Forget about dreaming of a white Christmas this year, most parents I know are hoping for an unplugged version of the holiday; a Christmas void of blaring televisions, raucous radios and vociferous video games.
How likely are you to enjoy a genuine silent night this Christmas?
If you want to know how to make your dream a reality, take some advice from the Bear family.
In The Berenstain Bears’ Old-Fashioned Christmas, Brother, Sister and Baby Honey Bear get a taste of what the holiday was like pre-TV, when they travel to Grizzly Gramps and Gran’s house.
After rolling up in the family’s red convertible—with the top down—the cubs plunk themselves in front of Gramps and Gran’s television. Only, the boob tube is unplugged courtesy of Gramps, who explains:
“This is going to be an old-fashioned Christmas, just like it was when I was a cub. Back then, there wasn’t any TV.”
“No TV?” said Brother and Sister, shocked. “How could you live like that?”
It doesn’t take long before the pint-sized bears find out.
The richly illustrated book takes readers of an old-fashioned Christmas adventure complete with a slew of seasonal activities that don’t require batteries, headphones or remote controls.
The cubs listen to Gramps belt out Yuletide tunes while playing the piano, head outside to chop down their own Christmas tree, sift through Gram’s “bearlooms” to decorate their freshly-cut fir, bake gingerbread bears, and join Farmer Ben for a sleigh ride to his barn where they pass out holiday treats to all the animals.
Jan and Mike Berenstain keep with tradition using the Bear family to teach young readers valuable life lessons. The only thing that’s different about The Berenstain Bears’ Old-Fashioned Christmas is that the hardcover book is sturdier and larger than the classic paperback versions which generations of children have grown up with.
In addition to the vibrant illustrations, The Berenstain Bears’ Old-Fashioned Christmas comes with bonus pages that show kids how they can replicate the Bear family’s unplugged activities at home. For example, one page features directions on how to make homemade Christmas tree ornaments, including shell angels and felt reindeer. Another page features the lyrics to “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” while another provides kid-friendly instructions on how to make natural holiday treats for animals, such as an apple studded with sunflower seeds and a pine cone covered with peanut butter and bird seed.
Make merry this Christmas by turning off the TV, tuning out the world, and sharing a quiet moment cuddling up with your kids and the entire Bear family.
You can get a copy of The Berenstain Bears’ Old-Fashioned Christmas via HarperCollins’ website and at discount retailers nationwide.