Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear!
Husband and wife team Don and Audrey Wood follow up on their  international bestsellerThe  Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bearwith a  yuletide message about giving.The little Mouse has holed up in his cozy home for Christmas, under long, shiny  garlands and a gigantic, glowing tree. And what a huge pile of gifts he's got!  ("My goodness! What a lot of presents. Are they all for you?") But then he  starts to worry about "the big, hungry Bear in the cold, dark cave at the top of  the hill" and how he'd do anything to get a hold of Mouse's presents. ("Ohhh,  how that Bear loves Christmas presents!") So it's out with the padlock, boards  over the door, and tacks all over the floor. Good old Mouse, though, has a last- minute change of heart and realizes that maybe he should be sharing his  presents--not locking them up--so he heads off to visit his ursine friend.The appeal of this series may continue to be a mystery to some grownups, but the  fun, repetitive text and playful acrylics will likely win over any kid--even if  we never get to see that big, hungry Bear at all. (Baby to preschool)--Paul  Hughes