Customer Reviews

The Teddy Bear

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is wonderful. The boy loses his teddy bear and a homeless man finds it. I have used this book to try to explain to my son that there are alot of people who have nothing. He is starting to understand that the boy gave up the bear to the homeless man at the end because the boy realized he had so much more than the man. Now my son wants to give his bear to someone who has less.

After reading THE TEDDY BEAR aloud to groups of second graders, I felt compelled to share this wonderful book with others. It's a heartwarming tale of friendship and compassion that children can easily relate to. It brought tears to many eyes. Children and adults will both benefit from reading this book. David McPhail's illustrations are brilliant.

"Once upon a time," I had no use for children's literature. Then I had children. Now I am fascinated by the genre and the humanizing influence it can have on children and "grown-ups" alike. There are few writers in the business who can match McPhail's artistry. There are many silly, fun and entertaining children's books on the market-my favorites include "Don't Let the Pidgeon Drive the Bus," and "Click,Clack,Moo Cows that Type"- however,very few children's books can rival McPhail's enlightened and didactic treasures. "The Teddy Bear" contains some invaluable lessons for any person who aspires to become more fully human.

On a family trip a little boy accidently leaves his beloved teddy bear behind in a diner. By the time the parents take him back to retrive his best friend the bear has been thrown away. Anthropomorphizing the bear, the author poignantly describes the toy's despair. The bear is found by a "bearded man" (a homeless bum) who quickly befriends the toy. Out on the streets the two become inspeparable companions and as much as the bear missed his little boy he "...still felt loved."

Meanwhile, back in the warmth and security of his home, the boy learns to live without his most precious possession because, "He had new toys to occupy him and new friends to keep him busy."

The lessons learned in overcoming grief, loss, and the true meaning of love (i.e. sacrifice) are brought home at the end of this moving tale when the boy is finally reunited with his teddy bear. I won't give away the ending of this masterfully illustrated and poignant tale except to say that I sent a copy to school with my four-year-old and his teacher confided in me afterwards that she had to fight back her tears when she read the ending to the class. This book is without a doubt one of the greatest treasures available in the entire genre of children's literature.

Other McPhail classics include, "Emma's Pet," "Edward and the Pirates," and "Piggy's Pancake Parlor." These books are a must for all parents who truly want to delight and instruct their children.

I love this book and think it's a great lesson in compassion that not just kids need to hear. All kids need to be encouraged to be kind and compassionate to everyone they meet much more than they need to be taught to fear strangers as so many books encourage. Be careful,be smart but also be kind, understanding and compassionate. If these are values that you hope for your child to have I would recommend reading them this book and reading it often. The story is great, not to long or to short the pictures are nice the size of the book is easy to handle and you feel all warm and fuzzy when your done reading it. What more can you ask for in a good kids book.

"The Teddy Bear" is one of those rare children's books that I've read that actually made me cry. I read this to my 4-year-old last night and we were both touched by this heartfelt story - a little boy accidentally loses his much-loved teddy bear at a restaurant and the bear is eventually rescued by a homeless man. Though the boy pines for his teddy, the passage of time has the boy moving on as does the bear - the bear seems to have found someone else who loves him, and perhaps needs him more. One day, whilst out at the park with his parents, the little boy sees the bear sitting by itself on a bench and takes it, only to realise that the old homeless man misses the bear too - and this is where I started bawling. The little boy realises that the old man needs the bear even more than he does for the boy has parents to love him, but the old man has no one. This poignant story conveys the message of compassion in such a simple yet powerful manner. At the end of the story, my little one asked me why the boy gave the teddy back, and it made for an enlightening conversation for both of us. I truly love this book and recommend it to all parents of young children.

This book is about a little boy who loves his teddy bear very much. He takes him everywhere he goes. One day he leaves the bear behind on accident at a restaurant. The owners toss the bear in the trash where the bear is found by a homeless man. The little boy is very sad but over time replaces the bear with other toys. The bear has made the homeless man very happy. One day the man lays the bear on a bench and the little boy just happens to walk by and thee the bear! He's glad to see him and pick him up to take home with him. The homeless man is upset and start to make a big scene looking for the bear. The little boy is filled with compassion for the homeless man and returns the bear.

The book has a great theme of love and compassion.
The book can be used to spark lots of great discussions!

This is one of the most incredibly sweet and moving stories I have had the pleasure of listening to. Our school librarian read it to my class this week. The storyline of a young boy losing his teddy bear is compelling and engaging for young children. My class watched spellbound as they listened to what happened to both the boy and the bear after being separated. And rejoiced at the bear and the boy being reunited (though many had questions about the "old man" as the boy picked up the bear). The boy's unselfishness at allowing the "old man" to keep the bear rather than taking it back gave way to an intersting discussion after the story was over. For me, as an adult, it was very moving. I was nearly in tears by the time the story ended. The idea that an old man finds his only friend in a small stuffed bear is both endearing and sad at the same time. This is an incredible book that should be in anyone's library.

David McPhail's "The Teddy Bear" is a story of a little boy's favorite teddy bear becoming lost and found by a homeless man. The boy's unselfish act at the end of the story is heartwarming and tender. I read this book often when I was a
library aide, the kids were spellbound by the pictures and the story itself!

I was bummed out to find that the book, paperback, was bent when it arrived. I bought this to give a s gift, and after putting it under a heavy book for several days had to give up and give a different book. I would recommned that this seller ship paperback books with better protection or a stiff piece of cardboard etc.

I had heard this book was good for encouraging discussion and thinking of other people's needs before one's own. Reading it with a child does exactly that. I found it insightful listening to the child's defense of what he/she would do in the child's circumstances. I loved the rich text leading up to the choice the little boy had to make. The illustrations are not great, but the storyline made up for it.