Forty years ago, a small bear from Darkest Peru set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Carrying a battered suitcase containing several jars of marmalade, and wearing a tag around his neck that read Please Look after This Bear, he stowed away on a ship and landed in Londons Paddington Station. As luck would have it, the Brown family found him, named him Paddington, and welcomed him to their home and into the hearts of millions of readers.Since 1958, Paddington Bear has charmed readers worldwide with his humorous misadventures. In celebration of Paddingtons 40th birthday, Michael Bonds original story of Paddington Bear has been beautifully reillustrated by artist R.W. Alley. Ages 3^-7. Just in time for Paddington Bear's 40th birthday, here's a new picture book telling the story of his meeting the Brown family in Paddington Station and how he goes home to live with them. Compared with the two earlier picture books of the same title (1972, 1992), which introduce Paddington in similar fashion, the text of this edition is a little longer and closer to the first two chapters in the original chapter book, A Bear Called Paddington . Alley's lively ink-and-watercolor-wash illustrations capture the winsome charm and gentle humor of this unassuming bear. Libraries may want several of this appealing picture book. Carolyn Phelan Michael Bond began chronicling the adventures of Paddington Bear in A Bear Called Paddington in 1958. Fortunately, bears don't need much encouragement, and Paddington has since filled the pages of fourteen novels, a variety of picture books, and many other projects written for the young at heart. Paddington's mentor lives in London, England, with his wife, Sue, and a guinea pig named Olga da Polga. R. W. Alley has illustrated a number of books featuring Paddington Bear, including Paddington Bear All Day and Paddington Bear Goes to Market . He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and their two children. Zoë B. Alley is the author of There's a Wolf at the Door and There's a Princess in the Palace , both illustrated by her husband, R. W. Alley.