Bear's friends awaken him the day before Christmas and help him to stay awake as they bake fruitcakes, fill stockings, and sing carols; then, while they sleep, he prepares his own surprise.
Describes the characteristics of temperate forest biomes, and looks at the lives of baby animals that live in woodland forests, including the opossum, black bear, bald eagle, red fox, deer, red squirrel, bobcat, and giant panda.
With the help of their forest friends and the advice of wise Mr. Owl, Red Knit Cap Girl and White Bunny, who are on a quest to find a way to talk to the Moon, learn that they need only to wait and listen quietly to make their wish come true.