ChristiH

Bear Stays Up for Christmas, by Karma Wilson, finds Bear's friends waking him up from hibernation on Christmas Eve so that he can enjoy Christmas. Bear's friends keep him busy, helping him participate in Christmas activities, even as his eyelids droop and he struggles to stay awake. Eventually his friends fall asleep, but Bear stays up and makes presents for them all, unaware that Santa is at the same time leaving a gift for him. When his friends wake up, they celebrate Christmas, open gifts, and, finally, Bear goes back to sleep. 

Bear Stays Up for Christmas is a book students will love, especially animal lovers.  The illustration are beautiful and students will love the rhymes. I'd read this book to kindergarten - second grade.  It would be a perfect fit for reading before a class gift exchange at Christmas.  Students could decorate the classroom tree with homemade decorations like the ones in the book.