Bear in the Big Blue House: A Berry Bear Christmas [VHS]

The friendly home-owning grizzly and his pals celebrate the traditions of a secular Christmas but pay more than a passing nod to both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in this 50-minute holiday video. Agenda items include a gift exchange and a visit to Santa Hog at the mall, but everything is put in perspective when the household discovers a homeless hound bellowing outside their door. They invite him in, share the holiday, find him a home, and learn a valuable lesson. Meanwhile, "Shadow" shows up to sing about the other two holidays in accompaniment to shadow cutouts. The bear, twin otters, lemur, mouse, and little bear were created by the Jim Henson folks, but they have none of the cleverness or occasional bite of the Sesame Street gang or the Muppets. The earnest Bear is kin to another outsized softie of a (purple) predator; they're both strictly for the kiddies. Ages 2 to 7. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Bear smells the scents of pinecones, mistletoe and holiday cookies in the Big Blue House -- which means it's a special time of year! Bear and his friends learn about the various winter holidays: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Winterberry...but most of all, they learn there is more to the holidays than receiving presents. In fact, the best present ever is seeing someone smile in gratitude after you have just helped him or her. The characters learn this lesson firsthand after helping a homeless dog find a home. Featured songs: "A Berry Bear Christmas," "Holiday for Everyone," "That's All I Want for Christmas," "What If," "Just Listen," "Woodland Valley Carols," "Legend of Winterberry," "What Did I Get For Christmas," "The Best Present Ever" and "Winter Berry Reprise."