From the moment she first saw it in the toy shop window, Mei-Mei has desperately wanted the huge stuffed bear, even though she knows her mama doesn't earn enough money in her job at the neighborhood Chinese restaurant to buy such extravagant luxuries. Mei-Mei manages to earn some money of her own with occasional odd jobs around the restaurant but she still can't save enough to buy "the softest, warmest bear in the whole world." Luckily, Mei-Mei's mama is soft and warm and gives great bear hugs, and that is the most important thing of all. The warm, quiet tone of the refreshingly realistic story is echoed in the softly colored illustrations that accompany it. (Ages 4-8)

Mei-Mei sees the perfect Christmas gift for herself -- a soft, warm teddy bear -- but it is too expensive. However, Mei-Mei learns that the very best Christmas present of all has been there all along.