Fiftieth Anniversary of A Bear Called Paddington

Commemorative Editions of Michael Bond’s Classic Children’s Story

Oct 1, 2008

In 1968 readers first met Paddington, the bear from darkest Peru. These anniversary editions will introduce a new generation of readers to this charming bear.

On Christmas Eve 1956, Michael Bond bought a lonely teddy bear from Selfridges as a gift for his wife. They named him Paddington, after the local train station. In 1958 A Bear Called Paddington (Williams Collins, 1958) was published from the collection of stories Bond had written for fun about this new member of their household.

A Classic British Children’s Book Character

With his blue duffle coat and funny red felt hat, Paddington Bear is well-known to adults and children around the world. Found by Mr and Mrs Brown at Paddington Station, he entered their home and the lives of millions of readers.

Since the first publication in 1958, A Bear Called Paddington has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into many languages including Swedish, Danish, Japanese and Latin.

Fans of the popular UK car show Top Gear will be interested to learn that the first Paddington bears were handmade by Jeremy Clarkson’s mother Shirley as Christmas gifts for her children. She went on to become the first Paddington bear licensee in 1972.

Paddington Bear, a British Icon

Since the publication of the first Paddington stories, Paddington has become a British icon appearing in books and newspapers and on recordings, radio, television and stage. In 1998 the official Paddington website was launched, with an updated site launched in 2003.

Both A Bear Called Paddington and Michael Bond have received numerous awards and accolades, including an OBE for Bond in 1997 for his services to children’s literature.

Two hardcover anniversary editions of the Paddington story have been published to commemorate the 50th Anniversary.

This unabridged reprint of the original book will delight older children. The colour illustrations are by the original illustrator, Peggy Fortnum, and include some images that have been previously unpublished. Michael Bond provides an introduction.

This picture book is based on the first two chapters of the original story, Please Look After This Bear and A Bear in Hot Water. Colour illustrations by R W Alley have a more modern look than the originals, but are no less endearing.

A new Paddington novel has also been published this year. Paddington Here and Now (HarperCollins, 2008) is the first new Paddington story since 1976. This book has already been shortlisted for two awards. It is one of ten books shortlisted for the Booksellers Association's Independent Booksellers Book Prize 2008 and has also been shortlisted for the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize in The Funniest Book for Children aged Seven to Fourteen category.

Please Look After This Bear

The tales of Paddington’s adventures and misadventures remain charming and enjoyable despite the years. Younger children used to more action-packed books may find the original story too detailed, but the picture book version is an ideal introduction.

The anniversary editions of the Paddington stories offer a wonderful opportunity for parents to share this small, marmalade-loving, accident-prone bear with their children and to reminisce about their own childhood encounters with this bear from deepest Peru.

The copyright of the article Fiftieth Anniversary of A Bear Called Paddington in Children’s Books is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Fiftieth Anniversary of A Bear Called Paddington in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.