by David Tennant for CBeebies Bedtime Stories.
June 3, 2019
I’ve had this book since 1998, and I still read it every Christmas. Perfect for getting into the holiday spirit! I used to love hunting for the penguin in the illustrations.
March 8, 2025
Polar bears? Santa? Thoughtfulness? And love? What’s not to love about this book? It is adorable!
February 18, 2017
Unrealistic how a cub would wander from its den without its mother. And I didn't like how Santa lived in a hole in the ground, that led to his study. It was really convenient that Cub fell through the hole and Santa just happened to have an ad out for an assistant.
The cub was cute after he fell to the floor of the study. He was lying on his stomach and had his paws over his head.
It was so boring that the North Pole was a work of gears and parts that produced their own electricity. Yeah, kids really want to know that Santa is able to generate his own electricity...
Cub was cute as he went through the stuffed animals, liking the bears the best, and he held a polar bear in one arm.
I liked that there was a round couch around a furnace, so the elves were all together around the fire. I also liked the bunk beds and be little stairs leading up to them.
It was so weird for Santa to have a bear working for him. How could an animal work for him? And it made no sense for Cub to think one of the presents were for him. Santa doesn't deliver presents to animals.
It was so random for there to be a slew of cats in the stables with the reindeer. And ridiculous to have mice sitting right beside the cats, as if cats and mice get along. A nice thought that predator and prey would be friends at the North Pole, but misleading.
Out of nowhere, before he was supposed to leave, Santa divulges the secret that he knew Cub hadn't come to be his helper. Okay, what intrigue. He knows his parents want him back, so he offered to take him in his sleigh, and he had a special present for him.
And wow. A male and female polar bear sticking together to care for the cub. What a joke. You have to throw reality right outside the window.
Cub's mom wished Santa a Merry Christmas and then said it was time for Cub to go to bed. What a motherly thing to say.
We didn't even get to know what the present was. He was curled up with his parents, "the best Christmas presents of all."
The illustrations were colorful and had a lot of detail. There were so many intricate details that a lot of time could be spent trying to see everything.
This wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. I expected so much more, and it was just a simple story with no point whatsoever.
The cub was cute after he fell to the floor of the study. He was lying on his stomach and had his paws over his head.
It was so boring that the North Pole was a work of gears and parts that produced their own electricity. Yeah, kids really want to know that Santa is able to generate his own electricity...
Cub was cute as he went through the stuffed animals, liking the bears the best, and he held a polar bear in one arm.
I liked that there was a round couch around a furnace, so the elves were all together around the fire. I also liked the bunk beds and be little stairs leading up to them.
It was so weird for Santa to have a bear working for him. How could an animal work for him? And it made no sense for Cub to think one of the presents were for him. Santa doesn't deliver presents to animals.
It was so random for there to be a slew of cats in the stables with the reindeer. And ridiculous to have mice sitting right beside the cats, as if cats and mice get along. A nice thought that predator and prey would be friends at the North Pole, but misleading.
Out of nowhere, before he was supposed to leave, Santa divulges the secret that he knew Cub hadn't come to be his helper. Okay, what intrigue. He knows his parents want him back, so he offered to take him in his sleigh, and he had a special present for him.
And wow. A male and female polar bear sticking together to care for the cub. What a joke. You have to throw reality right outside the window.
Cub's mom wished Santa a Merry Christmas and then said it was time for Cub to go to bed. What a motherly thing to say.
We didn't even get to know what the present was. He was curled up with his parents, "the best Christmas presents of all."
The illustrations were colorful and had a lot of detail. There were so many intricate details that a lot of time could be spent trying to see everything.
This wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. I expected so much more, and it was just a simple story with no point whatsoever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
There are some books where the text is actually secondary, and the illustrations are the real stars of the show. This is one of those books.
The delightful images feature a lot of hidden details that will keep you coming back for a second look, and this opinion is from an adult reader, not a child in the book's target demographic. I particularly enjoyed the illustration of the reindeer barn with all of the barn cats.
Sadly, I had to deduct some points from my copy of the book for being a Miniature Edition, since the artwork was more difficult to take in and appreciate in this smaller format. I actually experienced some eyestrain while trying not to miss any of the details.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Possibly, but only if I happen across a copy in a larger format.
Would I recommend it? Yes. However, I would strongly recommend a larger format edition, to get the full effect of the illustrations.
The delightful images feature a lot of hidden details that will keep you coming back for a second look, and this opinion is from an adult reader, not a child in the book's target demographic. I particularly enjoyed the illustration of the reindeer barn with all of the barn cats.
Sadly, I had to deduct some points from my copy of the book for being a Miniature Edition, since the artwork was more difficult to take in and appreciate in this smaller format. I actually experienced some eyestrain while trying not to miss any of the details.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Possibly, but only if I happen across a copy in a larger format.
Would I recommend it? Yes. However, I would strongly recommend a larger format edition, to get the full effect of the illustrations.
December 4, 2015
This is a cute little book about a bear cub who falls through a whole in the ice/snow and ends up visiting Santa Claus. He is them shown around Santa's home/workshop/base/whatever. He ends up getting a Christmas present and then is taken back to his parents. The book is marvelously illustrated. We see the expected (Santa's den, the workshop) and some not so expected (the power room) and a whole lot more. A really delightful bed. My youngest daughter got this one from the library and had me read it to her as a bedtime story. It is a great book for that purpose, especially on Christmas Eve. Recommended if you have young children or grand-children or if you are young at heart.
December 30, 2013
Written and illustrated by a husband/wife pair, this book has a simple but sweet Christmas story for the little ones. The best part is definitely the incredibly detailed illustrations of Santa's workshops which can be examined for hours and create endless discussions. I especially recommend this book for children and families who like to build and make things themselves.
April 8, 2013
A little polar bear, who wandered away from his parents and got lost, ends up at the North Pole with Santa Claus. Santa shows him around the village as if he came to get a job and then takes him home to his parents on the way to deliver toys to the children vof the world.
December 8, 2022
I had forgotten about this book until I found a copy today ... this was a Christmas STAPLE in terms of holiday reading when I was little. Definitely do yourself a favor and give this one a read (or reread)!
September 16, 2012
My children may be growing big but we still get this book out every year to study the beautiful, detailed illustrations (and hunt both the penguin and the cat in each!).
January 2, 2013
As read by David Tennant. Le sigh.
December 29, 2015
I don't think anyone has any idea how happy these make me: https://youtu.be/BVSwdZnW-UA?list=PL6....
September 10, 2013
One of my favourite Christmas books from childhood. really good feel factor and I love the penguin
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews