Hanna Bear's Christmas.

Gregory Bryan is a member of the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

Each year, new Christmas books emerge with the capacity to become perennial favourites, destined to be enjoyed repeatedly throughout Decembers for decades to come. Hanna Bear’s Christmas is just such a book. Monica Devine’s simple and sweet story tells of a bear that tires of sleeping through Christmas each year and missing out on the wonder of the occasion. As such, when Hanna Bear prepares for hibernation, she entrusts her woodland friends with the responsibility of waking her up at Christmastime. Alas, Hanna Bear’s friends find that awakening a slumbering bear is no small task.

Although the book is well-written and contains a worthwhile message about the value of cooperation, the greatest strength of the book is Sean Cassidy’s delightful illustrations. The texture of such things as the animals’ fur, the spruce tree bark, and the autumn leaf litter adds depth to the paintings. Another eye-catching feature of the illustrations is the portrayal of each scene from interesting and varying viewpoints. Above all, the mixture of exquisite blues is beautiful and sure to please the eye.

Hanna Bear’s Christmas is a new classic that will add an extra dimension of magic to the Christmas season for years to come. Highly recommended.