I’ve always had great respect for Paddington…he is a British institution – Stephen Fry
Do you remember Paddington Bear from when you were small?
My older sister had a stuffed Paddington Bear, standing at about 1.5 feet tall. He wore wellingtons big enough for my sister and I to borrow, in turn. She carried him everywhere and when my mum was pregnant with my brother, legend has it that Paddington spent some time up my sister’s jumper, and was regular being ‘born’.
You probably best recall him from the animated series that brought Paddington Bear to life. I loved it. Didn’t we all?
Things as distinctive as that stick in the mind – they get bundled up with feelings of childhood nostalgia. So when Paddington Goes for Gold arrived, the first thing I noticed is that the illustrations are new – well, new to me, at least – and my gut reaction? They’re lovely.
Drawn in fine ink and watercolour, they are true to the stories with a gentle humour and plenty of feeling. Paddington himself can only be described as super cute.
Along with the large and engaging pictures is a classic Paddington tale – a visit to a sport day, some farcical misunderstandings and a lesson that it’s the taking part that counts.
JD loves it. Little Miss J loves it. Definitely recommended reading.
Disclosure: We were provided with a copy of Paddington Goes for Gold for review. No payment was received and all posts are 100% honest.
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When I was little, I had what I remember as being a “huge” Aunt Sally stuffed toy (except she was a toy for looking at, not really for playing with). I don’t know what happened to her but it’s only really now that I can appreciate her and think how lovely it would have been to be able to pass her down through the family. I imagine she would be a lot smaller than I remember! So yes, Paddington Bear for me is definitely the bear I will remember from my childhood.
I wish I’d kept more of my childhood toys too. I sold a lot of them in my teens to buy a TV!
I loved Paddington as a kid and my kids love Paddington now – we have lots of stories and a cuddly toy – we even went to see a Paddington production at Christmas!
Ooh that sounds amazing!
What a lovely post! I think the new illustrations are brilliant, too – and Paddington is a national treasure! It just goes to show – good stories and funny, appealing characters are timeless.
Talking of stories, the idea of your sister ‘giving birth’ to Paddington from her jumper would make a fantastic story, too…!
Hehe yeah my mum has so many great stories. I keep trying to persuade her to write a book.
oh I loved Paddington…mine had a pair of ‘real’ red wellies, must ask my Mum where he got to…
:) hope you find him
When I was young we had a retired police sniffer dog as a pet. Samuel 99 was a five year old labrador retired due to a back injury but perfectly capable of being an incredibly well trained and well loved family pet.
My sister and I also loved Paddington. It sounds like your sister had a similar Paddington to ours. We regularly put the wellies on Sam (with sunglasses and a shawl) and docile and lovely as he was, he’d wait patiently for us to finish dressing him up and then parade around the garden looking ridiculous but ‘smiling’ all the same.
It was so sad when we got home from school one day to find he was no longer there. Just like grandads, you think they’ll be around forever….
But Paddington is alive and well in our house. My youngest has a set of Paddington books and she loves him too. I love seeing her read (full stop) but when she’s chuckling at Paddington, I know his legacy lives on.
Thanks for sharing, Michelle x
We had two Paddingtons – one little one (which I did carry everywhere and who is still on my shelf today) and one 1.5 foot tall one (who’s boots we wore) who I think was as tall as me and could not be carried.
Small Paddington did indeed live mainly inside my jumper when mum was pregnant. I thought it would be much better to have a baby Paddington than a baby human. But I wasn’t too sad when mum had a real baby instead.
We shall have to get J&J some small Paddingtons when they visit
x
You are quite lovely x