Brown Paper Teddy Bear - Hardcover

Catherine Allison

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 043963900X ISBN 13: 9780439639002

Publisher: Scholastic, 2004

Synopsis

A magical teddy bear leads Jess on an exciting journey to a place where stuffed toys can talk and porcelain dolls can dance.

Jess is sick in bed, and to make her feel better, Granddad promises her a brand-new teddy bear. But before she drifts off to sleep, Jess notices a small door that magically opens. Jess unties the ribbon around a brown paper bag and finds a careworn old teddy bear inside. He takes Jess on a wonderful adventure through the night sky to a place where toys come to life. Jess marches with toy soldiers, rides a toy train, and dances with a porcelain doll before she returns home to her loving grandfather.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 1 - One night, Jessica awakens to find that an old cupboard has magically appeared in her room. Among the dusty playthings stored inside, she finds a teddy bear wrapped in brown paper and a red ribbon. The stuffed animal comes to life and takes her on a journey to meet his friends, several other old-fashioned toys that are ready to play. After cavorting with toy soldiers, a pull-the-string puppy, and a beautiful doll, the bear and child fly home. In the morning, she tells her grandfather of her adventures and he calmly states, "I see you found my teddy bear." This book begs to be noticed, not because it explores new literary realms (which it doesn't) but for its fine illustrations and oversized format. The large, square pages will entice children into this fantasy. The warm, playful watercolor art is printed on brown paper, adding weight and richness to the detailed scenes. The sepia tone supports a celebration of long-ago times. In the toy room, Jessica and its inhabitants stand shoulder-to-shoulder, equal in size, and her delight in playing in their world is palpable. Overall, the art carries this tale while the text is simply serviceable. - Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist:

PreS-K. English writer Allison's latest offering certainly travels well-trod territory: a girl awakens in the night to find a mysterious teddy bear in her room, which comes to life and takes her to a land of lively antique toys that romp and play with her. Back home, the girl awakens to a merry grandpa who says knowingly, "I see you found my teddy bear." The delicious nighttime adventure with a magical plaything is so familiar that it's almost a cliche. But the book's art, printed on sturdy, brown butcher paper, and the square, oversize format give the story distinction. Reed's detailed watercolors capture the girl's excitement as she soars hand-in-paw with the bear, an inky sea and smiling moon in the background, and cavorts with the large, nostalgic assortment of animated toys. There's no mention of Christmas in the text, but the cover image of a bear in a red-ribboned package and the echoes of the Nutcracker story lend a holiday flavor. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 043963900X
• ISBN 13: 9780439639002
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Neil Reed