The short, simple nature of children’s books make them the perfect material if you’re looking for a break between more arduous reads. I’ve picked up the habit of reading a short, classic kids book between novels ever since I started reading Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit series. However, before delving into any children’s fiction, I’m always a little wary of finding them too childish to enjoy as an adult. I was therefore pleasantly surprised by A Bear Called Paddington, as I had gone in expecting little more than a picture book, but instead received something more substantial. The language used by Michael Bond isn’t exactly overly sophisticated (which is natural, given the target audience) but the sense of humour present in each story is just dry enough to keep most adults entertained, and is balanced by the overall wholesome nature of Paddington – without coming across too heavy handed. All this makes for exactly the fun, lighthearted read I needed, and looking back, there are some really wonderfully crafted phrases and moments in A Bear Called Paddington – enough for me to pick 5 favourites!
Please Look After This Bear
“But what are you going to do now?” said Mr Brown. “You can’t just sit on Paddington station waiting for something to happen.”
“Oh, I shall be all right…I expect.” The bear bent down to do up its case again. As he did so Mrs Brown caught a glimpse of the writing on the label. It said, simply, “PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEAR. THANK YOU.”
One of the earliest quotes in A Bear Called Paddington tells you everything you need to know about this Peruvian bear. That someone thought this sign would be needed is enough indication of how much trouble an unattended Paddington manages to land himself in. That someone also cared enough to ensure the message would be read by placing it securely around his neck tells us just how precious he is; this bear should be protected at all costs. You won’t find many who would disagree – certainly not Mr and Mrs Brown who, endeared by the inherent helplessness of this small bear sitting alone near a luggage rack at Paddington station, decide to take Paddington home and adopt him into the family.
The Hard Stares of A Bear Called Paddington
After shaking hands with Albert, Paddington gave the assistant one more long, hard stare and the unfortunate man collapsed into a chair and began mopping his brow as Mrs Brown led the way out through the door.
My favourite aspect of A Bear Called Paddington is the attitude exuded by this bear at given moments. It is never uncalled for; Paddington is an otherwise very polite bear (like some of my other favourite children’s book characters), who only utilises the patented hard stare when faced with, arguably, very impolite characters. Rarely does Paddington have to rely on verbal admonishments, as the stare by itself is more than enough to intimidate most offenders. Having expected a more placid bear of the Winnie-the-Pooh variety, I was pleased by the unforeseen levels of sass on display throughout the book.
“Mr Brown”
After a great deal of consideration, Mr Gruber had advised Paddington to keep the coins. “It’s not always the brightest things that fetch the most money, Mr Brown.” he had said. Mr Gruber always called Paddington ‘Mr Brown’, and it made him feel very important.
The idea that Paddington took ‘Brown’ as his last name soon after joining the family really tickles me. Possibly because it reminds me of when I see my pets listed with my last name at the vet – it looks slightly absurd, but it also looks just right too. Paddington assimilates perfectly into the Brown family, and as they gave him his English forename it makes sense that they should have given him their last name too. Paddington’s entire relationship with Mr Gruber is a sweet one: Paddington visits the antique shop owner frequently, invites him to his first birthday party, and in return receives all manner of kindly delivered life lessons such as the above aphorism on the value of shiny things.
Opera Glasses
He had just seen a little box in front of him marked OPERA GLASSES. TWENTY PENCE. After a great deal of thought, he unlocked his suitcase and from a secret compartment withdrew twenty pence. […] “You don’t take them home,” whispered Judy. “You have to put them back when you leave.“
“WHAT!” cried Paddington in a loud voice […] “Twenty pence!” he said bitterly. ‘That’s two buns’ worth.”
Some of Paddington’s more relatable moments come from his dismay over prices in 1950s England. This scene is particularly relatable for me, as someone who experienced an oddly similar incident as a child. Having been bought opera glasses at my own first-ever theatre trip (Mary Poppins at the West End), at intermission I confidently plunked them back into the glasses holder, which then promptly locked with a click. I, too, remember feeling outraged at the £1 they had cost – the last of my mum’s spare change. I think I was also just miffed because I hadn’t known what an intermission was. There’s a sense of bitter irony in seeing Paddington upset over comparatively lower prices of the 50s, but truthfully I loved any moment where Paddington became outraged over the cost of things. Especially since he partakes in the very English custom of complaining about a price and then proceeding to buy the thing anyway. Thankfully, Paddington often has his expenses paid for by family, friends and bystanders (not unlike my own seat neighbour at the Prince Edward theatre who, overhearing the whole event, kindly handed me a pound for the second act of Mary Poppins).
When Things Happen to A Bear Called Paddington
“You’ll have to write and tell her all about it, Paddington,” said Mrs Brown, as she took his paw. “But in the morning,” she added hastily, “You’ve got clean sheets, remember.”
“Yes,” said Paddington. “In the morning. I expect if I did it now, I’d get ink over the sheets or something. Things are always happening to me.”
“You know, Henry,” said Mrs Brown, as they watched Paddington go up the stairs to bed, looking rather sticky and more than a little sleepy, “it’s nice having a bear about the house.”
So closes the first book of Paddinton’s adventures, and the phrase “it’s nice having a bear about the house” so perfectly encapsulates the delightful absurdity of Michael Bond’s book, as well as the heart-warming tone of each story. It is nice having Paddington bear about, and to be able to read about his adventures. Especially his unintentional ones, which tend to be his best. Paddington’s half-hearted self-awareness that “things happen” to him is so endearing, it’s hard to reach the end of this book without caring for this bear just as Mr and Mrs Brown do.
A Round of A-Paws
When I posted my experience reading A Bear Called Paddington to Instagram recently, I was taken aback by the avid display of love my followers have for this bear, given that my follower base is mostly adults. But really, I shouldn’t have been surprised – there’s a reason stories like Paddington have such an enduring reputation as a classic among both children and adults. In this case, it is the finely crafted concoction of absurdity and sincerity that has contributed to the longevity of A Bear Called Paddington. Enough so that they’ve made three movies about his adventures, and that he occasionally features on jars of marmalade – which I think Paddington would find much more prestigious, honestly.
What’s your favourite moment from A Bear Called Paddington? What do you think has made Paddington such a beloved character? Let me know in the comments below!
