Michael Bond: The 10 Things I Never Knew About Paddington

Classic Nick Wednesday - Michael Bond: The 10 Things I Never Knew About Paddington

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Story Link:

http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/nov/03/michael-bond-l0-things-paddington-bear

1. I didn't know bears like marmalade.

2. Nor did I know they like cocoa.

3. I didn't know Paddington’s age, so I asked him.

4. He didn't know either. He suggested I telephoned his Aunt Lucy.

5. He didn't tell me she lives in a Home for Retired Bears in Lima. When I eventually reached her she asked me if I knew what time it was in Peru. I didn't know that either. She said it was one o’clock in the morning!

6. When I phoned back at a more reasonable hour and asked how old her nephew was, she said: “There are some things you don’t ask a bear.” and hung up on me.

7. I don’t believe in taking “no” for an answer, and when I tried again, she said: “If there is one thing bears can’t stand it’s people with clipboards asking them how old they are!” and hung up on me again,

8. So I rang back and asked how bears felt about people without a clipboard.

9. She said: “Nobody without one has ever lived to tell the tale. Who wants to know?”

10. I had no idea either, so I gave her your telephone number. I hope you don’t mind!

By Michael Bond

Michael’s new book Love from Paddington is a collection of letters written by Paddington to his aunt Lucy. It’s published on 6 November 2014 and is the only Paddington novel to be written in first person so you get to enjoy Paddington’s adventures from his own perspective! Michael Bond’s first Paddington book, a Bear Called Paddington, was published back in 1958.

We have five amazing Paddington book bundles to give away to five lucky winners (including the new Love from Paddington book). Email childrens.books@theguardian.com with the subject heading “Paddington comp” telling us why you should win by 10 November 2014.

And then… on 28 November 2014, the Paddington movie (http://www.paddington.com/gb/the-movie/) is coming to town!

Classic Nick Wed. 5 – Paddington Heads To Newbury

Paddington Heads To Newbury

By Linda Serck 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/07/25/paddington_bear_50_feature.shtml

The Peruvian bear who landed at Paddington Station actually can trace his origins to Newbury, the birthplace of his creator Michael Bond. Now, the little bear is donning his duffle coat and heading to the town's racecourse for a special party. 

Paddington Bear hails from darkest Peru, never goes anywhere without his duffle coat and hat, is a bit accident prone and is very fond of marmalade.

The little bear, one of the most popular characters in children's literature, is the creation of Michael Bond, who was born in Newbury on January 13, 1926.

Now, the bear is celebrating his 50th anniversary by visiting Newbury Racecourse to hold a special teddy bear's picnic at the annual Family Fun Day on Sunday 3 August.

Children are invited to bring along their favourite teddy bear and share some of Paddington's favourite marmalade sandwiches.

But what are the origins of this world famous bear?

Michael Bond was educated at Presentation College in Reading. During his time as a BBC cameraman he landed on the idea of Paddington Bear after he bought his wife a bear toy.

"I bought a small toy bear on Christmas Eve 1956. I saw it left on a shelf in a London store and felt sorry for it. I took it home as a present for my wife Brenda and named it Paddington as we were living near Paddington Station at the time.

"I wrote some stories about the bear, more for fun than with the idea of having them published. After ten days I found that I had a book on my hands. It wasn't written specifically for children, but I think I put into it the kind things I liked reading about when I was young."

His first book, A Bear Called Paddington, was published in October 1958 and Bond went on to write a whole series.

By 1967 his books were so successful that that he was able to give up his job with the BBC in order to become a full-time writer.

"The great advantage of having a bear as a central character is that he can combine the innocence of a child with the sophistication of an adult.

"Paddington is not the sort of bear that would ever go to the moon - he has his paws too firmly on the ground for that. He gets involved in everyday situations. He has a strong sense of right and wrong and doesn't take kindly to the red tape bureaucracy of the sillier rules and regulations with which we humans surround ourselves. As a bear he gets away with things. Paddington is humanised, but he couldn't possibly be 'human'. It just wouldn't work."

The Paddington books have sold more than thirty-five million copies worldwide and have been translated into over forty languages.

In 1997 Michael Bond was awarded to OBE for services to children's literature. He is married with two adult children and lives in London, not far from Paddington Station.