After last week’s review of what’s probably the most disturbing adaptation of Wuthering Heights, I needed something soft, cozy, and silly. I managed to get this with Paddington – the iconic bear from the series of the same name. Since one of his birthdays is coming up on June 25, let’s look at the character and his adventures in the book that started it all – 1958’s A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond.
A Bear Called Paddington is Paddington’s origin story and then some. A little bear has just traveled from Peru when the Brown family first meet him at Paddington Station. Taken in by his charm and manners, the Browns decide to bring him home and make him a member of the family. The bear, now named Paddington, gets into plenty of shenanigans while adapting into his new environment. Since then, the Browns’ lives have never been quite the same, for ordinary things become extraordinary whenever Paddington is involved.
Growing up, I didn’t read a whole lot of books. I was more of a movie and television kid. However, if I had read Paddington when I was young, I would’ve loved it to the end of time. The bear is cute, kind, and means well when he accidentally gets himself into trouble. Regardless of what happens, the Browns accept and care for him. They don’t even question why he’s able to talk in general. Of course, they make sure that he understands certain things and that they accident proof the house, but they love him just the same.
In addition, It was fun to read the kinds of scenarios that Paddington found himself in. My favorites in A Bear Called Paddington were when he goes shopping, to the theatre, and to the beach. The book consists of eight chapters, and they follow a pattern: Paddington goes to a place and accidentally gets lost or misunderstands something and tries to do it himself. He then finds himself in trouble, but everything is straightened out in the end. Most of them could’ve been individual short stories because there isn’t much of a plot in A Bear Called Paddington. Outside of the Browns finding the bear at the Paddington Station and certain members accepting him, the book is literally a series of episodes that could’ve been written for television (yes, I’m aware of the fact that Paddington had several tv shows). Regardless, it was still fun to see how he dealt with certain situations.
While reading this book, I noticed how British it is. It’s not just in using certain words like lift (elevator) or spade (shovel), but it’s in the humor like the focus on the little things. For example, when Mrs. Bird – the Browns’ live-in housekeeper – first meets Paddington, she is skeptical, but she mentions that he has good manners, so she’s ok with a bear living with them. This comes full circle in the beach episode. When Paddington is lost at sea, the family try to search for him, and Mrs. Bird says that she couldn’t imagine the house without him. Additionally, British humor tends to focus on navigating the chaos as opposed to causing it, A Bear Called Paddington is full of that. Since he arrives in London from Peru, he’s unfamiliar with the territory and social customs. Much of the comedy comes from how he attempts to understand new things, like going shopping or taking a bath.
While A Bear Called Paddington and the other books in the series are marketed towards children, it can still be read by adults. There’s clever wordplay, and a cast of colorful characters that people might recognize in real life. Readers will certainly know someone who’s like the friendly and caring Mr. Gruber or the nosy and critical Mr. Curry. For the children, the reading level is geared towards anyone over the age of 8, but parents can easily read it to younger kids. There are small, pencil illustrations, created by Peggy Fortnum, of Paddington in various situations, but if kids want more visuals, there are picture books of his adventures. One way or another, people of all ages can enjoy reading about the marmalade-loving bear.
It’s easy to see why A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond and the series it spawned are beloved. The titular character is memorable in his manners and how he finds himself in unfamiliar places. In addition, while it’s predictable to a degree, I found myself invested in what he or the Browns were going to do. As I alluded to earlier, I would recommend it to any reader of any age, whether it’s the first or the one hundredth time. Paddington has been around for nearly 70 years, so here’s another 70!
Stay tuned when I review Paddington’s first movie – 2015’s Paddington in December.
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Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything 