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A Bear Called Paddington

by Michael Bond, illustrated by Peggy Fortnum

Interest age: 6 to 8
Reading age: 7+

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, 2003

  • Classics
  • Funny
  • Picture books

About this book

Paddington, the brown bear from darkest Peru, is found by the Brown family on Paddington Station with his hat, duffel coat and marmalade sandwiches.

Paddington is a decidedly loveable eccentric and his various sticky scrapes will strike chords of recognition with any child. Whilst his intentions are always honourable, his over-literal interpretation of situations means that 'things' inevitably happen, whether at birthday parties or on visits to the theatre or seaside.

With a blend of humour, theatricality and clear prose style, each chapter forms a stand-alone story, perfect for newly confident readers. First published in 1958, this is a truly British classic.

About the author

Michael Bond was born in Newbury, Berkshire, England on 13th January 1926. He was educated at Presentation College, Reading. During World War II Michael Bond served in both the Royal Air Force and the Middlesex Regiment of the British Army. He began writing in 1945 and sold his first short story to a magazine called London Opinion. This experience helped him decide that he wanted to be a writer.

It was while Michael Bond was working as a television cameraman for the BBC that he first came up with the idea for Paddington. After the first Paddington book was accepted, Michael Bond went on to write a whole series and by 1965 his books were so successful that that he was able to give up his job with the BBC in order. 

In 1997 Michael Bond was awarded an OBE for services to children's literature and this was followed by a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2015. Bond died on 27 June 2017.

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