Paddington Bear [Hardcover]

Michael Bond (Author), R. W. Alley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Forty years ago, a small bear from Darkest Peru set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Carrying a battered suitcase containing several jars of marmalade, and wearing a tag around his neck that read Please Look after This Bear, he stowed away on a ship and landed in Londons Paddington Station. As luck would have it, the Brown family found him, named him Paddington, and welcomed him to their home and into the hearts of millions of readers.Since 1958, Paddington Bear has charmed readers worldwide with his humorous misadventures. In celebration of Paddingtons 40th birthday, Michael Bonds original story of Paddington Bear has been beautifully reillustrated by artist R.W. Alley.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 3^-7. Just in time for Paddington Bear's 40th birthday, here's a new picture book telling the story of his meeting the Brown family in Paddington Station and how he goes home to live with them. Compared with the two earlier picture books of the same title (1972, 1992), which introduce Paddington in similar fashion, the text of this edition is a little longer and closer to the first two chapters in the original chapter book, A Bear Called Paddington. Alley's lively ink-and-watercolor-wash illustrations capture the winsome charm and gentle humor of this unassuming bear. Libraries may want several of this appealing picture book. Carolyn Phelan

Review

Praise for the Paddington series: 'I've always had great respect for Paddington! He is a British institution.' Stephen Fry 'Paddington has joined Pooh as one of the great bears of English children's literature.' The Teacher 'Michael Bond's accident-prone bear!has become one of the most enduring of children's characters.' The Bookseller --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Revised edition (November 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060278544
• ISBN-13: 978-0060278540
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,084,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute for its age group!, December 11, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paddington Bear (Hardcover)

It may seem like a "dumbed-down picture book" version of the original story --- because it's meant for a YOUNGER READER!! The age group for this book is clearly stated as AGES 4-8, while the original is for AGES 9-12. This is a wonderful book with delightful illustrations for the 4-8 year old. It's just the right length for parents to read to the kids (without falling asleep) and for beginning readers to read it themselves.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introduce little ones to Paddington, March 7, 2004

By 

Mary and Tyson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paddington Bear (Hardcover)

I loved the "real" Paddington stories as a young girl. When I saw these versions for younger kids at the library, I checked some out to see if my daughter would enjoy them. She loves them! The longer, original stories are much too complex for her (she's 2). But these introduce the characters and are filled with the same humor and warmth of the original stories. The illustrations are wonderful and bring my beloved Paddington to life. We love these books and have now purchased some for our collection!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars charming and entertaining, a delight for any child, July 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Paddington Bear (Hardcover)

As a child I fell in love with Paddington bear, who spoke to me more than Winnie ever could, although many have drawn simmilarities between the two. Both are fumbling, innocent little things, orphaned and adopted by human families. Winnie couldn't keep his sticky little paws out of the honey jar, and Paddingtons fondness for marmalade could be called obsessive... However for all these simmilarites the one difference is that while child-like pooh looked to Mr Robin for guidance, it was the wee bear in galoshas and a rain hat, found at the Paddington railway station, whose simplistic outlook on life saved his adoptive family from complete destruction of sanity in the day-to-day madness of the world. Paddington was a saviour in childhood, and is bound to be an absolute delight for any child who learns of his misadventures, his love of marmalade and his earnest love of his newly adopted family and newly adopted life in city.