Santa Claus and the Three Bears: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

by Maria Modugno, Jane Dyer (Illustrator), Brooke Dyer (Illustrator)

Overview

Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear weren't expecting any company when they went for a walk on Christmas Eve, but that's exactly what they got! Debut author Maria Modugno teams up with award-winning artists Jane and Brooke Dyer to deliver a festive twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with Santa Claus stepping in as the cheerful intruder.

Leaving their pudding to cool on the kitchen table, the unsuspecting bears head outdoors for a crisp evening walk. But when they return, they are shocked at what they find! Their pudding . . . eaten! Their chairs . . . broken! Their cozy beds . . . slept in! And it looks like the culprit is still there! Fast asleep in Baby Bear's bed is someone awfully familiar. A fluffy white beard, a red jacket covered in soot, and two black boots sticking out from under the covers. Could it really be . . . ?

With sparkling prose and splendid watercolor paintings, this delicious holiday treat glows with warmth and humor that will delight readers page after page.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061700231
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/24/2013
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Maria Modugno is a lifelong lover of reading and books. A children's book editor, she was inspired to write her first story by the antics of the polar bears at the Central Park Zoo. Maria lives in New York City.

Jane Dyer is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Cookies series by Amy Krouse Rosenthal as well as numerous other award-winning picture books. She lives and works in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Brooke Dyer is the illustrator of Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple and Mama Always Comes Home by Karma Wilson. Brooke lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts, with her husband, three young children, and their dog, Sophie.

Editorial Reviews

Charming watercolor illustrations by the mother-and-daughter team bring the polar bears to life and give Santa Claus an amiable, gentle persona.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“An endearing restaging of the fairy tale.” — Publishers Weekly

“Simple and satisfying, this is sure to be a popular holiday read-aloud.” — School Library Journal

“Cozy...well paced. — The Horn Book

“The Dyers do a beautiful job of reframing the tale into holiday fare.” — Booklist Online

From the Publisher

The Dyers do a beautiful job of reframing the tale into holiday fare.

Booklist Online

Cozy...well paced.

The Horn Book

★ 2013-09-01
Once upon a time, there was a clever Christmas innovation on the classic tale of Papa, Mama and Baby Bear, with Santa Claus standing in for Goldilocks. The bears in this irresistible tale are polar bears, living in a comfortable home with a stone fireplace and Scandinavian Christmas decorations. On Christmas Eve, the three bears go out for a late-night walk while their pudding cools on the table. Santa Claus arrives to deliver their presents, and he follows the Goldilocks pattern of eating the Christmas pudding, breaking Baby Bear's chair and falling asleep in Baby Bear's cozy bed. The text follows the familiar structure of the original story, but when the bears find Santa asleep, he pulls out their gifts instead of running away. In a delightful twist, there's "a great big present for Baby Bear, a middle-size present for Mama Bear, and a wee little present for Papa Bear." A final wordless page shows the bears just starting to open their presents on Christmas morning, but young readers must imagine the package contents for themselves. Charming watercolor illustrations by the mother-and-daughter team bring the polar bears to life and give Santa Claus an amiable, gentle persona. And Santa promises Baby Bear a new chair for next Christmas. Just right. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews