Berenstain Bears Christmas Tree

• Ages 4-7
• Hardcover

The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree by Jan Berenstain and her son Mike Berenstain continues the new series of Berenstain Bears books that now emphasize Christian values. This particular book begins by quoting Matthew 7:12, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you."

Pop Bear gets Christmas started well by catching a gigantic salmon for the family to eat and by pulling out all of the bulbs and lights to decorate a tree. But then he gets the crazy idea that he and the children should climb a tall mountain and cut down their own tree this year, rather than buy one from the local merchant. The threesome come across three absolutely perfect trees, but each time they discover that the trees are the homes of wildlife animals -- a skunk, a chipmunk, crows, an eagle, even tiny snow birds. The children convince Pop that he cannot destroy the homes of these creatures of God.

Unfortunately, Pop has led the children so far up the mountain; they are in danger of never making it back home in time to buy a tree before Christmas is gone. Thinking quickly, Pop takes his trusty axe and hews three sets of snow skis from the stump of a tree. He and the children put them on and race down the snowy mountain, but not in time. All the Christmas trees have been sold by now! Dejectedly, they trudge home, only to discover that the animals whose tree homes they had spared have come down the mountain and used their ability to fly and climb to take the Berenstain Bears' holiday ornaments outside. The animals have turned the house into one gigantic, glowing Christmas tree, making it the best Christmas ever for everyone.