Sunday, July 27, 2014

The Boy Who Thought He Was a Teddy Bear by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Susan Varley (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN: 9781561452705

About the book: With a little help from three meddling fairies, a  young human baby falls under the care of three roly-poly teddy bears, Big Teddy, Middle Teddy, and Little Teddy. The teddy bears are eager to care for their new charge, but what do they really know of little boys? With only the best intentions and a lot of love, the bears set out to raise him, instructing him in the ways of teddy bears.

Soon, the transition from boy to teddy is nearly complete. He dresses like a teddy. He sits on shelves and sleeps in cupboards. He walks like a teddy. He is cuddly like a teddy Then one day, a knock on the door turns his teddy bear world upside down. Now he must accept that he belongs to the human world. But will he still be able to hide in cupboards, play in the woods and go on picnics? Will he still be cuddly? The answer may lie in the big bear hug he gets from his loving mother.
My thoughts:  The author and publisher have introduced this delightful story as a "fairy tale." I guess that is because the little boy is spirited away by three fairies into the woods and into the care of three teddy bears. 

This is a "boys" take on the beloved Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  It is sweet, cute, and the illustrations are lovely. The story is told in simple narrative with repetitive types of phrases. The British seem to have a real knack for telling a story and for illustration.

This little book is illustrated with pen and ink artistry that is awash in soft colors. The book begins a bit scary in that the boy is taken right out from under the nose of his mommy. But it soon resolves that he is being well taken care of by the three bears. His mommy soon finds him - you know mommies never give up on lost little boys - and he learns to readjust to living without the teddy bears and life with mommy.

This is a good book for school and public libraries and will charm many a child.

GIVEAWAY: The good folks are Peachtree Publishing are providing one copy for one of Chat With Vera's readers to to win. Begins July 27 & ENDS August 18 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Jeanne Willis was born in St. Albans, England, and has published many outstanding children's books. 

Illustrator Susan Varley is one of Britain's foremost picture book artists. She was born in Blackpool, England, and has enjoyed drawing and sketching for as long as she can remember.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Peachtree Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I received no compensation for this review. 

23 comments:

  1. I would like the book About Parrots for my son.

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  2. I would like to have Can I Come Too? for my daughter.

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  3. Of Jeanne's books I would like to have Caterpillar Dreams for my daughter.

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  4. I would keep it because I collect children's books.

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  5. Charlie Bumpers vs. the Squeaking Skulls looks amusing!

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  6. I would also like to have Vanessa the Werewolf hairdresser.

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  7. Charlie Bumpers sounds so cute, too. The cover of this one is just adorable! I love it.

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  8. The Santa Trap because I think that the main character Bradley Bartleby lives in our house right now.

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  9. Peachtree I would like to read Pig And Small
    Jeanne Willis I would like to read I'm Sure I Saw A Dinosaur

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  10. What an interesting premise for a book! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday! Hope to see you again this week!
    Tina

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  11. I would like to read Bill Harley's middle grade book, The Amazing Flight of Darius Frobisher

    Turning a little boy into a teddy bear is interesting. Cute book. Love the cover.

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  12. HippoSpotamus I have seen a lot of lately. I would love to find out what it is about.

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  13. In visiting Peachtree Publishers, it was Claude on the Slopes that immediately grabbed my attention as another book I would love to add to my collection.

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  14. Jeanne Willis's Mayfly Day sounds like a captivating read!

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  15. I think the book Can I Come Too? is one my kids would enjoy reading
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry

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  16. I think Caterpillar Dreams by Jeanne WIllis is a book my kids would love reading
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry

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  17. I like these two books: About Birds and About Fish.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  18. I's like to read her book :Delilah Darling Is In the Library.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  19. Can I come too? looks like a really cute book! i have two boys and my youngest is always trying to tag a long, kind of reminds me of them!

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  20. Lillibet the monster doctor looks like a book my son would like!

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  21. Pig and Small looks cute. My brother had a pig growing up and so we as a family love pig-related items. My son will love this book.

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  22. Penguin Pandemonium looks great! I gotta look for this one.

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