Joy of Teddy Bears Author:Ted Menten The first teddy bear won't become a true antique until 2003, when he celebrates his 100th birthday. Teddy is a relatively new plaything compared to dolls, which originated thousands of years ago. But even if his pedigree is short, few children or grownups can resist this cuddly charmer. The Joy of Teddy Bears celebrates ted... more »dies old and new, with dozens of full-color photgraphs of all kinds of stuffed bears, Whether a teddy is handmade or manufactured, a public figure or just an odd friend in the nursery, there is something in his eye or the tilt of his head that speaks unmistakably and directly to us.
It all began one cold November day in 1902, when President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear. Clifford Berryman, a political cartoonist, drew the scene for this comic strip. At about the same time, German toy maker Margarete Steiff made the first stuffed bears that were jointed like dolls. An American toy maker importer brought Steiff's bears to America where they and their American-made counterparts became known as teddy bears. No one has ever owned the name as a trademark. Teddy's rise to fame was so fast that his name became generic almost overnight.
As you turn the pages of this richly illustrated book, you will meet many teddy bears. Some will remind you of the companions of your childhood; others will amaze you with the skillful artistry of their construction. But like all teddies, the bears in this book will catch your eye with theirs, smile their special smiles, and tell you in their silent way the gentle tales that are in their hearts.« less