[2][3] Stan and Jan Berenstain's first animated holiday special aired on NBC in December 1979.

This element had also been used in the Christmas special and was familiar to audiences since a similar type of writing was used in the Berenstain Bears Beginner Books series.

The Bear Family attempt to discern their fortunes by reading the harvest honeycomb when an ominous footprint appears in the bottom of the pan.

While visiting a pumpkin patch, Papa learns that his selfishness debt that the legend of the terrifying Bigpaw is real and is on the move through Sinister Bog.

Meanwhile, back at the village square, Papa has gathered members of Bear Country, rallying a group of citizens to seek out Bigpaw and "get him before he gets us".

Bigpaw has climbed a high mountain to take a nap and his yawn echoes through the valley.

Brother and Sister try to tell Papa of Bigpaw's kindness, but he doesn't listen.

Afraid of the approaching bears, Bigpaw built a tall stack of boulders to use as weapons against the approaching mob until Sister and Brother intervene, placing themselves between Bigpaw and the angry members of Bear Country.

Bigpaw holds back his tower of rock, gently picks up Brother and SIster, who explain how kind the giant is.

[12] In 1987, the special was made available on VHS by Embassy Home Entertainment as part of their "Children's Treasures" series.

[14] The special was re-released in 1992 by GoodTimes Home Video, in a double-feature with The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree.