A cute book about a couple who befriend a bear from Peru at Paddington Station in London. (One must suspend your disbelief for this to work.) Each chapter is a short story involving some sort of crisis involving Paddington, eventually culminating in a happy resolution. Children might find the "formula" comforting but I was hoping for a little more sophistication and variety. I liked the postscript at the end, with Mr. Bond explaining how he came up with the idea for the book.

Rating: 3 stars
Original Publication Date: 1958 ( )

I think I read this as a child, but I don't remember it in detail. But I did watch the movie fairly recently, and I was surprised at how many of the beats in the book that the movie hit perfectly - for some reason I just assumed that the movie deviated more from the book. ( )

How have I lived so long and never read the original Paddington? We had had a storybook collection around the house I read and a small Paddington Bear was a favorite toy of mine for a couple years, but I never got this far back.

It was salve to an aching heart. A small not-so-clean bear in a big hat is found sitting on a suitcase by the Browns one afternoon at Paddington Station while picking up their daughter. He's emigrated, not-so-legally, from Darkest Peru since his Aunt Lucy had to go live in a home for Retired Bears. Mrs. Brown spots the label around his neck, saying "Please Take Care of this Bear", and takes him in. He is given tea at the station which goes South thanks to overly sticky buns and wobbly tables, he's a sensation at the department store when Mrs. Brown buys him a duffel coat with toggles his paws can managed, and his child-like cheapness will not be suppressed. "SIXPENCE?"

It was a delight and over far too soon. I was laughing so hard at every absurd observation and adored his friendship with the Portobello Road shopkeeper.

Paddington Bear

Next: 'More About Paddington' ( )

I don't know that I ever actually read any of the Paddington books as a kid. I do remember watching a bit of the tv series. I was pleasantly surprised. This was really good and I imagine as a kid I would've loved it. Paddington is hilarious. I especially liked the theatre chapter - particularly when he freaks out at the idea of paying twenty pence to rent the glasses. And the magic tricks. Mr Curry's watch had me in hysterics. Great story. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. ( )

Such fun to make the close acquaintance of Paddington, a bear to whom things happen with somewhat alarming frequency. From the moment the Brown family takes him on, they never know quite what marmalade-enhanced upheaval they will be facing next. It all generally works out well enough in the end. ( )