Kids of all ages will fall in love with Paddington Bear in the audiobook adaptations of Michael Bond’s cherished tales of adventure.
On Christmas Eve 1956, author Michael Bond saw a lone teddy bear on a shelf in a store near London’s Paddington Station. This little bear moved Bond to create the character Paddington Brown, a teddy bear that would go on to inspire television programs, movies, commercials, and popular stuffed toys, as well as star in more than 20 books.
It all started with the first children’s book, A Bear Called Paddington. In this classic, a family—Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and their two children, Jonathan and Judy—discover a little bear sitting on a suitcase in Paddington Station. Attached to him is a note that reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." Paddington had traveled all the way from "darkest Peru,'' sent by his Aunt Lucy, who loved him dearly but had grown too old to properly care for him. The Browns decide to take the bear home, and from that moment on, their lives would never be the same.
With his battered suitcase, floppy hat and duffle coat, signature jar of marmalade, and nose for adventure, Paddington has captivated children and adults alike for more than half a century. Each Paddington tale gives listeners a glimpse of the world from the curious teddy bear's point of view—a world where, despite frequent misunderstandings and mishaps, goodness and rightness always prevails and the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
A handful of talented narrators lend their voices to the Paddington audiobooks. Acclaimed English actor and comedian Stephen Fry narrates A Bear Called Paddington, More About Paddington, Paddington Here and Now, and Paddington's Finest Hour. Listeners have called Fry's performance "delightful," remarking on how much children especially enjoy the varied voices and inflections he gives to different characters. The remaining audiobooks in the series are expertly narrated by Hugh Bonneville, Jim Broadbent, and Christian Coulson. Each narrator brings his own personality and passion to the story, and each portrays a true appreciation for the furry protagonist with a big heart. After all, what's not to love about a bear called Paddington?
