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lovememybooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
cressreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
An old-fashioned, nostalgic classic - the first Paddington book
I wasn't sure my son would take to this - we've seen the TV series, watched the film, read the picture book versions, but Bond's original chapter book is very much 'of its time', sparse on illustrations, with a lot of words needing explanation.
He surprised me and we managed the entire book, with a few complaints when I stopped reading for the night!
This shows us how the Brown family meet and adopt Paddington, and then several subsequent misadventures of the marmalade-loving little bear from Peru. He manages to get stuck in the Underground, get lost at sea on the beach, enter an art competition unwittingly, and even perform magic at a party and make himself disappear.
There are some old-fashioned characters - Mrs Bird who works for the Browns for one, Mr Gruber in the market, but the book feels all the more quaint for it. I quite enjoyed explaining things to my boy - why there are servants, or certain terms that aren't in common usage.
We both loved Paddington - he's like an accident-prone child, always getting into scrapes but things coming good for him in the end. There's no other in the book as well characterised as him, they are all minor, though I enjoyed finding their voices.
I'd say my son at 6 is about as young as you'd want to go when reading this aloud to a child, the language will be more accessible to slightly older children.
If you have a child who's enjoyed the film, this is a wonderful way to introduce a classic children's book to them with familiar characters.
I wasn't sure my son would take to this - we've seen the TV series, watched the film, read the picture book versions, but Bond's original chapter book is very much 'of its time', sparse on illustrations, with a lot of words needing explanation.
He surprised me and we managed the entire book, with a few complaints when I stopped reading for the night!
This shows us how the Brown family meet and adopt Paddington, and then several subsequent misadventures of the marmalade-loving little bear from Peru. He manages to get stuck in the Underground, get lost at sea on the beach, enter an art competition unwittingly, and even perform magic at a party and make himself disappear.
There are some old-fashioned characters - Mrs Bird who works for the Browns for one, Mr Gruber in the market, but the book feels all the more quaint for it. I quite enjoyed explaining things to my boy - why there are servants, or certain terms that aren't in common usage.
We both loved Paddington - he's like an accident-prone child, always getting into scrapes but things coming good for him in the end. There's no other in the book as well characterised as him, they are all minor, though I enjoyed finding their voices.
I'd say my son at 6 is about as young as you'd want to go when reading this aloud to a child, the language will be more accessible to slightly older children.
If you have a child who's enjoyed the film, this is a wonderful way to introduce a classic children's book to them with familiar characters.
dotreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Even at 40, it’s never to late to read a good book! I’m forever in love with Paddington Bear from now on!
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
piasargent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
5.0
As seen on The Everyday Reader
I’ve mentioned before about how my childhood was severely lacking in fictional bears. One of those bears was Paddington, from ‘deepest, darkest Peru.’ Husband loves Paddington Bear and spent weeks calling me Paddington after I bought a blue duffle-style coat. At husband’s insistence the children’s classic ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ by Michael Bond made it onto my Classics Club list. Turns out, it will be my first finish of the list too! After a particularly long day at work I curled up in bed and read it in one sitting.
I’m so glad I’ve rectified this missing part of childhood, because Paddington is adorable. From the moment that he fell into a saucer of tea on page 7 I was charmed (though utterly confused by his size, as apparently he is small enough to fall into a saucer of tea but big enough to come up to the waist of Judy Brown, who seems to be about 8 years old). The charm only continues. I found myself laughing out loud constantly and reciting bits of it back to husband. From dragging bacon around in his suitcase to nearly drowning in the bath Paddington is a bear with the biggest heart and the biggest knack for trouble. Michael Bond’s writing is surprisingly witty and descriptive, making this the kind of book that children of all ages will laugh at. Peggy Fortnum’s line drawing illustrations are gorgeous and simply add to the text. Paddington’s character is very fully fleshed in comparison to many children’s books of the era that I’ve stumbled upon – not only is he mischievous, but also thoughtful, a little stingy and has a very unsettling stare.
The setting is surprisingly undated. Although one does get a small impression that Paddington is in a Britain of yesteryear, all the settings will be familiar with todays readers, from Paddington station, to department store window displays and the havoc of the London underground.
There’s not much else to say really. If you haven’t read Paddington, dig it out and give him a try sometime. He’s something quite special and definitely deserves his status as a classic children’s character.
5 stars. I’ll be going back for more.
I’ve mentioned before about how my childhood was severely lacking in fictional bears. One of those bears was Paddington, from ‘deepest, darkest Peru.’ Husband loves Paddington Bear and spent weeks calling me Paddington after I bought a blue duffle-style coat. At husband’s insistence the children’s classic ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ by Michael Bond made it onto my Classics Club list. Turns out, it will be my first finish of the list too! After a particularly long day at work I curled up in bed and read it in one sitting.
I’m so glad I’ve rectified this missing part of childhood, because Paddington is adorable. From the moment that he fell into a saucer of tea on page 7 I was charmed (though utterly confused by his size, as apparently he is small enough to fall into a saucer of tea but big enough to come up to the waist of Judy Brown, who seems to be about 8 years old). The charm only continues. I found myself laughing out loud constantly and reciting bits of it back to husband. From dragging bacon around in his suitcase to nearly drowning in the bath Paddington is a bear with the biggest heart and the biggest knack for trouble. Michael Bond’s writing is surprisingly witty and descriptive, making this the kind of book that children of all ages will laugh at. Peggy Fortnum’s line drawing illustrations are gorgeous and simply add to the text. Paddington’s character is very fully fleshed in comparison to many children’s books of the era that I’ve stumbled upon – not only is he mischievous, but also thoughtful, a little stingy and has a very unsettling stare.
The setting is surprisingly undated. Although one does get a small impression that Paddington is in a Britain of yesteryear, all the settings will be familiar with todays readers, from Paddington station, to department store window displays and the havoc of the London underground.
There’s not much else to say really. If you haven’t read Paddington, dig it out and give him a try sometime. He’s something quite special and definitely deserves his status as a classic children’s character.
5 stars. I’ll be going back for more.