Padddington Bear by Michael Bond
View current stock of Michael Bond books
Imagine, a little bear, wearing a 'funny kind of hat', sitting on an old leather suitcase that contains his favourite food - marmalade, with a tag around his neck saying 'Please look after this bear - thank-you'. There is only one bear that matches the above description - Paddington Bear!
Through the pages of the first novel bearing Paddington's name A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond, we discover his history.
Paddington, originally named Pastuso, comes from darkest Peru. He has been sent to England by his Aunt Lucy, who although looking after the orphaned bear since he was a few weeks old, has now had to go into the Home for Retired Bears in Lima. After stowing away in a lifeboat and eating marmalade, ('Bears like Marmalade'), the little bear eventually ends up at Paddington Station in London.
It is Mr. and Mrs. Brown who first meet the bear on a platform at the railway station, where they are waiting for their daughter Judy. Mr. Brown spots a bear sitting all alone on a suitcase, located near the lost property office. Seeing the label "Please look after this bear..." - how can the Browns refuse?
The lonely bear is taken home by the Browns to their house at 32 Windsor Gardens, so that he can live with them and their two children Jonathan and Judy and the housekeeper Mrs. Bird. He is named 'Paddington' after the station where the Browns found him.
Everything in London is new to Paddington - like taps and plugs when he enjoys a much needed bath! However, he soon needs rescuing when water starts coming through the sitting room ceiling. He also discovers that escalators can be a little tricky the first time that you encounter them.
In this first book, Paddington experiences a 'Shopping Expedition', on which Mrs. Brown buys him the now infamous duffel coat with its large hood. This leads him into another adventure when he inadvertently ends up as part of the store's window display!
Whilst living with the Browns, Paddington makes new friends, including Mr. Gruber, who owns an antiques shop in Portobello Road. He learns from Mr. Gruber about paintings and tries to put this new information to good use, with some amusing and surprising results. In the following chapters, Paddington is taken to visit the theatre and also the seaside, where 'things just happen' to this unusual bear!
The finale of this wonderful book finds Paddington celebrating his first birthday since coming to live with the Browns. Paddington decides to do something special and entertain with a magic show and, as usual, things don't go quite according to plan, but everyone except the grumpy neighbour Mr. Curry have a most enjoyable time.
Titles in the original series:
A Bear Called Paddington (1958)
More About Paddington (1959)
Paddington Helps Out (1960)
Paddington Abroad (1961)
Paddington at Large (1962)
Paddington Marches On (1964)
Paddington At Work (1966)
Paddington Goes to Town (1968)
Paddington Takes the Air (1970)
Paddington On Top (1974)
Paddington Takes the Test (1979)
Other Paddington publications include Paddington 'Young Set' Books, illustrated by Fred Banbury; Paddington 'First' Picture Books, illustrated by David McKee and Picture books, written with Karen Bond.
Why not see what Paddington Books we have in stock at present and take him home and look after him?
Contributed by Joanne Hill
(Published 12th Dec 2014)
