A Bear Called Paddington
By Matt Berman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Delightful classic about a bear adopted by a London family.
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What's the Story?
The Browns find a small bear sitting on his suitcase in Paddington station in London with a tag that says, "Please look after this bear." He has emigrated from "darkest Peru" after his Aunt Lucy went into "a home for retired bears." So they take him home, name him after the station where they found him, and he quickly becomes one of the family. But, through no fault of his own, things are always happening to Paddington -- he's "that sort of bear." But no matter how big the disaster, Paddington always comes out on top.
Is It Any Good?
This is a lovely way to introduce a new generation to one of the classic children's book series of the 20th century. The oversized 50th anniversary edition includes the original illustrations, now in color, and a few that were left out of the original edition. This is a book from an earlier time, when the humor was gentle and books for children were expected to entertain and comfort.
These stories are perfect both for young readers making the move into chapter books, and for snuggling up in bed with an adult reading them out loud at bedtime. There's nothing here to disturb young dreams, and much in both text and simple pictures to make both reader and listener grin and giggle. In our hurried, violent world, these stories can carve out a little space for a child just to experience unalloyed pleasure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the old-fashioned nature of A Bear Called Paddington. How have books for children have changed since the 1950s? century? How does this book seem different from more modern books you read? Why do you think they've changed?
A Bear Called Paddington is considered a classic. What does that mean? Why do you think it's stayed popular for so long?
What's fun about a book where a wild animal talks and is just as polite as the humans in the story?
Book Details
- Author: Michael Bond
- Illustrator: Peggy Fortnum
- Genre: Animals
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Trains , Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
- Publication date: March 29, 1958
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 142
- Last updated: December 13, 2019
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