News & Announcements

Michael Bond, Paddington creator passesIt is with sadness that we note the passing of Michael Bond, British author and creator of the Paddington Bear children’s books. Bond’s first book A Bear Called Paddington was first published in 1958 and told the story of a bear found at Paddington Station in London, that is then adopted by the Brown family. Paddington Brown, as he is later named, loves marmalade sandwiches, and always manages to get into some type of trouble despite best intentions. Paddington’s adventures continue to delight children around the world, and are representative of middle class life in London.Bond’s first book was followed by over twenty Paddington books, which have sold 35 million copies worldwide, and are translated into 41 languages. In 1972 a lady by the name of Shirley Clarkson made her children a stuffed Paddington toy that was soon in demand by other children. Clarkson eventually obtained a license to manufacture the toys and Paddington stuffed bears became the must-have souvenir when returning home from London. A number of television programs were produced over the decades, the first in 1975. In 2014 StudioCanal produced a film called Paddington, and another film about the lovable bear is being planned for late 2017. Bond’s Bear Called Paddington, with his little suitcase, button-down coat, hat, and Wellington boots has become a British icon known the world around. Bond, who wrote over 150 books in his lifetime, received the OBE in 1997 and the CBE in 2015. He passed away at the age of 91 on June 27, 2017.For further reading, both the New York TImes and The Guardian have obituary columns for Michael Bond. The paddington.com website also has a great resource of historical and biographical information on the Paddington books and Michael Bond.Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids Submissions The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is now accepting submissions for the spring 2018 edition of Best Books for Kids & Teens (BBKT), the CCBC’s semi-annual selection guide to the best Canadian children’s books, magazines, audio and video, which will be released in May 2018. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: October 6, 2017 For more information visit the CCBC website.