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.
After Little Pip the penguin gets lost she meets a whale, a kelp gull, and sled dogs who cannot help her, but with the aid of her family's song, home finds her.
Egged on by a ground squirrel, a dog named Doug digs miles underground--taking a detour through the White House--until he returns home, goes to bed, and dreams of digging some more.
On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun.
The forest friends all gather to help care for Bear when he feels sick, and when they come down with the same symptoms, the newly recovered Bear returns the favor.