For over four decades, generations of readers worldwide have embraced the bumbling, lovable Paddington, who hasn’t changed much over the years. Here, he once again lands himself in a bit of a scrape and once again finds an affable way to get out of it. The story opens with Paddington making a list of all the splendid things in his life for which he is thankful, including the Browns’ lovely garden. The adventure begins when the Browns give Paddington his own tiny plot of land to plant as he pleases. Not sure how to proceed, Paddington begins researching how best to utilize his newfound land. It isn’t long before his knack for mishaps has him climbing the scaffolding of a building site. It is his signature love of homemade marmalade and the help of a friendly foreman that eventually sees Paddington out of his predicament. By creating an unusual garden Paddington finds he has yet another item to add to his already lengthy list of splendid things. Bond and Alley (Paddington Bear Goes to the Hospital, p. 654, etc.) combine their talents once again to successfully introduce Paddington to younger readers. The trimmed-down text makes this a perfect place for Alley’s jovial and detailed watercolor illustrations and an amusing way to look forward to the advent of spring gardening. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-06-029696-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A depressing fable about Clara's toy bear who longs in vain for a father and makes futile gestures to reach him: ``message after message in paper ships'' and a sand sculpture (``It is a hard thing to watch your father wash away''). When Bear describes his father to the sea, to a dolphin, and then to the ducks as ``someone who loves me just as I am,'' the ducks reply, ``No one's ever loved us as much as that.'' A clam is just as discouraging. It's left to the hermit crab (``tapping his borrowed shell'') to point out Bear's father in the night sky and speak the story's message: ``Some of us make our homes where we find them.'' That would be reassuring if it didn't sound euphemistic for ``settling for what you can get.'' Clara's presence at the end musters only cold comfort. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 1-55858-569-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An imaginative extension of a lilting verse dating to the '20s. ``I'm hiding, I'm hiding,/And no one knows where;/For all they can see is my/Toes and my hair,'' chants Benny from under the bedclothes while his parents search the house and make playful suggestions (``Have you looked in the inkwell?''). Meanwhile, in Collins's pleasant watercolors, Benny and his toy animals hide in a picture hanging over his bed; then, in miniature form and joined by a duck from the picture, they pursue their own adventures while the parents continue to search. The Eeyore-like donkey gets zebra stripes at the inkwell; the duck, Benny astride, tries the goldfish bowl; then, in a toy car, they all speed back to bed, where his parents recognize Benny by his toes (``There are ten of them. See?''). An appealing lap book with charmingly clever details. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: May 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-670-85410-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1994
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
