ISBN 0843107332 - Paddington is one of those childrens' book characters that I'd always heard of and never much cared to investigate. Very British, I was told, and a little "high brow" - which struck me as weird, because even if you think British adults are snobby and "high brow", it's hard to believe that would apply to the kids, and impossible to believe that would apply to a teddy bear! Finally, I can say with some certainty... Paddington's hardly high brow. In fact, he's an awful lot like Winnie the Pooh!
On his first morning with the Browns, Paddington wakes up to the news that Mrs Brown and Judy will be taking him shopping. He has his first breakfast in bed and things get a bit messy, but he manages in his own unique way. After quickly washing up, Paddington and the Browns head to Barkridges, a large department store, where they shop for pyjamas (their spelling) for the bear. Sent to the dressing room, Paddington finds himself in an awkward situation and certain he's in trouble. He's accidentally taken a nap in the store window - and, in the process, been a great advertisement for the previously slow-selling sleepwear he's wearing. In appreciation, the store gives him a pair of boots... to go with his pyjamas.
I'm not a suddenly converted fan of Paddington, but I admit he's got some charm. The language is a bit stilted, sort of formal, for an American (or maybe that's just me) and the illustrations, by Barry Wilkinson, are a little dark and dreary. That said, Paddington himself is very much a humble little bear and surely must be a distant cousin of Pooh, who shares his ability to wind up in situations. Michael Bond's character has been around since the 1950s and there's a reason a character survives that long. The cover image is a little too slick for the book. Inside, the illustrations are watercolors and, honestly, much slicker than the original Paddington drawings, but the cover is a photo of a stuffed Paddington in front of a background. I found it a strange choice of cover for the book. I've come to like the little bear, I'm just not as fond of this book.
- AnnaLovesBooks
On his first morning with the Browns, Paddington wakes up to the news that Mrs Brown and Judy will be taking him shopping. He has his first breakfast in bed and things get a bit messy, but he manages in his own unique way. After quickly washing up, Paddington and the Browns head to Barkridges, a large department store, where they shop for pyjamas (their spelling) for the bear. Sent to the dressing room, Paddington finds himself in an awkward situation and certain he's in trouble. He's accidentally taken a nap in the store window - and, in the process, been a great advertisement for the previously slow-selling sleepwear he's wearing. In appreciation, the store gives him a pair of boots... to go with his pyjamas.
I'm not a suddenly converted fan of Paddington, but I admit he's got some charm. The language is a bit stilted, sort of formal, for an American (or maybe that's just me) and the illustrations, by Barry Wilkinson, are a little dark and dreary. That said, Paddington himself is very much a humble little bear and surely must be a distant cousin of Pooh, who shares his ability to wind up in situations. Michael Bond's character has been around since the 1950s and there's a reason a character survives that long. The cover image is a little too slick for the book. Inside, the illustrations are watercolors and, honestly, much slicker than the original Paddington drawings, but the cover is a photo of a stuffed Paddington in front of a background. I found it a strange choice of cover for the book. I've come to like the little bear, I'm just not as fond of this book.
- AnnaLovesBooks
