Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Paddington Bear: My Scrapbook
Illustrator: R. W. Alley
Novelty Book Series
For ages 3 to 8
HarperCollins, 1999 ISBN: 978-0694008865
You may have found yourself wondering at one time or another how it was that Paddington Bear ended up in England. After all didn’t he come from Darkest Peru? Why did Paddington decide to leave Aunt Lucy of whom he is clearly very fond? The answers to these and many other questions can be found within the pages of this scrapbook. In it Paddington tells us all about his life in Peru, about the earthquake which "disappeared" his parents when he was just six weeks old, and how Aunt Lucy took him in and brought him up.
We discover all sorts of important information about this most unique of bears including how it is that he came to be so fond of marmalade and why he wears a coat with toggles on it. Indeed, there is much to explore on the pages for Paddington has taped maps, newspaper clippings, a recipe for marmalade sandwiches, postcards and much more to the pages of his scrapbook.
This book is full of wonderful illustrative detail which makes this a very convincing "scrapbook." Complete with marmalade stains, paw prints, spelling mistakes, and lots of Paddington charm, this book is sure to delight all Paddington fans.
