Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear!

by Don Wood, Audrey Wood

Painted in acrylics this is a delightful picture book which ends with a wonderful Christmas surprise - the promise of a new friendship between a tiny mouse, and a big bear, who doesn't seem quite so scary after all.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Storytime, Fiction, Animals

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Both in story and pictures.

Ages: 3 - 8

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas book by Don and Audrey Wood? Yes, please! I loved the fun, warm illustrations (as I do in every Don and Audry Wood book!) and I appreciated the simple message of giving to others, even when it may be uncomfortable or difficult.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute follow up book to one of our family favorites. We love little mouse!

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! The mouse and the big hungry bear are both back and for Christmas. This long awaited sequel is the perfect holiday treat. Loved it.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
This husband and wife team does it again! They do it every time! :D The little mouse is confronted with the big hungry bear again---love his facial expressions!

ENJOY!
 

[Jamille Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My niece loves the big hungry bear! This book is a sweet reminder for her to always be giving.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the little mouse. He makes great facial expressions. I really like to read this to Kindergarten, then ask them to guess what's inside the giant present from the big, hungry bear. I always get some entertaining guesses...a giant cheese, a robot, a toy, a teddy bear, the bear himself. My favorites are usually the odd things, the ideas that make you say, "Just what exactly is going on inside this kid's head?" Like, "a carpet" (um, okay), "a big, giant, POKEMON!" (the answer bubbled up from inside him and exploded on the last word), and today's answer: "A girl mouse. He gave him a wife." (This, from the principal's son. My boss was so proud....)

[Audry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is so very cute and fun! It's one of my favorites. It's a story of little Mouse, who has lots of Christmas presents, but is afraid of the big, hungry bear who loves Christmas presents in the cold, dark cave at the top of the hill. Little Mouse puts chains on the presents and nails boards on his door to keep out the big bear. Then he starts feeling sorry for the bear who never gets any presents. So he decides to take his presents to the top of the hill for the bear, and he gets a surprise.

[Hannah Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little mouse has a mountain of presents under his tree on Christmas Eve. He is afraid that the big hungry bear who lives up the mountain will steal all his gifts, so he chains them to the tree and nails his door shut. Then he starts thinking about how sad the lonely bear will be with no presents of his own on Christmas morning--so the brave mouse takes some of his presents to the bear. Beautiful, almost jewel-toned illustrations and the theme of giving make this a great Christmas book for ages 3-5.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a 'sweet thought' to it but just didn't catch and keep my granddaughter and mine attention. It's written as if the reader is talking to the mouse in the book. Making him feel guilty and sorry for the bear in the cave all alone. He does take him his gifts even though he's kind of scared which was nice...but the story just didn't flow like I would have liked, it was choppy and at times you had to turn the page back to make sure you didn't skip a page by mistake.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a cute Christmas book that talks about a bear who does not ever get anything for Christmas. Then a brave mouse brings the bear Christmas presents and the bear is so happy. This would be a good book to read to talk about the beginning, middle, and end because it has such distinctive beginning, middle, and end.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute children's book about giving during the Christmas season. The illustrations are adorable and the narrative is short and simple, good for reading aloud with young children. It's a fun story to read at bedtime.

[Buddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is always under our Christmas tree so we can read it over and over.

[Erin Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows the same concept as the original story not quite as good but, it's fun and sweet story.

[Joseph Soergel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my favorite book when I was younger. It made me laugh when I was younger.

[Brandi Streeval · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this to my daughter very cute

[Stacia Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story the way it's written and paired with the illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'm getting soft. This book made me tear up. Poor bear! I need to lay off the Hallmark Christmas Movies. They're affecting my sensibilities.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

31 months - If you've read the original and loved it you'll enjoy this one with a Christmas twist.

[Judah Copeland]

This book takes place on a cold winter day to be specific christmas. It starts with a little mouse who is just trying to find a friend to who he can celebrate christmas with but he can't seem to find anyone. eventually you get to see this very hungry bear looking for something to eat and to find some warmth. The bear gets inside eventually which scares this little mouse as he rummages through things. but the mouse eventually sees that this big ole bear is nothing but a softy so by the end they become close friends who share a meal together.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is not as funny as the original, I believe it has a much better message. Instead of just hiding the gifts and keeping them all for himself, the little mouse decides to share. He has empathy and is sad that the bear never gets any presents. Although in the first book, the little mouse is selfish, you see how he feels sad for the poor bear, alone on Christmas. This is a great message for children on the importance of giving and the joy that it brings us. I really enjoy this book, and cannot wait to read it to my children at Christmastime.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only recently discovered there was a sequel to the Big Hungry Bear and the the Red ripe Strawberry. And this book too, stands the test of time. Mouse is afraid the big hungry bear is going to get his Christmas presents. But as he thinks about the bear who gets no presents, no even from Santa, he has a change of heart. And gets a big surprise in return. A lovely wonderful book for Christmas or any time.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mouse has a lot of presents under his tree. He's decorating and getting ready for Christmas. The narrator talks to him about the bear who is all alone in his cave in the cold. I'm not fond of the Narrator using guilt to get Mouse to share his gifts but it can be spun as generosity for younger readers. When Mouse dresses as Santa and takes gifts to Bear, he discovers that Bear has a gift for him too.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love the original book (with the red ripe strawberry) and loved this too. It was also great to talk about how Christmas is for giving and how kind the mouse is.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t like this one as much as the first, but it was still very cute and for the most part stuck to the theme of the first one. This story is Christmas themed and has a sweet message similar to the original. The illustrations are colorful and lovely. My only real gripe with this one is that the strawberry wasn’t incorporated, nor was the present at the end revealed. It felt unfinished. Makes a nice holiday-themed addition.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear has been a favorite around our house, so I expected this title to be one, too. And it is. Except ... the kids are curious about the presents. So now, when we finish reading, they come up with an idea of a present for bear, and guess what might be in the box for mouse.

[Abbey Pignatari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 (physical book)

Another fun holiday story. I really love the way in which the author shapes the story to create a relationship with two unlikely friends. The big hungry bear is always left out of the festivities because all of the other creatures are scared of him. The little mouse takes it upon himself to change Christmas for the big hungry bear. Really cute story!

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby was intrigued by this book. He loves “The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear” and this is the Christmas book featuring the same characters. It was nice. I didn’t think it was as good as the original but it is good. I like the message of compassion, bravery, sharing!

[Katherine Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear is one of my all-time favorite picture books, so I was thrilled to see the characters return in a delightful Christmas story with a nice little message.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the illustrations here are luminous. Artwork in a Don and Audrey Wood book is always going to be amazing and I think the artwork here is above and beyond that. You will rarely find a better characterization of a mouse.
I found this book before I found the original, not sure how I missed it for that long, so this is how I met this lovable mouse who shows himself to have a heart of gold. I love the small details in the art here, such as the fact that he goes to decorate Bear's tree but the decor only goes so high since he can only carry so much from his house and also he's a mouse. Super adorable, good message, this is my go-to nonreligious holiday read-aloud.
Featured on the No Extra Words podcast Special #23.