Paddington Here and Now

August 1, 2008
Gr 3-5-Fifty years after his first adventure in "A Bear Called Paddington", this beloved and well-lauded character returns in a charming new chapter book. Reassuringly, things haven't changed much at 32 Windsor Gardens in the 30 years since the last episode: Paddington, a bear "not short of ideas," is still the apple of the Brown family's eye; the darling of their no-nonsense housekeeper, Mrs. Bird; and the bun-and-cocoa-sharing companion of kindly antiques-dealer Mr. Gruber. Beginning with a chapter in which Paddington's trademark shopping basket on wheels goes missing and his visit to the police station goes awry, continuing with several amusing interludes involving the Browns' crotchety next-door neighbor, and culminating with a surprise visit from long-lost Uncle Pastuzo, this volume retains the gentle humor of the earlier installments. Wordplay, misunderstandings, and double meanings abound, all proffered with perfect British wit and comic pacing. Alley's delightful pen-and-ink drawings reflect the spirit of Peggy Fortnum's familiar illustrations while coming across as fresh and original. As delectable as a marmalade sandwich served with a flourish from beneath a bear's hat, this is a must-have for Paddington fans."Joy Fleishhacker", School Library Journal

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
Somebody must have given Mr. Bond a good hard stare to persuade him to stop messing about writing for adults and get back to Paddington Bear. Paddington fans will be relieved to know that in this fiftieth-anniversary offering nothing has changed. In a series of episodes, Paddington gets into trouble, never with malice, usually because of a misunderstanding, and always ending in a glorious muddle; at which point Paddington, confronted with an enraged adult authority figure, slips quietly offstage, forgotten, forgiven, and ready for the next chapter. The humor involves much slapstick and wordplay (some of it likely to be opaque to the American reader, but a kipper's a kipper on both sides of the Atlantic). A few modern references -- to frequent flyer miles, the London Eye, and human organ donation -- have crept in, but Mr. Curry, the neighbor, is still grumpy; Mrs. Bird, the housekeeper, is still a force to be reckoned with; and Paddington still wanders about with his shopping basket on wheels (first given to him by Mrs. Brown in 1958) and a marmalade sandwich under his hat in case of emergencies. Best of all, the pen-and-ink illustrations are true to the spirit of the original art, portraying Paddington as gracious, deeply engaged with life, and nobody's teddy bear.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2009
Fans will be relieved to know that in this fiftieth-anniversary offering of new stories nothing has changed: Paddington gets into trouble, usually because of a misunderstanding, and always ending in a glorious muddle. Best of all, the pen-and-ink illustrations are true to the spirit of the original art, portraying Paddington as gracious, deeply engaged with life, and nobody's teddy bear.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)