A Bear Called Paddington

Gr 2–5—The story featuring the marmalade-loving bear was first published in 1958 by William Collins & Son (now known as HarperCollins). The classic tale begins when a bear from Peru winds up in London's Paddington Station and is subsequently adopted by the Brown family (humans from the Notting Hill area). Unfailingly polite and affecting a rather shabby charm—accomplished in no small part by Peggy Fortnum's delightful line drawings—Paddington went on to have dozens of adventures over the years, spawning more than 50 titles translated into over 30 languages. A Bear Called Paddington covers the initial discovery of the bear at the train station and his first few days acclimating to life with the Browns as well as numerous episodic chapters filled with humorous mishaps. More About Paddington continues on a similar theme and includes episodes of the bubbling bear attempting to help with interior decorating, assisting at a bonfire party, and celebrating his first Christmas. With a major motion picture coming out in January 2015, a whole new generation of young readers will be introduced to the well-meaning, but ever accident-prone, bear.