Paddington Here and Now

Since the Browns found Paddington on a railway platform and took him home to live with them, there has never been a dull moment at number 32 Windsor Gardens. But as he explained to them at the start, "Things happen to me: I'm that sort of a bear."

There's the day his basket on wheels mysteriously disappears when he's out shopping in the market. And the time he locks the Browns' grouchy old neighbor, Mr. Curry, out of his house on Halloween night.

However, everyone in the family, including Paddington, agrees that a surprise visit from a long-lost relative is the start of his most exciting adventure ever.

For the first time in almost thirty years, everyone's favorite bear from Darkest Peru is starring in a brand-new novel—just in time for the fiftieth anniversary of his first adventure, A Bear Called Paddington.

Children's Literature

That delightful and entertaining bear from darkest Peru has landed back on the shelves with yet another fun story for young readers. In Paddington Here and Now our naive Paddington has help locating his lost shopping cart but loses his buns, finds time to irate his neighbor Mr. Curry, celebrates Halloween with the neighborhood by doing more tricks then giving away treats, and stirs up an international incident by innocently answering questions that only our favorite bear could do. Even his long lost Uncle Pastuzo appears out of nowhere and relieves not only Paddington but his Aunt Lucy still in Lima. With the help of Paddington's longtime friends Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Bird, and his best buddy Mr. Gruber, trouble only lasts for a short time, then all seems to appear normal. If only our little bear would find a way to stay out of trouble, then again he would not be himself. Even after fifty years, author Michael Bond does it again with his charming creation and childlike voice of Paddington bear. This bear has not aged a day and yet young readers cannot wait to open the pages of this book and find what will happen next. Only a timeless lovable bear could hide a chunky marmalade sandwich in his hat and make the whole world smile. The snippet of illustrations by R.W Alley throughout the book show off our bear at his best and remind us that the best things in life can come in small packages. Reviewer: Julia Beiker

Michael Bond is the author of all the books about Paddington Bear. His first book, A Bear Called Paddington, was published in 1958. In 1997 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to children's literature and in 2007 was made an honorary Doctor of Letters by Reading University. Mr. Bond lives in London, not far from Paddington Station, with his wife, Sue, and a guinea pig named Olga da Polga.