Synopsis

Growing up in Reading, Michael Bond never thought of himself as a writer. He quit school at the age of 14, served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and later went on to work as a cameraman for the BBC. Struggling to tap into something more creative, the inspiration came to him after an unexpected trip to a toy shop, where he bought the last bear on the shelf for his wife. This would later become Paddington Bear.

More Than Marmalade: Michael Bond and the Story of Paddington Bear (Chicago Review Press; March 3, 2020; Ages 9 to 12), by Rosanne Tolin, is the untold story of Paddington Bear’s author Michael Bond. This middle-grade biography uncovers the many important elements that inspired the Paddington story, including Bond’s early life, world history and the cultural events of the 1950s. Kids will be captivated as they learn about the true events—such as WWII and the refugee crisis—that influenced many of the details in the series, events that are still relevant to this day.

Aiming to shine a hopeful light on what we can learn from the past, the book captures the care that went into Bond’s creation of Paddington Bear and how Paddington has become a timeless, beloved character in both children’s literature and film. Chockfull of whimsy, heartfelt anecdotes and charming takeaways, the book captures the loving relationship between Bond and his protagonist. Tolin explains how this relationship soon spanned nationwide, as Paddington went on to win the hearts of families across the world.

A story of perseverance and imagination, More Than Marmalade will inspire young readers, telling the unlikely success story of a brave displaced bear and his writer. Along with plenty of pictures of Michael and his personal Paddington Bear, kids will learn about life as it was during the 1950s.

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Review

Most everyone knows Paddington bear from either the books, the stuffed animal, or the movies.  But how many know the story behind Paddington Bear?

This biography about Michael Bond is well researched from the bibliography listed at the back and it is obvious the author took great care in creating this book.  While this book is aimed at middle-grade, it can be ready by anyone and I found it endearing and educational at the same time.  This book follows the life of Michael Bond from his early years until his passing.  It reflects his thoughts and emotions during WWII and what he observed including the children that would show up in his town with name tags hanging from them.  Many of the families took in multiple children to keep them safe from the unrest in their country.  These children were scared of what might happen to them or their families and I’m sure it was a huge adjustment for them.  This experience made an impact on Michael and is part of how Paddington came to be years later.

Here are a few of my favorite lines:

“My father’s motto was, “The most precious gift you can bestow on a child is your time.””

“I could have pasted my room with rejection slips,” he later said. “But I never gave up.”

This book showcases one of the world’s beloved bears and is well worth the read.  If you have a child that needs to read a biography, this would be a wonderful one for them to read especially if they are familiar with Paddington Bear.  Even if they are not, it will most likely spur interest in the lovable bear.  If you are a teacher, this would be a wonderful classroom addition.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

An experienced and well-respected journalist, Rosanne Tolin is the creator and editor of the ALA award-winning children’s e-zine and website Imagination Café. Tolin is also the former managing editor of Guideposts for Kids magazine and the Guideposts for Kids website. She lives in Chesterton, Indiana.

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