More than Marmalade

January 15, 2020
The first stand-alone profile for young readers of the man behind the bear. Bond is a regular entry in collective biographies of authors, but from the evidence, he was such a private man and led such a quiet, uneventful life that Tolin resorts to invented scenes and conversations (closely based, she claims, on published sources) to fill out this slim volume. She retraces his childhood, World War II experiences, early career as a cameraman for the BBC, and eventual fame (after multiple rejections, etc.) as a children's author. Sounding a timely note, she also weaves in as a recurrent theme experiences with and lifelong sympathies for immigrants--from Jewish Kindertransport refugees and children evacuated from London during the Blitz to later contacts with Afro-Caribbean and West Indian arrivals in London--that informed his most famous creation's character and overseas origins. On the other hand, aside from brief mention of Olga da Polga she skips an opportunity to explore his true range by saying little to nothing about his bawdy, comical Monsieur Pamplemousse mystery series or any of the rest of his works. Readers will come away with a warming if not nuanced impression of a low-key man whose best-known creation reflects his own fundamental decency. In the end, alas, not all that much more than marmalade. (map, photos, source list, index) (Biography. 9-11)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-Tolin discusses the literary career of Michael Bond, best known for his stories featuring Paddington Bear. The biography, which uses "fictionalized scenes," opens with a 10-year-old boy living a fairly typical English childhood and ends with the esteemed author, age 91, relaying his life as a story with conversations and detailed descriptions. This format makes for a very readable and enjoyable book, but might confuse readers trying to sort out fact from conjecture. A running theme of the book, initially mentioned in the author's note prior to the first chapter, portrays Paddington as a symbol of immigration and refugees. Bond was inspired by the children he saw at train stations evacuated during World War II. Throughout his life, he often wrote in support of allowing refugees into the country. Including this narrative thread makes the book very relevant to current events without getting too political. The book lacks reproduced primary source documents, but there are a number of photographs showing the areas where Bond lived. Illustrations feature various representations of Paddington. While not a perfect biographical work, this title will delight Paddington fans and appeal to readers who enjoy nonfiction works like the "Who Was?" series. VERDICT A simple chapter book biography perfect for students seeking a storylike approach to the life of Paddington creator Michael Bond. Recommended for pleasure reading instead of research.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2020
Grades 4-8 Michael Bond, born in 1926, spent his life in England. During his youth, he saw Jewish and German orphans, among others, with names or notes attached to their jackets arrive by train into Paddington Station, all fleeing Nazi maltreatment. These early imprinted images made him forever aware of the plight of immigrants. His kindness and empathy found an outlet in the escapades, mishaps, and sincerity of Paddington Bear. Over several decades, Bond wrote more than 150 adventures for Paddington. In this first-ever biography of the beloved children's author, Tolin gives devoted fans a look into Bond's life and how he stumbled upon the bear that changed him. Tolin's introductory note describes her first encounter with Paddington Bear and sets the stage for a chronological survey of Bond's life, inserting his own words where applicable. Her intimate writing style makes readers feel she is talking directly to them. Black-and-white photographs of London, Paddington Station, and Paddington Bear add interest in the second half of the book, and a bibliography concludes. A lovely biography for Paddington lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)