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.

Presents five folktales related to Christmas, including "The Brave Little Camel" (Syria), "Baby in the Bread" (Malta), "The Gourd of Plenty" (Ghana), "Flowers for Jesus" (Mexico), and "Babushka" (Russia).

When his alarm clock fails to go off, Santa oversleeps on Christmas Eve and then encounters a series of disasters that threaten to prevent him from delivering his presents on time.

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole where he is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas.

With the aid of his purple crayon, Harold goes to the North Pole to get Santa ready for his journey.

Trying to be good for Christmas without bungling everything up is difficult.

Highlights various activities done in anticipation of Christmas.

Angelina and her cousin Henry help bring Christmas to a lonely old postman.

During a scarlet fever epidemic one winter in Michigan, a Jewish family helps make Christmas special for their sick neighbors by making their own Hanukkah miracle. Based on a memory from the author's childhood.

After falling asleep and being delivered along with a toy airplane on Christmas morning, a hard-working elf tries to make his way back to the North Pole.